'We Will Consider': Calcutta High Court In Plea Seeking Theatre Release Of 'Bengal Files' Movie In West Bengal

The Calcutta High Court on Friday stated that it would consider a plea seeking the release of Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's film 'The Bengali Files', whose theatre release had been allegedly restricted in West Bengal.

A division bench of Justices Sujoy Paul and Smita Das De was hearing the matter.

The petitioner stated that he was an 'avid movie goer'  and that his right to watch a movie of his choice was being curbed by the state due to the 'unofficial ban' on the release of the Bengal Files movie, which was going on in West Bengal.

It was stated that there was an alleged threat to any theatre owner who would attempt to showcase the movie in the state.

Advocate General appearing for the state submitted that the present litigation was an example of proxy litigation, and should be 'nipped in the bud.' It was submitted that the petitioner was in no way connected to the movie industry and was trying to espouse a private cause in public interest litigation.

Senior Advocate Abhratosh Majumder appearing for the Motion Pictures Association submitted that the association had not received any communication from the film's producer or director regarding their movie not being allowed to be released.

Upon hearing the arguments, the court stated that it would consider the prayer made by the petitioner.

Earlier, the High Court had dismissed a plea by the grandson of the protagonist potrayed in the film, claiming that the film had shown a distorted image of his grandfather.

According to the plea, the matter pertained to the gross victimisation of the petitioner by the state through indifference meted out to him over his plea before the police, the CBFC and a Board Member of the CBFC, and maker of the film, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri about the, “outright despicable depiction of his late grandfather the famous freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee being propagated through an upcoming fim titled The Bengal Files.”

Case: SAYAN KANSABANIK VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Case No: WPA(P)/411/2025