The Bengal Files Movie Review (2025): Cast, Plot, Ratings & Honest Verdict

Cinema often dares to be entertaining, but only a handful of films dare to stir your soul and confront uncomfortable truths. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s latest, The Bengal Files Movie, attempts exactly that, bringing to screen one of the most painful and lesser, spoken chapters of India’s history.

If you’re someone who enjoys movies that blend investigative thrillers with raw history, this film may shake you, disturb you, and force you to rethink what you thought you knew about Bengal’s past. Let’s dive into the details.

The Bengal Files Movie : A Journey Into Bengal’s Buried History

Imagine being tasked with solving the disappearance of a journalist, only to stumble upon a dark vault of history, memories drenched in fire, blood and betrayal. That’s the heart of The Bengal Files.

The film is not just a story, it’s a chilling reminder of the Direct Action Day violence of 1946 and the Noakhali riots. It challenges viewers, Do we really know the price of partition and the cost of silence?

The Bengal Files Movie : Star Cast & Crew

The film brings together an impressive mix of veteran actors and fresh talent.

Director & Writer: Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri
Producers: Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi, Vivek Agnihotri
Key Cast:
- Mithun Chakraborty
- Pallavi Joshi
- Darshan Kumaar
- Simratt Kaur
- Anupam Kher
- Saswata Chatterjee
- Namashi Chakraborty
- Puneet Issar
- Sourav Das

The Bengal Files Movie : Between Present Investigation and Past Atrocities

The narrative swings between two timelines—today’s Bengal and the horrors of 1946.

The Present: CBI officer Shiv Pandit (Darshan Kumaar) investigates a missing journalist. His search leads him to an elderly woman, Bharati Banerjee (Pallavi Joshi), whose memories become the thread connecting the past with the present.
The Past: Through Bharati’s recollections, the film reconstructs the Great Calcutta Killings and Noakhali riots. The violence is shown in chilling detail—streets burning, families torn apart, and communities collapsing under the weight of hatred.
Ideological Conflict: The movie does not shy away from controversy. Gandhi is shown as helpless in the face of the carnage, while figures like Gopal Patha emerge as fierce responders. This portrayal has already stirred debates about historical interpretation.
The Resolution: Back in the present, Shiv must navigate political games, communal undertones, and Bengal’s still-raw wounds, asking the unsettling question: Why does every issue still circle back to Hindu vs. Muslim?

The Bengal Files Movie : Ratings & Critics’ Reactions

The movie has divided critics and audiences alike.

Times of India: 3.5/5 – A tough but engrossing watch.
Hindustan Times: 3/5 – Strong performances save the film from its excesses.
Indian Express: 1.5/5 – Loose and stretched execution.

At the box office, The Bengal Files opened with around ₹1.75 crore on Day 1, struggling against Baaghi 4. Interestingly, advance bookings were strong but theater turnout dipped, especially in Bengal where political resistance added hurdles.

Personal Review

As someone who appreciates cinema that doesn’t just entertain but also sparks dialogue, here’s my honest take:

What Worked:
- Performances—especially by Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and Simratt Kaur—carry immense emotional weight.
- The bravery of retelling such a painful chapter of history deserves acknowledgment.
What Didn’t:
- The film’s runtime (3 hours 24 minutes) tests your patience. Long monologues and graphic violence sometimes overwhelm the narrative.
- Certain historical portrayals feel dramatized, raising questions of accuracy.

Verdict: The Bengal Files is not light entertainment—it’s a heavy, disturbing, but important film. It leaves scars on your mind, and perhaps that’s exactly what it aims to do.

FAQ About The Bengal Files Movie

Q1: Is The Bengal Files Movie based on real events?
Yes, it draws from historical events like Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, intertwined with a fictional investigative storyline.

Q2: How long is the film?
The runtime is approximately 204 minutes (3 hours 24 minutes).

Q3: Will the film release on OTT?
The movie is expected to stream on Zee5 after its theatrical run.

Q4: Why is it controversial?
Its portrayal of historical figures, especially Gopal Patha and Gandhi, has led to debates and even legal notices. Some theaters in Bengal also faced political pressure against screening it.

Q5: Who should watch it?
Viewers who can handle graphic visuals and are interested in bold historical dramas will find it thought-provoking.

Final Thoughts

The Bengal Files is not for the faint-hearted. It’s graphic, long, and at times overwhelming, but it’s also powerful, emotional, and daring. Whether you agree with its perspective or not, the film succeeds in what cinema rarely does—it makes you uncomfortable enough to think, discuss, and question.

In that sense, The Bengal Files is more than a movie. It’s a mirror held up to history’s darkest corners, asking us whether we are ready to look.

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Prashant

Hi, I’m Prashant Jain — a curious soul, storyteller, and content creator at heart.I’ve always been drawn to the world of entertainment, travel, sports, health & lifestyle — not just as a writer, but as someone who genuinely lives these experiences. Whether I’m binge-watching the latest OTT series, exploring offbeat spiritual destinations in India, or diving deep into wellness routines and cricket match insights, I love sharing what I discover with like-minded readers.
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