Vivek Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files has got its OTT release date. The film, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Simrat Kaur, and Saswata Chatterjee, will be out on ZEE5 on November 21, the makers announced on Monday.
The film marks the third chapter in Vivek’s controversial trilogy, following The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files. The Bengal Files revisits the events surrounding the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings (Direct Action Day) and their impact on India’s path toward partition and independence.
Speaking about the film, Vivek said in a statement, “The Bengal Files is not just a film; it’s a reminder. It’s about the forgotten chapters of our collective conscience and the price of silence. Through this story, we wanted to bring Bengal’s pain, courage and truth to the forefront. I’m glad that, through ZEE5, this story will now reach every home — every viewer who wants to know what really happened.”
Anupam added, “Some stories stay with you forever, and The Files trilogy is one of them. This isn’t just about history — it’s about humanity. When I read the script, I felt an ache that only truth can cause. Portraying this role was emotionally exhausting yet deeply fulfilling. Films like this remind us that courage is not just about standing up in battle, it’s also about standing up for truth. I believe every viewer who watches The Bengal Files on ZEE5 will feel the same intensity, the same silence, and the same power that we felt while making it.”
Pallavi said, “Each film in the Files Trilogy has been an emotional and artistic awakening for us. With The Bengal Files we wanted to capture a truth buried under decades of denial. Every performance, every scene is rooted in reality and emotion.”
The Bengal Files didn’t do well during its theatrical run in September, earning just over Rs 16.79 crore in its lifetime, as per industry tracker Sacnilk.
CE's review of the film reads, "Just like Agnihotri did in The Kashmir Files, nuance is again thrown out of the window. There is no space for sensitivity or sensibility, only sensation. As expected, amidst the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral list in Bihar and upcoming Bengal elections, the film reeks of propaganda. The director strives to incite not introspect."
