The Bengal Files OTT Deal Breaks Records — Starts Streaming on Zee5

Mumbai, November 21, 2025 — The wait is finally over for Vivek Agnihotri’s latest political drama. The Bengal Files is streaming now. The movie was released on the OTT platform Zee5 today. This release comes after a lot of talk about its box office run and a massive streaming deal. Fans who missed it in theaters can now watch it online.

How Much Were The Bengal Files OTT Rights Sold For?

The biggest news is the price of the streaming rights. Even though the movie had a slow run in theaters, the OTT deal is huge. According to India Today, the digital rights for The Bengal Files were sold to Zee5 for over ₹70 Crore. This number is shocking to many trade analysts.

The movie’s budget was reported to be around ₹35 Crore. This means the producers made a profit just from the streaming deal. The deal value is almost double the cost of making the film. This shows that streaming platforms are ready to pay big money for content that creates a buzz.

Why Streaming Platforms Offer High Prices

You might wonder why a platform would pay so much. The answer lies in “watch time” and controversy. Movies like The Bengal Files get people talking. As per Mint, the film explores the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali riots. These sensitive topics make people curious.

Streaming platforms like Zee5 know that the “Files” brand (after The Kashmir Files) brings in subscribers. They are not just paying for the movie; they are paying for the brand value of the director, Vivek Agnihotri. They expect high engagement and views, even if people did not go to the cinema halls.

The Bengal Files OTT Release Time and Windowing

Timing is everything in the OTT business. The Bengal Files was released in theaters on September 5, 2025. It has arrived on OTT on November 21, 2025. This is a gap of about 75 days (roughly 2.5 months).

The Times of India reported that this extended window was part of the strategy. Usually, Hindi movies come to OTT after 8 weeks (56 days). However, the makers waited a bit longer to build anticipation. This “windowing” strategy helps in keeping the movie relevant for a longer time. The 8-week window is standard, but big controversy films often negotiate better terms.

Cast and Plot Details

The movie has a strong cast. It features veterans like Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher. It also stars Pallavi Joshi and Saswata Chatterjee. The story focuses on a dark chapter of Bengal’s history during the pre-independence era. It tries to show the pain and struggle of the people during the 1946 violence.

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Opinion & Methodology

Opinion

This deal proves that Box Office numbers are not the only success metric anymore. The Bengal Files struggled to cross ₹27 Crore in theaters, which is a flop theatrically. However, a ₹70 Crore OTT deal turns it into a massive commercial hit for the producers.

Methodology

Streaming platforms evaluate films based on “Subscriber Acquisition Cost” (SAC). A controversial film might bring in 1 million new subscribers who want to see what the fuss is about. If 1 million users pay ₹500 for a subscription, the platform makes ₹50 Crore back quickly. Zee5 is betting on this “curiosity factor” rather than cinematic reviews. For the producers, this is a classic case of “table profit” where non-theatrical rights cover all costs and more.