Exclusive: Vivek Agnihotary on India’s soft power, 10 US premiere of Bengal files
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has decided to premiere his film ‘The Bengali files’ in 10 American cities. But, what is this promotional strategy? He discussed this in a special interview with indiatoday.in.
In short
- Vivek Agnihotri 10 to premiere ‘Bengal files’ in American cities
- Promotion of film starting internationally before its Indian release
- Premier targeted diverse American audiences, including policy makers and communities
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri announced on Friday that he would perform his upcoming film ‘The Bengal Files’ at 10 Grand Premier in the US. In an interview with India Today, the director now opened his film to promote India as ‘soft power’, and started promotion worldwide in addition to the film’s marketing in India.
‘The Bengal Files’, which is the third chapter in his trilogy, will be displayed in mega-pillar across the United States, which began in New Jersey on 19 July and will end on August 10 in Houston. The Premier Tour will include special screenings in major cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC, Rale, Tempa, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area.
Agnihotri earlier talked about her decision to screen the film’s screening, and said, “At the time of ‘The Kashmir Files’, the first film of my trilogy, I realized that Indian films do not work as a soft power for India to create a grand tale in the world. ‘The Kashmir files’ unprecedented success.”
The director said that his films are standing for the truth, the kind of uncomfortable story, which is away from most filmmakers. He explained, “Because people wanted to know these stories, these truths wanted to know, but no one was telling them. The films that were the truth, were made small like our films, but they were only for domestic consumption, and the world never knew about those stories. So, instead of going to the international market, we decided that we would go to the top.”
Agnihotri talked about the ‘Top to Bottom’ approach to promote his film. He said that ‘The Bengal files’ will start promoting in the US with 10 Grand Premier across the country.
“We will start with the international market and come to India. This is something close to my heart, and I am very happy, happy and proud that the files of Bengal are going to reach people in America, policy maker, Congress, senator, media, people, blacks, blacks, Jews, Jews, for different international communities, and they will understand what to do for a community to protect a community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuzteiqOHouou
Agnihotri continues, “And this film states that, and that’s why I am taking the film to the USA, and all the local organizers and our national partners in USA, Kohona and GKPD are working so hard.
Agnihotri’s decision to promote ‘The Bengal files’ in the overseas market comes from the response of the audience of ‘The Kashmir files’ in the same market earlier. The filmmaker enjoys the growing global appeal and rising excitement for its kind cinema beyond India.
Earlier this month, a teaser was released for ‘The Bengal Files’, which featured all major artists. In a striking scene, the idol of Goddess Durga was surrounded by flames. Later, as the scene became a topic of discussion on social media, the filmmakers clarified that they had fully supported the story by research.
It was made in the headlines as a teaser: “If Kashmir hurts you, Bengal will bother you.”
The Bengal files are written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and are produced by Abhishek Aggarwal and Pallavi Joshi. It consists of Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher and Darshan Kumar. The film, presented by Tej Narayan Aggarwal and IM Buddha, is a part of the trilogy of Agnihotri’s files including ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Teashant Files’. It will reach theaters on September 5, 2025.