Vivek Agnihotri’s “Files Trilogy”– What You Need to Know, the Most Controversial

08-30 9:24

A powerful trilogy of political drama films:

Let’s break it down 👇

1️⃣ The Tashkent Files (2019)

🔍 Theme: Mystery behind PM Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death in 1966

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A journalist digs into unanswered questions about Shastri’s sudden death after signing a peace treaty in Tashkent.
The film presents debates, clues, and theories—but no clear answer.
Won National Awards but also faced criticism for its style and lack of strong evidence.

🎖️ Awards: Best Dialogues, Best Supporting Actress

2️⃣ The Kashmir Files (2022)

🛑 Theme: Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s

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Focuses on a young man learning about the tragic truth of his family’s past.
Highlights the pain, loss, and silence around the mass migration of Kashmiri Hindus.
Hugely successful at the box office and sparked nationwide discussions.

🔥 Controversy:

Critics accused the film of being one-sided, promoting hate, and lacking historical context.

🏆 Awards: Best Feature Film on National Integration, Best Supporting Actress

📺 Now streaming on ZEE5 (also in Sign Language)

3️⃣ The Bengal Files (2025)

📽️ Theme: Bengal’s communal riots during British rule (1946)

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Focus: Direct Action Day and Noakhali Riots before India’s independence
Follows an investigator uncovering violence and forgotten truths from history
Film claims to show “suppressed genocide” and aims to “haunt” the audience emotionally.

⏳ Runtime: 204 minutes

📅 Releasing: 5 Sept 2025

🎭 Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Saswata Chatterjee.

⚠️ Controversies Around The Bengal Files:

Legal notice from family of Gopal Mukherjee (a historical figure) for showing him wrongly
Political tensions in Bengal; Trailer launch event disrupted twice
Critics fear it may repeat the same one-sided narrative style

🗣️ Director Agnihotri calls it “the most powerful story of the trilogy”