Movie Review: Bulbbul

Movie Review: ‘Bulbbul’
Rating: 3/5
Director: Anvita Dutt
Cast: Avinash Tiwary, Tripti Dimri, Paoli Dam, Rahul Bose, Parambrata Chattopadhyay.

Set in 19th century Bengal, Bulbbul an aristocratic Thakuraeen with mysterious aura and condescending smile has a storm inside her head. On his return from London, Satya Thakur (Avinash Tiwary), the male lord of the family discovers Bulbbul’s secret liaisons and wonders what she has been hiding. Meanwhile, the village encounters a series of supernatural deaths, attributed to a daayan (witch). What’s lurking in the village and the Thakur haveli? Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest entertainment and lifestyle news.

Anvita Dutt, who has also written the film, has made a prodigious directorial debut with Bulbbul. The film combines the classic elements of Gothic horror with the sensibilities of a Rabindranath Tagore story. The film is big on thriller elements and is a hugely feminist product as well.

Don’t go looking for an engaging thriller and you won’t be disappointed. At its heart, Bulbbul is a melancholic social tragedy. A metaphor for caged existence, broken dreams, lost childhood, unrequited love and veiled sexual and emotional abuse. A tragedy can make or break you. Can you draw strength from it instead? Bulbbul the film, reflects upon this thought as it condemns the culture of silence that women are subjected to. It reminds you what you are truly capable of, once you decide to avenge injustice and seek redemption. Like its intriguing protagonist, there’s more to Bulbbul, than meets the eye.

However, if watching people being tormented and traumatised, disturbs you, this one’s not for you. The film moves at a languid pace and struggles to hold your attention. The story also feels incomplete when it comes to exploring relationships. A lot is left unsaid and deserved a deeper understanding of characters. Excessive usage of red lighting in night scenes doesn’t quite work and feels amateurish. For a period drama, the production design is a tad underwhelming. A tighter narrative could also have worked better.

On the positive side, talented newcomers Tripti Dimri and her Laila Majnu co-star Avinash Tiwary reunite in this film and interestingly, their roles are reversed here. If Avinash pined for Tripti in the previous film, it’s the other way round here. Same goes for performances. Laila Majnu was an out and out Avinash Tiwary show and Bulbbul belongs to Tripti Dimri, who owns every frame with her striking good looks and mysterious charm. The actress displays immense growth as an actor and is bound to have a bright future ahead. Rahul Bose, Paoli Dam and Parambrata Chattopadhyay are as integral to the story as the lead pair and deliver compelling performances. Haunting music by Amit Trivedi and historical costumes by Veera Kapur deserve a special mention. Producers Anushka Sharma and Karnesh Sharma deserve a pat on the back for backing content that’s intriguingly dark, layered and courageously different.

Overall, it’s a fantastic debut for Anvita Dutt. Bulbbul feels like it’s been directed by an experienced hand and not a newbie. The film deserved a big-screen release and we hope it gets one in the future.