Director Vivek Agnihotri urges CM Mamata to ensure smooth release of his film ‘The Bengal Files’

Recalling that Bengal led the country on the cultural front and was the soul of India, Agnihotri said the state and its people made maximum sacrifices in 1905 and 1947.

Debunking the argument about not reopening the wounds of riots and violence by the screening of the film, he asked, “If a Japanese child should know about Hiroshima and Nagasaki holocausts, why not the new generation be made aware of an important part of the state’s and nation’s history?” “A true Bengali will not ban the movie.

This film cannot be banned in Bengal,” he said.

Agnihotri further asked if Muslim, Christian and Dalit persecutions can be projected in films worldwide, “why should we keep under wraps Hindu genocide.

Why should we wish to keep lies alive?” The filmmaker also recalled the physical stopping of the film’s trailer launch at a five-star hotel in the city on August 17, which he termed an attack on the freedom of expression.

The film, which is slated to be released on Friday, features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Saswata Chatterjee and Darshan Kumarr.