The highly anticipated The Bengal Files Review reveals whether this 2025 release lives up to expectations as Vivek Agnihotri’s latest controversial masterpiece. Every week brings new cinema releases, but does The Bengal Files Review stand out from the crowd with its hard-hitting portrayal of Bengal’s dark history? After watching this latest offering, we’re here with our complete analysis of this politically charged thriller that has divided audiences nationwide.
Movie Details Table
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| 🎬 Movie Name | The Bengal Files |
| 📅 Release Date | September 5, 2025 |
| ⭐ Star Cast | Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher |
| 🎥 Director | Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri |
| 🎶 Music Director | Rohit Sharma |
| 🕒 Runtime | 200 minutes (3 hours 20 minutes) |
| 🎬 Trailer | YouTube |
| 📱 OTT Platform | Expected on Zee5/Netflix |
| 📺 OTT Release | December 2025 (Expected) |
| 🏆 Our Rating | 3.5/5 Stars |
Cast & Characters – The Bengal Files Review
Main Cast
Pallavi Joshi as Bharti Banerjee (Old): Delivers a powerhouse performance as the elderly woman carrying decades of trauma from Bengal’s partition violence
Simratt Kaur Randhawa as Bharti Banerjee (Young): Shines as the young patriot fighting against British rule and communal violence during the 1940s
Darshan Kumar as Shiva Pandit: Plays the CBI officer investigating a missing girl case while uncovering Bengal’s dark past
Mithun Chakraborty as Former Police Officer: Represents those who stood up against injustice but were broken by the system
Supporting Cast
Anupam Kher – Mahatma Gandhi (Bapu)
Saswata Chatterjee – Sardar Husseini (Present-day politician)
Namashi Chakraborty – Ghulam Sarwar Husseini (1946 antagonist)
Eklavya Sood – Amar Singh Rathod (Sikh youth)
Cast Verdict: The ensemble brings remarkable depth and authenticity to their challenging roles, with standout performances from both Joshi variants.
Trailer Analysis – The Bengal Files Review
Trailer Highlights:
✅ Gives perfect glimpse of the film’s intense historical narrative without major spoilers
✅ Showcases stellar performances from the entire ensemble cast
✅ Builds anticipation effectively with Agnihotri’s signature hard-hitting style
✅ Music and visuals create powerful emotional impact
The trailer successfully warns audiences about the film’s brutal content while maintaining intrigue about the parallel timelines.
Trailer Verdict: Successfully creates buzz and sets proper expectations for the intense viewing experience.
OTT Release Details
Streaming Platform: Expected on Zee5 or Netflix
Expected OTT Date: December 2025 (3-4 months post-theatrical)
Subscription: Available with respective platform subscription
Languages: Hindi with subtitles in multiple regional languages
The Bengal Files Review Story
The plot revolves around CBI officer Shiva Pandit investigating a missing girl case in modern-day West Bengal, which leads him to uncover the horrific events of Direct Action Day 1946. What works magnificently is how The Bengal Files Review demonstrates the narrative’s ability to keep viewers engaged despite its challenging subject matter. Each scene builds momentum effectively, connecting past atrocities with present-day political manipulation.
Story strength: The screenplay delivers unexpected connections between 1946’s communal violence and today’s Bengal politics. Character development feels natural and authentic, particularly in showing how historical trauma shapes present-day decisions.
The film depicts the brutal Hindu massacre during Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, and the Noakhali riots that followed. However, the non-linear storytelling approach creates some confusion as it constantly shifts between timelines.
Performance Analysis – The Bengal Files Review
Lead Performances:
Pallavi Joshi: Delivers a career-defining performance as the elderly Bharti, perfectly capturing decades of suppressed trauma and wisdom
Simratt Kaur Randhawa: Shines in emotional sequences as young Bharti, with particularly memorable monologues about Bengal’s cultural significance
Darshan Kumar: Brings complexity to his role as the investigating officer, showing growth since his previous collaborations with Agnihotri
Supporting Cast: Saswata Chatterjee stands out with his dual portrayal of a modern politician, while Mithun Chakraborty adds gravitas to the narrative
Acting Verdict: The ensemble cast elevates the material significantly, with each performance contributing to the film’s emotional weight.
Technical Aspects – Music & Cinematography
Music Score:
Background music complements the story’s emotional intensity perfectly
No traditional songs, but the background score enhances dramatic moments effectively
Visual Treatment:
Cinematography captures the brutality and beauty of Bengal’s landscape authentically
Direction maintains engaging pace despite the 200-minute runtime
Graphics usage could have been more subtle in certain scenes
Technical Rating: 3.5/5 stars for solid production values with room for refinement.
The Bengal Files Review – What Works
✅ Stellar performances from entire cast, especially Pallavi Joshi and Simratt Kaur
✅ Unflinching portrayal of historical events rarely depicted in Indian cinema
✅ Powerful storytelling that connects past and present effectively
✅ Strong direction that extracts the best from every actor
✅ Authentic production design recreating 1940s Bengal
✅ Thought-provoking narrative about India’s forgotten history
Areas for Improvement
❌ Runtime excess – 200 minutes feels stretched and could benefit from tighter editing
❌ Graphic violence may be too intense for general audiences
❌ Confusing timeline shifts between past and present
❌ Limited commercial appeal due to heavy subject matter
❌ Pacing issues in certain sequences slow down momentum
Final Verdict – The Bengal Files Review 2025
Bottom Line: The Bengal Files Review delivers a hard-hitting historical narrative that demands attention, though it tests viewer patience with its length.
Target Audience: Perfect for mature audiences seeking serious historical drama and fans of Vivek Agnihotri’s previous work.
Worth Watching? Absolutely, if you can handle intense historical content and have patience for a lengthy viewing experience.
Weekend Plans? Make this your choice for serious cinema, but prepare mentally for disturbing historical depictions.
OTT Worth? Definitely worth waiting for OTT if you prefer watching such intense content at home with breaks.
Rating & Recommendation
⭐ Our Final Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Recommendation Level: Worth Watching (3-3.5 stars) – A significant film that addresses important historical events despite execution flaws.
Where to Watch:
🎬 Theaters: Currently running nationwide
📱 OTT: Coming to streaming platforms in December 2025
🎥 Trailer: Available on YouTube and social media platforms