Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has said that he will turn to the courts if his upcoming film The Bengal files are prevented from releasing in West Bengal.
The director addressed the media on Monday, as the trailer ran into the Hurdles after launch in Kolkata. According to Agnihotri, the incident was first closed by multiplex and later shifted to a hotel, where the power was suddenly cut. He alleged that the police officials also questioned whether the organizers had necessary permission.
Vivek Agnihotri to take legal route for Bengal files
“We will go by the Constitution. We will go legally. If they stop us, we will take a legal course. What we can do? We are common citizens like you … We will pray that purity is strong and the state government does not do so (stop the release),” Agnihotri was called by PTI.
The August 16, 1946 Calcutta was set against the backdrop of the riots-after the call of the All India Muslim League for Direct Action Day, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on 5 September.
“… This is an Indian film. I am telling you the truth,” the director said insisting.
Vivek Agnihotri over dispute around Bengal files
Agnihotri, who earlier starred Kashmir files and tashing files, also addressed a dispute around the complaint filed by Gopal Chandra Mukherjee’s grandson Santanu Mukherjee – was an important person in opposing mob violence during the riots. Santanu has alleged that the film portrays its grandfather in negative lights.
Explaining his stance, Agnihotri said, “I will not go into his history. Look at Santanu’s interview. I can give you all the links. There is an interview of Gopal Mukherjee on BBC. There is an interview of Gopal Mukherjee. In that interview, what he said has shown only this much. I have nothing to do with Gopal Mukherjee’s life.
He added, “I respect Gopal Mukherjee very much. His grandchildren work with TMC. There is a compulsion … he has done it legally. We are giving a legal answer to it.”
On Bengal files
Giving the position of Bengal files as part of its big cinematic vision, Agnihotri said, “Our aim is very clear. I make films on Hindu civilization. That is why I make films on Hindu history. Roza And Vishal Bhardwaj Haider As an example of films discovering Islamic history.
The filmmaker revealed that the Central Board of Film Certification cleaned the film without cuts after a review of both the investigation and amendment. “The film was made with a lot of responsibility and honesty. No one can object to it. Bengalis will be proud of the film,” he said.
Bengal files include a contingent of artists including Mithun Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Priyanshu Chatterjee, and Darshan Kumar.
