Vivek Agnihotri criticise West Bengal authorities over trailer launch hurdles in Kolkata

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has sharply criticised the West Bengal authorities after the trailer launch of his upcoming film The Bengal Files faced major hurdles in Kolkata on August 16.

The event, originally planned at a leading cinema hall, was abruptly cancelled by a prominent theatre chain, reportedly under “political pressure.” It was later shifted to a hotel and finally unveiled at 1 pm on Saturday.

In a video statement, Agnihotri said, “They are obstructing the screening, and I don’t know why. There is no reason for it. First, they



cancelled the event at the theatre, and now they are not allowing it here either. The hotel authorities told me they had been instructed not to host the launch.”

He added, “I have just been informed that all the wires have been cut. Who is giving these instructions, and why, I don’t know. Multiple FIRs have already been filed against us. This is a private hotel — how can they stop us here when we have the necessary permission? If this is not dictatorship, then what is? If this is not fascism, then what is? Look at the number of policemen present, as if we are criminals.”