Review : The Bengal Files : A Bold, Emotionally Charged Film!

#VivekAgnihotri’s Files Trilogy is a series of socio-political dramas that revisit painful and often silenced chapters of Indian history. It began with The Tashkent Files (2019), exploring the mysterious death of former #PrimeMinisterLalBahadurShastri. This was followed by #TheKashmirFiles (2022), which depicted the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s and sparked nationwide debate. The final installment, The Bengal Files (2025), portrays the Bengal violence of the 1940s and its contemporary echoes. Together, the trilogy has been praised for raising awareness while also drawing criticism for its polarising and hard-hitting narrative style.

The Bengal Files attempts to revisit one of the darkest chapters of Indian history—the Bengal violence of the 1940s. The narrative shifts between two timelines: the horrors of Direct Action Day, the Great Calcutta Killings, and the Noakhali riots of the pre-independence era, and a present-day CBI investigation into the disappearance of a Dalit girl. Through this dual structure, the film aims to draw parallels between history and contemporary socio-political conflicts.

The screenplay is overstretched with excessive focus on graphic violence, often overshadowing storytelling. The runtime of 3 hous 24 minutes is too long which dilutes the impact of the subject. The dialogues are sparkling at places. The direction is smooth but lack subtlety at times insinutes lopsided political comments. Hard-hitting scenes succeed in evoking shock and empathy. The cinematography is authentic in period recreation and production design.

Pallavi Joshi once again stands out, portraying both vulnerability and resilience as an aged survivor. Simratt Kaur delivers raw intensity during the flashback sequences. Saswata Chatterjee impresses as the antagonist, bringing menace with subtlety. Namashi Chakraborty surprises with his intensity in the period portions. Anupam Kher as Gandhi and Darshan Kumar as the conflicted CBI officer lend gravitas to the narrative.

The Bengal Files is a bold, emotionally charged film that will leave audiences shaken. For some, it will feel like a necessary reminder of forgotten history; for others, it may come across as overly dramatic and politically motivated. Regardless of where you stand, it is not a film that can be watched passively—it demands emotional investment.

Rating: ***

By Keerti Kadam