The Bengal Files, Vivek Agnihotri’s latest release, is facing a challenging run at the box office. After a decent opening, the film’s daily earnings have steadily declined, falling below Rs 1 crore per day by its second week in theatres. As the final chapter in Agnihotri’s much-discussed Files saga, The Bengal Files has had a turbulent journey at the box office.
According to Sacnilk, The Bengal Files earned Rs 26 lakh on its second Thursday. The total collection at the end of the second week stands at Rs 15.72 crore. The film opened with a solid Rs 1.75 crore on Friday and saw a slight increase over the weekend, earning Rs 2.25 crore on Saturday and Rs 2.75 crore on Sunday. However, collections dipped significantly during the weekdays that followed.
Vivek Agnihotri wrote and directed The Bengal Files. The film centers on the violence and aftermath of genocide, highlighting how certain chapters of history have been deliberately overlooked.
The Bengal Files Faces Criticism
The film is the third and final episode of Agnihotri’s The Files Trilogy, which delves into contemporary Indian history, following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022). With a length of 204 minutes, it is one of the longest Indian films and was released in theatres on September 5, 2025. Critics panned the film after its premiere, accusing it of distorting historical events.
The Bengal Files Storyline
The Bengal Files portrays the horrific events of Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, widely known as the Great Calcutta Killings. The unrest quickly spread across the Bengal Presidency, including the Noakhali riots and incidents in Tipperah and Comilla. Through its cinematic narrative, the film illustrates how these events shaped India’s journey toward independence and the eventual partition.
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