Kolkata: Director Vivek Agnihotri’s controversial film The Bengal Files is set to be screened in West Bengal on May 15, following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sweeping victory in the recent Assembly elections.

The film, which was originally released in theatres on September 5, 2025, could not be screened in Bengal during the tenure of the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee. Although no formal ban was imposed, the filmmakers had alleged that cinema halls in the state were unwilling to exhibit the film due to political pressure and fear of backlash.

Confirming the upcoming screening, Agnihotri shared a post on social media claiming that the film had been shown “underground” across different parts of Bengal during the election period. “During these elections, we ensured that #TheBengalfiles was shown to as many people as possible (underground) across Bengal,” he wrote.

The film has triggered sharp political debate for its portrayal of political violence, migration, ideological conflict, and communal tensions in Bengal. It follows Agnihotri’s earlier politically sensitive films such as The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, both of which generated nationwide controversy and polarised public opinion.

With the change in political leadership in the state, theatre owners are now reportedly more open to screening the film publicly. The development has once again reignited debate over censorship, political influence in cinema, and freedom of expression in India’s film industry.