Vivek Agnihotri's The Bengal Files, left audiences grappling with unsettling questions on history, identity, and the costs of communal division caused by India's partition in 1947.The screening, organised by Aarsha Vidya Samajam, was attended by former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan, former DGPs T.P. Senkumar and R. Sreelekha, Bharatiya Vichara Kendra Director R. Sanjayan, VHP State President Viji Thampi, senior BJP leader K. Raman Pillai, and several cultural figures. A packed hall witnessed the screening, which drew prolonged applause and intense post-film discussions.
The Bengal Files, which has stirred multiple controversies, particularly in Bengal, revisits the Direct Action Day riots of 1946, the Noakhali and Tippera massacres, and the human cost of Partition, which displaced nearly 20 million people and claimed two million lives.Technically polished and narratively layered, the film combines compelling performances, detailed period recreation, and tightly written dialogues to immerse viewers in a turbulent era.
Beyond historical reconstruction, the film positions itself as a warning, drawing parallels with what it portrayed as contemporary demographic anxieties and extremist threats in Bengal, Kashmir, and beyond.Audience reactions ranged from tearful silence to fiery indignation. "No one with a conscience can watch this film without being moved," said an organiser.
While critics have argued that the film carries a provocative edge, Agnihotri has said his intention was to confront audiences with uncomfortable truths, to challenge selective silences, and to demand reflection on secularism, justice, and national unity.The screenings have already been extended in Kerala following a strong demand. (UNI)
