The Bengal Files OTT Release Date: Where is Vivek Agnihotri’s Political Drama Streaming?

The film began streaming on ZEE5 from 21 November 2025, bringing Vivek Agnihotri’s controversial conclusion to his Files Trilogy to home audiences after a turbulent theatrical journey. The Bengal Files OTT release date arrives more than two months after its cinema debut, offering viewers who missed the theatrical run—or those unable to access it due to regional restrictions—their first opportunity to experience this polarizing historical drama.

Vivek Agnihotri’s political drama, The Bengal Files, starring Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher, will stream on ZEE5 starting November 21, 2025; the film explores the genocide of Hindus in East Bengal before Partition, tackling one of Indian history’s most sensitive and politically charged episodes with Agnihotri’s characteristic uncompromising approach.

Confirmed The Bengal Files OTT Release Date and Streaming Platform

The Bengal Files OTT release date delivers the film to digital audiences through an exclusive partnership with ZEE5, India’s leading streaming platform known for hosting politically provocative and socially relevant content.

Reports suggest that ZEE5 has acquired the OTT rights of The Bengal Files for over ₹70 crore, nearly double the film’s production budget. This substantial investment signals the platform’s confidence in the film’s ability to generate viewership and spark conversations despite—or perhaps because of—its controversial nature.

The Bengal Files will stream exclusively on ZEE5 from November 21, 2025, and the OTT giant announced its premiere by saying, “The story that demands attention. Get ready to witness the boldest chapter of Bengal. The platform’s promotional strategy positions the film as essential viewing for understanding overlooked historical narratives.

The Bengal Files OTT release date timing is significant—November marks the lead-up to the December holiday season when streaming viewership traditionally peaks, maximizing the film’s potential reach and cultural impact.

Vivek Agnihotri: The Filmmaker Behind The Files Trilogy

Vivek Agnihotri (also known as Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri) has established himself as Indian cinema’s most politically provocative filmmaker, building a career on exploring controversial historical narratives that mainstream Bollywood typically avoids. The Bengal Files is the third and final installment in Agnihotri’s The Files Trilogy based on modern Indian history, following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022).

The Files Trilogy represents Agnihotri’s mission to uncover what he considers suppressed or distorted historical truths. The Tashkent Files questioned the official narrative surrounding former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death in Tashkent in 1966, while The Kashmir Files became a cultural phenomenon by depicting the exodus and killings of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990. The Kashmir Files had collected ₹97.3 crore nett in its opening week. The lifetime collection of the movie stood at ₹252.25 crore in India and ₹341 crore worldwide, establishing Agnihotri as a commercial force capable of turning politically charged narratives into box office gold.

Vivek Agnihotri, earlier in a media statement, shared that The Bengal Files is not just a movie, but it is also a reminder of the chapter in history that was long forgotten. He shared his happiness that, since the movie will be released on an OTT platform, people will be more aware of the pain of Aamar Sonar Bangla.

Speaking about the purpose behind the project, Vivek Agnihotri stated, “The Bengal Files is not just a film; it’s a reminder. It’s about forgotten chapters of our conscience and the cost of silence. Through this story, we wanted to bring Bengal’s pain, courage, and truth to light”. This statement encapsulates Agnihotri’s self-perception as a truth-teller challenging historical amnesia rather than simply an entertainment provider.

Agnihotri announced the project in April 2022 following the success of The Kashmir Files. He initially titled the film The Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter to emphasise his belief that “the destiny of India is written in Delhi and not in Bengal”. In June 2025, Agnihotri officially renamed the film to The Bengal Files: Right to Life, reflecting the central focus on Bengal history rather than Delhi. This title evolution reflects the project’s shifting identity from a Delhi-centric perspective to one centered on Bengali experiences.

The Historical Narrative: Direct Action Day and Noakhali Riots

Written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, The Bengal Files delves into one of India’s darkest and most politically charged historical events, the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings and Noakhali riots. The film seeks to uncover stories of human loss, displacement, and survival during this violent period, shedding light on a chapter often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

The film portrays the tragic events surrounding Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946. Also known as the Great Calcutta Killings, the violence soon spread to surrounding regions of the Bengal Presidency, including the Noakhali riots and incidents in Tipperah. These events occurred just one year before Indian independence and Pakistani creation, representing a critical moment when communal tensions erupted into mass violence that foreshadowed the horrors of Partition.

Direct Action Day was called by the Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s leadership, demanding the creation of Pakistan. What began as political demonstration in Calcutta (now Kolkata) descended into unprecedented communal violence that claimed thousands of lives over several days. The violence then spread to rural Bengal, particularly the Noakhali district (in present-day Bangladesh), where minority Hindu communities faced targeted attacks, forced conversions, and displacement.

Agnihotri’s film approaches this history through his characteristic lens—emphasizing what he considers underreported suffering and challenging what he views as sanitized historical narratives. It presents a storyline focused on the Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, depicting the violence and its aftermath as a genocide.

