The
Bengal
Files
OTT
release:
Vivek
Ranjan
Agnihotri
doesn’t
shy
away
from
making
films
based
on
nationalism,
and
he
has
no
qualms
about
discussing
how
his
projects
often
get
embroiled
in
controversy.
The
director
created
ripples
with
The
Bengal
Files,
stirring
controversy
before
the
release.
The
political
drama
received
flak
from
the
critics
for
incoherent
writing,
a
weak
screenplay,
and
being
a
‘propaganda
film’;
however,
Agnihotri
is
unpertubed
by
the
accusations.
Vivek
Agnihotri,
in
an
exclusive
interview
with
Filmibeat
Chief
Copy
Editor
Abhishek
Ranjit,
spoke
about
the
digital
release
of
The
Bengal
Files
and
the
controversy
surrounding
it.
Why
is
criticism
important
for
the
filmmaker?
The
Kashmir
Files
shared
his
insights
on
the
topics
he
selects
for
his
films
as
he
bared
his
heart
out
about
the
OTT
release
of
The
Bengal
Files
on
ZEE5.
Here
are
excerpts
from
the
interview-
Q-
Your
films
often
generate
strong
reactions.
How
do
you
approach
criticism,
debate,
or
controversy
around
the
subjects
you
choose
to
explore?
Yes,
there
is
criticism
for
everyone,
whether
it’s
Buddha,
Ram,
or
even
Newton.
So,
I
actually
believe
criticism
is
important;
it
keeps
you
grounded.
And
since
I
choose
to
make
politically
charged
films
on
controversial
subjects,
I’m
fully
aware
of
what
I’m
signing
up
for.
What
does
affect
me
sometimes
is
when
people
criticise
the
film
without
watching
it,
that
feels
unfair.
But
beyond
that,
I
genuinely
don’t
care.
Any
real,
constructive
criticism
about
the
film
is
something
I
take
very
seriously,
and
I
make
the
necessary
changes
when
required.”
The
Bengal
Files
faced
challenges
with
theatrical
release
in
a
few
states.
Now
that
the
film
is
streaming
on
ZEE5,
making
it
accessible
to
audiences
everywhere,
how
does
it
feel
to
see
the
film
find
a
wider,
unrestricted
viewership-especially
those
discovering
it
digitally
for
the
first
time?
It
was
very
sad
for
me
as
a
filmmaker
that
in
a
democracy,
a
film
titled
The
Bengal
Files
was
banned
in
Bengal.
As
of
a
result
of
the
ban,
people
began
pirating
it
and
watching
it
on
their
digital
devices,
something
no
filmmaker
ever
wants
to
see.
The
good
news
is
that
everyone
has
been
asking
when
it
will
be
released
on
OTT,
and
now
it
will
finally
be
released
on
ZEE5
on
November
21.
I’m
glad
that
audiences
across
the
world
will
be
able
to
watch
it,
learn
about
this
history,
and
ensure
that
in
a
free
India,
no
one
ever
participates
in
communal
violence
again.
The
Bengal
Files
is
exclusively
available
for
streaming
on
ZEE5.
Viewers
can
download
the
full
film
in
HD
format
for
offline
viewing
on
the
OTT
platform.