1 hour agoEntertainment
39LENS
2 SourcesWest Bengal, India
thebalanced.newsThe Bengal Files to Release in West Bengal After Previous Screening Delays
Namashi Chakraborty's film The Bengal Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, is set to release in West Bengal on May 15, 2026, after facing delays and controversy. Originally released across India in September 2025, the film did not screen in West Bengal at that time. Namashi recalled being denied the trailer screening and feeling unwelcome during a 2025 promotional event in Kolkata. The release follows the BJP's recent electoral victory in the state. He expressed hope that all residents of Bengal will watch the film, emphasizing that "truth doesn't have a religion."
Political Bias
20%50%30%
Sentiment
52%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 2 sources
● Left 20%● Center 50%● Right 30%
The articles present perspectives linked to political developments, noting the film's release in West Bengal following the BJP's electoral win. The actor's comments highlight alleged resistance during the previous state government, implying political influence on the film's distribution. Coverage includes the viewpoint of the film's team without direct statements from opposing political entities, reflecting a focus on the film's release context amid political change.
Sentiment — Neutral (52/100)
The overall tone is cautiously positive, focusing on the film's eventual release and the actor's relief. There is an undercurrent of tension related to past difficulties during promotions, but the sentiment centers on hope for audience reception. The coverage balances the controversy with anticipation, avoiding overtly negative or celebratory language.
How 2 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| indianexpress | 'We were shooed out': Namashi Chakraborty recalls as The Bengal Files set to release in West Bengal | Right | Neutral |
| ndtv | Namashi Chakraborty Recalls Being 'Shooed Out' Of i Bengal Files i Kolkata Event: "Truth Doesn't Have Any Religion" | Center | Neutral |
Coverage timeline
ndtv broke this story on 13 May, 09:23 am. Other outlets followed.
- 1ndtv13 May, 09:23 amNamashi Chakraborty Recalls Being 'Shooed Out' Of i Bengal Files i Kolkata Event: "Truth Doesn't Have Any Religion"
- 2indianexpress13 May, 12:00 pm'We were shooed out': Namashi Chakraborty recalls as The Bengal Files set to release in West Bengal
Lens Score breakdown
39/100
Public interest12/100
Coverage gap100%
Story is receiving appropriate media attention relative to public interest.
Accountability flags
TBN's analysis identified the following accountability dimensions in this story.
- abuse of power
This story involves alleged misuse of official authority or institutional position to achieve personal or political ends.
- rights violation
This story involves alleged violations of constitutional or human rights — freedom of expression, due process, custodial rights, minority rights.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Government
PoliceWest Bengal Government
Political
BJPTrinamool Congress
Enforcement
Police
Story context
- Category
- Entertainment
- Location
- West Bengal, India
- Sources analysed
- 2
- Last analysed
- 13 May 2026
- Key entities
- Vivek AgnihotriBengalWest BengalMithun ChakrabortyNDTVSanjay DuttKolkataIndiaHindi cinemaHindusNikhil NandaAbhijeet Bhattacharya
Related Coverage
Select a news story to see related coverage from other media outlets.