The film’s 204-minute runtime—making it one of the longest Indian films—allows Agnihotri to present comprehensive historical scope while developing individual character arcs that personalize the historical tragedy. The film received an A (adults only) certificate from the CBFC, with a runtime of 204 minutes, with reasons citing extreme violence and gory content, indicating the unflinching brutality with which Agnihotri depicts historical violence.

Star-Studded Cast Led by Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher

The Bengal Files assembles veteran Indian cinema talents to bring this historical drama to life, with particular emphasis on Bengali actors to lend cultural authenticity.

The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Simrat Kaur, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Namashi Chakraborty, among others.

Mithun Chakraborty, the legendary Bengali actor and Bollywood icon, brings gravitas and regional authenticity as the film’s central figure. His casting represents both commercial appeal and cultural credibility—a Bengali star portraying Bengali history.

Anupam Kher, reportedly playing Mahatma Gandhi, contributes his established reputation for powerful performances in politically charged narratives. Vivek Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files, which featured Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher as Mahatma Gandhi, had crossed Rs. 19.59 crore at the domestic box office.

The filmmaker, known for exploring politically charged and fact-based narratives, faced both praise and controversy during the film’s theatrical run — including a temporary ban in Kolkata due to its sensitive subject matter.

Pallavi Joshi, Agnihotri’s wife and frequent collaborator, serves dual roles as lead actress and producer. Pallavi Joshi had initially refused to play her role, feeling it was too big a responsibility, and even suggested Agnihotri, her husband, to cast another actress of the character’s age. She eventually decided to play the character after much persuasion, indicating the emotional weight she associated with portraying this historical narrative.

Darshan Kumar, who also appeared in The Kashmir Files, represents continuity within Agnihotri’s Files universe, bringing established chemistry with the director’s vision and style.

Saswata Chatterjee, the acclaimed Bengali actor known for his role as Bob Biswas in Kahaani, became embroiled in pre-release controversy. Actor Saswata Chatterjee distanced himself from the controversy, revealing that he was unaware of the change in the film’s title from Delhi Files to The Bengal Files, while also reiterating that he was merely an actor who played a character and not a historian tasked with verifying historical claims.

Box Office Journey: From Blockbuster Expectations to Commercial Disappointment

The Bengal Files OTT release date arrives after the film’s disappointing theatrical performance—a stark contrast to The Kashmir Files’ phenomenal success that generated enormous expectations.

As per reports by Sacnilk, on its opening day, The Bengal Files earned Rs 1.75 crore at the Indian box office, a figure significantly lower than the Rs 3.55 crore that The Kashmir Files garnered on its first day. This underwhelming opening foreshadowed the film’s struggle throughout its theatrical run.

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files wrapped its theatrical run on a disappointing note. Released on September 5, 2025, alongside Baaghi 4 and The Conjuring: Last Rites, the political drama opened with around Rs. 1.35 crore on its release day. The film faced stiff competition from both a mass-market action film (Baaghi 4) and a Hollywood horror sequel (The Conjuring: Last Rites), both of which significantly outperformed it.

With a lifetime worldwide box-office collection of around Rs 26.36 crore, its digital release is expected to reignite discussions about its narrative and performances. This figure represents a fraction of The Kashmir Files’ collection and likely fell short of covering the film’s production and marketing costs.

The Bengal Files has collected ₹10.65 crore in a week in India, according to early estimates. While The Conjuring 4 and Baaghi 4 have minted ₹66 crore+ and ₹43 crore+ respectively in a week. The Bengal Files is currently lagging behind its screen competitors by a huge margin.

As per reports, the film has been made on a budget of Rs 30 crore. The film has a long way to go to achieve the budget mark. Ultimately, the film failed to recover even half its production budget theatrically, making the ZEE5 acquisition deal crucial for the producers’ financial recovery.

Several factors contributed to this commercial failure:

Regional Ban and Limited Screenings: A day before the film’s release, Pallavi Joshi alleged that the film had been unofficially banned in West Bengal, claiming theatre owners were being intimidated due to political pressure. The inability to screen in West Bengal—the very region whose history the film depicts—significantly limited its potential audience and box office reach.

Competition: September 5 saw three major releases competing for screens and audiences. Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 4 captured the mass action audience, while The Conjuring: Last Rites dominated horror fans, leaving limited space for The Bengal Files’ niche political drama appeal.

Controversy Fatigue: While The Kashmir Files benefited from controversy generating curiosity and political support, The Bengal Files’ controversies—actor distancing, regional bans, accusations of historical distortion—may have created negative associations rather than productive buzz.

Mixed Critical Reception: The film received criticism over its distortion of history, and was commercially unsuccessful. This critical skepticism likely dampened word-of-mouth recommendations essential for sustaining box office momentum.

The West Bengal Controversy: Politics and Cinema Collide

The Bengal Files became embroiled in intense political controversy even before its theatrical release, with the West Bengal situation dominating headlines and becoming inseparable from the film’s identity.

