Most Controversial Film of the year The Bengal Files which is directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, tries to dig up the painful incidences which happened of Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946) with an eye on the violent pre-Partition of the history of Bengal. The movie itself is a historical-political drama that pivots between the past and the present and tries to expose a lost chapter of Indian history. But its delivery falls short.

Storyline

Against the backdrop of the Great Calcutta Killings, the movie weaves the 1946 communal riots with a contemporary mystery of the vanishing of a young woman in Murshidabad. The case is investigated by IPS officer Shiva Pandit (Darshan Kumar), who finds himself a portal to the atrocities of the past. Pallavi Joshi acts an old Bharati Banerjee, a survivor of the killings, who is at the center of the unfolding story. The notorious Gopal Patha, supposedly behind the defense of Calcutta, is glimpsed, only to vanish as the movie decides to concentrate on broader ideological messages.

Positive Points

• The movie raise a voice and does highlighted a topic which is less-told episode in Indian history. The film raises questions about the political motives and the historical memory.
  
  
• Pallavi Joshi and Saswata Chatterjee are certain performances, which are captivating and put emotions in the film.
  
  
• Visually, some riot scenes are well recreated, capturing the mayhem and barbarity of the period.
  
  
• The production design and cinematography recreate period atmosphere with authenticity.
  
  

Also Read: Hridayapoorvam Movie Review: Mohanlal, Malavika, Sangeeth Shine in Emotionally Rich But Disjointed Drama

Negative Points

• The script of the bengal files is too big the movie is around 3.5 hours and incoherent, toggling between timelines without smoothness.
  
  
• Heavy-handed political discourse overwhelms storytelling, characters turned into ideological mouthpieces.
  
  
• Graphic violence comes across as gratuitous and exploitative instead of meaningful.
  

Overall Verdict: "The Bengal Files" is a bold and powerful film that finally tells the truth about a dark, forgotten chapter in Indian history. It doesn’t hold back in showing the horrors of Direct Action Day and the suffering of Hindus in Bengal. The visuals of the film is very strong, emotional storytelling, and fearless political stance which make it an eye-opener of the society. Director Vivek Agnihotri continues his mission of revealing the  uncomfortable truths which happened in the history. This is a must-watch for those who want to understand the real history of India, not just the filtered version.