'The Bengal Files' Movie Review: Vivek Agnihotri's film is dissentious with credible production
The Bengal Files Review: Vivek Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi's, 'The Bengal Files', has been released in theaters on 5 September. Earlier films 'The Tashkent Files' and 'The Kashmir Files' were appreciated by the audience and both the films were hits at the box office. At the same time, this story also gave goosebumps to the audience, but some flaws were also seen in the film.
The Bengal Files Review: Story Of The Film
The film moves forward in two timelines. In the present track, CBI offier Shiv Pandit (played by Darshan Kumar) investigates the disappearance of a young girl in West Bengal. All suspicion falls on political leader Sardar Husaini, portrayed by Saswata Chatterjee.
The flashback portions take us back to the years 1940 to 1947, where actress Simrat Kaur plays the role of Bharati, whose family faces the tragic consequence of Partition. The segment portrays the horrors of Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots. Pallavi Joshi plays the older Bharati, narrating the painful story of her past.
Performances in The Movie
Darshan Kumar delivers a convincing performances as the CBI officer, while Saswata Chatterjee impresses with his screen presence. Pallavi Joshi, as always, leaves a deep impact with her strong acting.
The real soul of the film, however, lies in Simrat Kaur and Mithun Chakraborty’s performances. Simrat handles every emotional scene with finesse. Mithun, at 75, stuns as a beggar, proving his unmatched versatility. His portrayal of suffering—especially with a burnt tongue—touches the audience.
Anupam Kher’s portrayal of Gandhi stands out in parts but doesn’t succeed everywhere. Namashi Chakraborty gives a decent performance, while Eklavya Sood fails to do full justice to his role.
Let's Talk about Movie Direction
Vivek Agnihotri’s direction feels weaker this time. In attempting to merge the two storylines, the editing suffers, leading to confusion and even dullness in parts. The trailer promised a film that would shake viewers, but the impact doesn’t quite land except in the climax.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The Direct Action Day sequence and some hard-hitting dialogues give the film strong moments. A scene where sweat is collected and drunk as water effectively conveys the helplessness of the era. However, several emotional moments—particularly the Gandhi-linked portion of the Noakhali riots—fall flat. The use of sophisticated English words in the 1946 backdrop also feels jarring.
Verdict: Watch It or Skip It?
If you are interested in history and want to understand the Partition of Bengal, this film is worth watching. Fans of the Files Trilogy will certainly not want to miss it. But be prepared—the film is long, slow in parts, and demands patience.
The real soul of the film, however, lies in Simrat Kaur and Mithun Chakraborty’s performances. Simrat handles every emotional scene with finesse. Mithun, at 75, stuns as a beggar, proving his unmatched versatility. His portrayal of suffering—especially with a burnt tongue—touches the audience.
Anupam Kher’s portrayal of Gandhi stands out in parts but doesn’t succeed everywhere. Namashi Chakraborty gives a decent performance, while Eklavya Sood fails to do full justice to his role.
PunjabKesari.com rating: 3.5 stars