Gopal Mukherjee’s grandson files complaint against Vivek Agnihotri over ‘defamatory portrayal’ in Bengal Files

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has landed in fresh controversy over his upcoming film The Bengal Files, as the grandson of Gopal Mukherjee — popularly known as Gopal Patha — filed a complaint accusing the director of portraying his grandfather in a derogatory manner. The complaint was lodged at Bowbazar Police Station, with a legal notice also sent by the family.

Shantanu Mukherjee, Gopal Patha’s grandson, alleged that derogatory terms had been used against his grandfather, who he described as a “brave heart who had taken up arms to fight for the Bengalis.” He said Agnihotri neither sought the family’s permission nor reached out to them for research before depicting his grandfather’s role in the 1946 Calcutta Riots.

In his complaint letter, Shantanu wrote that Agnihotri had referred to his grandfather as a “butcher” and attributed violent actions to him during Direct Action Day, which he argued was defamatory and misleading. He urged the police to register an FIR and stop what he called an “unchecked enterprise” that damaged the legacy of his grandfather.

Meanwhile, Agnihotri claimed that Kolkata Police blocked the scheduled trailer launch of The Bengal Files at the last moment, saying permission was not granted despite his request. The BJP condemned the move, while Agnihotri questioned whether Bengal was functioning under a “special constitution.” The film, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar and Pallavi Joshi, is slated for release on September 5.