Khola Hawa Plans Special Screening of ‘The Bengal Files’ in Kolkata Amid Controversy
Kolkata’s socio-cultural group Khola Hawa, often seen as a BJP think tank in West Bengal, is all set to host a special screening of the film The Bengal Files on September 13. This comes after the movie, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, skipped a theatrical release in the state despite hitting screens nationwide on September 5.
The event kicks off at 4 pm at Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Bhasha Bhavan in the National Library complex, South Kolkata. It’s a closed-door affair, open only to invitees, as the film didn’t get the green light for cinemas in West Bengal. Leading the charge is former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, who heads Khola Hawa.
Dasgupta shared the exciting news on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, posting an invite that reads: "ANNOUNCEMENT: Khola Hawa is proud to present the first showing in Kolkata of the iconic film The Bengal Files." The invitation also teases a star appearance by director Vivek Agnihotri and actor Pallavi Joshi, making it a big draw for fans of Bollywood films on socio-political themes.
Only folks with an official invite letter can attend, keeping things exclusive. The move highlights ongoing debates around The Bengal Files release in West Bengal, a film that’s sparked buzz for its bold take on Bengal’s history and politics.
Not everyone is thrilled, though. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup Chakraborty took a dig at the film, pointing out its nationwide release hasn’t pulled in crowds. "The director is crying," he quipped, before mocking some reported gaffes in the movie’s narrative—like confusing names linked to Rabindranath Tagore. "Bengalis are lucky they didn’t call BJP leader Anurag Thakur the son of Rabindranath Tagore," he added with a chuckle, referencing earlier mix-ups with names like Arindam Chatterjee and Arindam Tagore.
On the BJP side, leader Sajal Ghosh voiced worries about the screening even happening. "We’ve announced the event, but will the police allow it? There’s no law and order in the state," he said, recalling how the film faced hurdles for a proper West Bengal release. "It’s unclear if this private show will go ahead smoothly."
As Kolkata gears up for this invite-only The Bengal Files screening, it underscores the heated political undercurrents in West Bengal cinema and culture. Stay tuned for updates on whether the event unfolds without hitches—could this be the spark for more discussions on film censorship in the state?
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