“The Bengal Files” continues its underwhelming theatrical run in week 2, with collections dipping significantly and heading toward a disappointing conclusion. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s latest offering maintains a low-yet-steady run in the second week, but the movie is expected to wrap its theatrical run soon, marking a stark contrast to the phenomenal success of “The Kashmir Files.”
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The Bengal Files Box Office Performance Overview
| Collection Details | Figures |
|---|---|
| Opening Day | ₹1.75 crores |
| Week 1 Total | ₹10 crores (approx) |
| Day 8 Collection | ₹11.8 crores total |
| Runtime | 204 minutes |
| Kashmir Files Comparison | Only 25% of TKF’s 3-day business |
| Current Status | Disappointing performance |
| Budget | Undisclosed (Mid-budget) |
Stark Comparison: Bengal Files vs Kashmir Files
The numbers tell a sobering story of unfulfilled expectations. On its opening day, The Bengal Files scored an estimated 1.75 crores net, which falls short when compared to The Kashmir Files’ opening of 3.55 crores net, nearly double the start of Agnihotri’s latest offering.
Week 1 Performance Gap
The contrast is even more striking when comparing first-week collections: The Kashmir Files earned ₹100 crores in its first week, while The Bengal Files managed only ₹10 crores. This represents a massive 90% drop in audience interest between the two films.
Historical Context: The Kashmir Files Phenomenon
Released in March 2022, The Kashmir Files was a surprise blockbuster that stunned the industry with an opening of over 3.50 crores net, followed by phenomenal word-of-mouth, eventually grossing over 300 crore worldwide, setting an impossibly high bar for its successor.
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Why The Bengal Files Failed to Connect
Content and Runtime Challenges
The Bengal Files presents a storyline focused on the Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, depicting the violence and its aftermath. With a runtime of 204 minutes, it is one of the longest Indian films, which may have deterred casual moviegoers.
Market Fatigue and Competition
The film faced stiff competition from multiple releases and possibly suffered from franchise fatigue. While The Bengal Files has already earned more than The Vaccine War (2023), its earnings are much lower than the big success of The Kashmir Files.
Critical Reception Impact
Poor reviews have significantly impacted collections, with the film managing only ₹2.25 crore on its second day, bringing the two-day total to just ₹3.79 crore.
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The Files Trilogy: A Mixed Legacy
Trilogy Performance Summary
The Files trilogy shows diminishing returns:
- The Tashkent Files (2019): Modest success
- The Kashmir Files (2022): Blockbuster phenomenon (₹340+ crores)
- The Bengal Files (2025): Commercial disappointment
Industry Implications
This performance highlights the unpredictable nature of content-driven cinema and the difficulty in replicating viral success. It also demonstrates that even established filmmakers with proven track records cannot guarantee box office success.
Learn more about trilogy performance patterns in our Cinema Analysis and Bollywood Business sections.
This article is regularly updated with the latest box office figures and industry analysis. For more entertainment business insights, visit our Box Office Updates section.
Related Articles: Vivek Agnihotri Filmography | Bollywood Box Office Failures 2025 | Content Cinema Trends
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much has “The Bengal Files” collected compared to “The Kashmir Files”?
A: “The Bengal Files” has severely underperformed compared to its predecessor. While “The Kashmir Files” earned ₹100 crores in its first week and eventually crossed ₹340 crores worldwide, “The Bengal Files” managed only ₹10 crores in week 1 and around ₹12 crores total by day 8. The opening day collection was ₹1.75 crores versus ₹3.55 crores for “The Kashmir Files.”
Q: Why did “The Bengal Files” fail at the box office despite being part of a successful trilogy?
A: Several factors contributed to the disappointing performance: the film’s excessive 204-minute runtime deterred audiences, poor critical reception impacted word-of-mouth, and market fatigue after the franchise’s previous success. Additionally, the film faced competition from other releases and possibly suffered from the high expectations set by “The Kashmir Files'” phenomenal ₹340+ crore success.
