BULBBUL

Dir. Anvita Dutt

A cult classic based on the same old Bengal presidency theme, we have seen before, with the remakes of RN Tagore stories, and those concepts from Satyajit Ray's masterpieces like Charulata. It comes with similar theme in centre, calling genre as horror, but I'd say it's more thriller or a whodunit show, encircling feminism and male toxicity.

The story is a dark fairy tale, story of revenge, also carries bits of Indian mythological elements. The film connects several dots of patriarchal control in society, ignorance to brutality, even death. Something like a simple toe ring is used to symbolize the shackling women spirit. 'Wear it to remind you not to stray too far in mind or body.'

Usually as any story takes a turn towards supernatural or miraculous activities, it either gets 'reasoned' with fun, or justice to the conflict. But fewer of them are made so well for the viewer to genuinely make-believe. The storytelling delves from past to present, in a row simultaneously of culture, beauty, love, separation, pain, intense pain, and death of a kind, that blossoms into a 'Devi', healing other lives. Like a good fairy tale, it is as horrific as it is gorgeous. It's such clean, empathizing and immortal fable; now it's very uncommon to stumble into a regional cult classic like this one.