During the trailer launch at a Kolkata hotel on 16 August 2025, which was initially planned at a movie theatre, the screening was abruptly halted by Kolkata Police. Agnihotri criticised the move, and falsely claimed the screening were halted for political reasons. A senior Kolkata Police official later clarified that the organisers had failed to obtain an amusement license, which is required for hosting such screenings.

This trailer launch incident set the tone for the film’s contentious relationship with West Bengal authorities. While Agnihotri and his team characterized obstacles as politically motivated censorship, officials maintained that standard regulatory procedures weren’t followed.

On 20 June, 2025 former Bengal minister Purnendu Basu, during a press conference, said, “The BJP and RSS are trying to incite riots in Bengal through provocative politics. This film, The Bengal Files, directed by Agnihotri, is a deliberate distortion of Bengal’s history, just like his earlier propaganda film The Kashmir Files, which was promoted by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi for political gain”.

Filmmaker Haranath Chakraborty added that just casting a few Bengali actors is not enough for a film to have represented Bengal state or its culture. These criticisms from Bengali cultural figures questioned the film’s authenticity and Agnihotri’s authority to tell Bengali stories.

Pallavi Joshi wrote a letter to Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, urging protection of the film’s supposed constitutional right to be viewed. This escalation to India’s highest constitutional office demonstrates how the controversy became entangled with broader debates about artistic freedom, political interference, and regional autonomy.

Despite theatrical obstacles in West Bengal, special screenings eventually occurred: On Saturday, Vivek Agnihotri hosted a special screening of the movie at the National Library in Kolkata. Khola Hawa, a socio-cultural organization with notable BJP officials among its members, organized the city’s sole screening. Its leader, Suvendu Adhikari, is the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, and its president, Swapan Dasgupta, is a member of the BJP National Executive Committee.

The fact that the film’s Kolkata screening required political opposition organizing and a government-controlled venue (National Library) rather than commercial theatres illustrates the deep polarization surrounding it.

Why The Bengal Files Matters for OTT Audiences

The Bengal Files OTT release date offers several advantages over its troubled theatrical run, potentially finding the engaged audience that eluded it in cinemas.

Geographic Accessibility: The film will be available to stream on ZEE5 from November 21, 2025, allowing global audiences to experience its emotionally charged storytelling. Viewers in West Bengal and other regions where theatrical access was limited can now watch without regional restrictions.

Time for Reflection: The 204-minute runtime—prohibitively long for many theatrical audiences—becomes less daunting in home viewing where audiences can pause, reflect, and return across multiple sessions. Historical dramas with extensive scope often benefit from the flexibility of streaming consumption.

Contextual Viewing: OTT platforms allow viewers to research historical events while watching, fact-check claims, and engage with supplementary materials—creating more informed, critical viewership than passive theatrical consumption.

Debate and Discussion: ZEE5’s Hindi content head, Kaveri Das, shared: “We’re proud to bring The Bengal Files to a global audience. It’s a powerful cinematic experience that encourages reflection on truth and history”. The streaming format enables ongoing social media discussions, family conversations, and community debates that theatrical windows don’t always facilitate.

For history enthusiasts, the film offers a dramatized entry point into a lesser-known chapter of Indian history. For political cinema fans, it represents the culmination of Agnihotri’s provocative trilogy. For those interested in how cinema shapes historical memory and political discourse, The Bengal Files becomes essential viewing precisely because of—not despite—its controversies.

Director Vivek Agnihotri described the film as more than just cinema: “The Bengal Files is not just a film – it’s a reminder. It speaks of Bengal’s pain, courage, and the price of silence. Through ZEE5, this truth will now reach every home”. Whether one agrees with Agnihotri’s interpretation of history, his commitment to bringing marginalized historical narratives to mass audiences through commercial cinema represents a distinctive contribution to Indian filmmaking.

How to Watch The Bengal Files on ZEE5

Following The Bengal Files OTT release date, accessing the film requires:

ZEE5 Subscription: The series streams exclusively on ZEE5, requiring an active premium subscription. ZEE5 offers various subscription tiers with different price points and features.

Device Compatibility: Watch on smartphones (Android/iOS), tablets, smart TVs, laptops, web browsers, or through streaming devices like Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV—any device supporting the ZEE5 app.

HD Streaming with Subtitles: The film will be available in HD with subtitles, giving viewers the chance to experience Agnihotri’s bold vision and uncompromising storytelling from the comfort of their homes. Subtitles make the film accessible to non-Hindi speakers while HD presentation preserves the film’s visual scope.

Download Feature: ZEE5 premium subscribers can download The Bengal Files for offline viewing—ideal for watching during travel or in areas with unreliable internet connectivity.

Global Availability: While primarily targeting Indian audiences, ZEE5’s international presence means diaspora communities in the US, UK, UAE, and other markets can access the film, subject to regional licensing.

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