In recent years, a certain genre of films based on real-life political controversies and sensitive social issues has seen significant box office success. However, 2025 seems to be telling a different story. The poor performance of two recent films, Udaipur Files and The Bengal Files, suggests that audiences might be getting tired of narratives perceived to be driven by hate or propaganda.
The trend raises a serious question: Are viewers finally rejecting films that rely more on controversy than on content? Let’s look at the numbers.
Case Study 1: Udaipur Files Fails To Make A Mark
Released on July 11, Udaipur Files tackled the sensitive and tragic subject of the Kanhaiya Lal tailor murder in Udaipur. Despite dealing with a topic that sparked national outrage, the film failed completely to attract audiences to theaters.
According to box office reports, the film’s lifetime collection was a mere ₹2.34 crore worldwide. With India net collections at just ₹2.05 crore, Udaipur Files was declared a box office disaster. The numbers show a clear lack of interest from the general public, indicating that the controversial subject matter was not enough to pull in viewers.
Case Study 2: The Bengal Files Crashes After Initial Hype
Following a similar pattern, The Bengal Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, released on September 5, 2025. The film initially had a decent start, collecting an estimated ₹7.7 crore net in its first four days. This suggested total rejection, likely driven by the director’s reputation from previous such films.
On its fifth day, the film’s collections crashed dramatically, earning only around ₹0.05 crore (5 lakhs). This sharp drop indicates poor word-of-mouth and a strong rejection by the audience that did turn up in the first weekend. A film cannot sustain itself when collections fall off a cliff so steeply.
Directors’ Emotional Appeals Don’t Work
As these films struggled, videos of their directors making emotional appeals to the public surfaced. Bharat S Shrinate, director of Udaipur Files, and Vivek Agnihotri of The Bengal Files, urged audiences to watch their films, framing it as a matter of duty for Hindus. Shrinate was heard saying, “The way we have to beg you for every single ticket, no other film has to,” while questioning audience priorities: “If other movies spend 1-2 crore, you will buy tickets immediately.”
Agnihotri echoed similar sentiments, stating, “If the film doesn’t work, how will more films be made? After today, no Vivek Agnihotri will try to make this kind of film again.” Both directors warned audiences with lines like, “Today this is happening to us, tomorrow it will happen to you,” and positioned their films as crucial for the “nation and Hindus.” However, these high-stakes emotional pitches failed to translate into ticket sales. The audience, it seems, has decided to separate cinema from pure activism.
About Udaipur Files
Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder dramatizes the events surrounding the 2022 murder of Kanhaiyalal Teli in Udaipur. Directed by Bharat S Shrinate and Jayant Sinha, the film stars Vijay Raaz, Preeti Jhangiani, and Rajneesh Duggal among others, and attempts to explore the conspiracy behind the tragic event.
About The Bengal Files
The Bengal Files is directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and features a large ensemble cast including Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, and Saswata Chatterjee. The film explores controversial historical and political events related to Bengal.
(Also read: Dabangg Director Abhinav Kashyap Makes Shocking Claims: Calls Salman Khan A ‘Goon’ Who Is ‘Not Interested In Acting’ )
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