Actress-producer Pallavi Joshi has penned an open letter to President of India Droupadi Murmu pleading to protect her constitutional right and let “The Bengal Files” be shown in West Bengal peacefully.
Pallavi took to Instagram, where she shared the note with the headline: “AN OPEN LETTER TO HER EXCELLENCY, SMT. DROUPADI MURMU JI (sic). She wrote: “Respected Madam President, With a heavy heart, I reach out to you, not for favours, but for protection.”
She shared that the film, which releases on September 5, is the final chapter of the “Files Trilogy”. She went on to mention that the film portrays the “long-suppressed truth” of the Hindu genocide during Direct Action Day, the horrors of Noakhali, and the Partition trauma.“The Bengal Files, the final part of the Files Trilogy, releases on 5th September.
It tells the long-suppressed truth of the Hindu genocide of Direct Action Day, the horrors of Noakhali, and the trauma of Partition. But in West Bengal, truth is under siege. Years before completion, the Chief Minister mocked the film.
Since then, baseless FIRs have been filed, our trailer was blocked by police, and even newspapers avoid carrying ads. My family is threatened every day by political party workers,” she added. In her letter, Joshi claimed that despite no official ban, “The Bengal Files” is facing an “unofficial ban” in West Bengal as “theatre owners have told us they are being intimidated, threatened and are refusing to screen it, fearing violence by ruling party workers.”
“There is no official ban, yet an unofficial ban silences the film before people can see it.”The actress-producer shared that the film also has the support of veteran actor Victor Banerjee, along with several Bengali organisations in India and abroad.
“Legendary actor, Padma Bhushan Victor Banerjee, along with many Bengali organisations in India and abroad, have already petitioned you. Their support proves that truth still has allies,” she wrote.Calling the film the “cry of Maa Bharati”, she added: “The Bengal Files is the cry of Maa Bharati, scarred yet unbroken, a story of survival and hope.
As a woman who rose from the margins to the highest constitutional office, only you can truly understand what it means to endure such pain and turn it into purpose. This is cinema of truth. But truth also needs protection.
Pallavi concluded the post by saying: “Madam President, I seek not a favour for a film but space for art, for truth, for Maa Bharati's soul to speak without fear. You are my final hope. Please protect our constitutional right and let The Bengal Files be shown in West Bengal peacefully.
With respect and gratitude, Pallavi Joshi Producer, The Bengal Files.”Pallavi captioned the post: “URGENT APPEAL. Your Excellency, @presidentofindia, As Producer of #TheBengalFiles, I am pained that multiplex chains in Bengal have refused the film’s release under political pressure and threats by the ruling party. I plead for your intervention to uphold my constitutional rights and ensure its release in Bengal.”