Family of freedom fighter challenges portrayal in Agnihotri's 'Bengal Files'

A storm of controversy has erupted ahead of the September 5 release of Vivek Agnihotri's Hindi film The Bengal Files, with the family of renowned freedom fighter Gopal Mukherjee—popularly known as Gopal Pattha—accusing the filmmaker of grossly misrepresenting their ancestor.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

The Mukherjee family has filed a formal complaint, lodged an FIR, and issued a legal notice against Agnihotri, alleging that the film disparages Gopal's legacy and threatens to inflame communal tensions.

The trigger was the film's trailer, where Gopal is introduced as "Ek Tha Kashai Gopal Pattha" —literally, "Once there was a butcher, Gopal Pattha." The portrayal, the family argues, reduces a respected wrestler and nationalist leader to a communal thug.