Vivek Agnihotri 'toned down the horror' in 'The Bengal Files'
What's the story
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's The Bengal Files, the last part of his trilogy, is creating a buzz ahead of its OTT release on Friday. In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, the director spoke about the emotional journey of recreating 1946 Bengal and "honestly" depicting communal violence without over-dramatizing it. The film revisits the horrors of Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots.
Casting process
'Our actors were deeply immersed in the period'
Agnihotri said that recreating 1940s Bengal was "deeply immersive" for the actors, who had to adopt not just the look but also the emotional and social sensibilities of that era. He said, "Our cast was filled with brilliant, seasoned actors, and even the newcomers delivered incredibly intense performances." "We were very particular about casting people who understood India's socio-political realities and were genuinely interested in this subject."
Preparation
'We conducted extensive workshops, multiple readings...'
To ensure authenticity, Agnihotri and his team did extensive groundwork. He said, "We conducted extensive workshops, multiple readings, and shared detailed research documents covering all perspectives." "By the time the actors reached the set, they were fully immersed in the era visually, emotionally, and socially."
Narrative style
'Didn't want the film to feel fictional'
Agnihotri admitted that he was worried about over-dramatization. He said, "Yes, over-dramatization was one of my biggest concerns. I didn't want the film to feel fictional, so we consciously toned down the horror." Despite their restraint, some viewers found certain incidents unbelievable. "Even then, many viewers felt some incidents were unbelievable because it's hard for us today to imagine the realities of genocide, massacres, and riots," he added.
Message
'My intention was to show what happens when humanity disappears'
Agnihotri said the violence shown in The Bengal Files is a reminder of how deeply Partition-era violence continues to shape the present. "My intention was to show what happens when humanity disappears," he said. "The communal violence that led to India's Partition still affects us even today and I wanted to depict that brutality so people understand its impact and feel compelled never to participate in communal violence again." The film will premiere on ZEE5 on November 21.