The Bengal Files director Vivek Agnihotri had back in March reportedly stated that there is simply no way that the release of his forthcoming film can be denied in West Bengal. After the reports regarding possible barriers or even a ban on the film release in the state, Agnihotri has announced to take legal course in the case of such restrictions.
He underlined the freedom of expression and right of the audience to see varying stories, as he explained categorically: If they bar us, we will resort to a legal program. It is our right to express the stories to be told to the audience.
Legal Action Against Ban
The attitude by Agnihotri highlights his willingness to bring to task any efforts to block the screening of the film in the court of law. This statement shows that he is enshrined in the right to freedom of speech and expression under the constitution, which is applied to cinematic works. Agnihotri would initiate the legal challenge in case the government of West Bengal or any other entity were issuing a ban to release the film, The Bengal Files.
The trend evident in this approach is an increasing wave of film producers and writers enlisting the law, litigation when their work is censored or otherwise curtailed in different sections of the country.
Freedom of Expression Advocacy
The highly charged response of the director also throws the argument of artistic freedom and censorship in India to the fore. The fact that Agnihotri states that the audience deserves to know the stories that it is hearing=one that places his film in a context of greater democratic ideals. His readiness to take part in a court battle underlines his relation to the total freedom of spreading his creative ideas and his attitude to providing the people with various visions.
This scenario is likely to contribute more debates to the debate between artistic freedom and possible fears about the safety of the society or harmony in the society, which is usually found as the justification of restraining films.
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