In Bulbbul, director Anvita Dutt evokes classic tales like Chokher Bali by Rabindranath Tagore and Saheb Bibi Aur Gulam to create a sweet yet pained narrative about the loss of innocence and what that means for oppressed women. Produced by Anushka Sharma, the film weaves folklore with feudal patriarchy, telling a story that, while somewhat predictable, strikes a chord for people who are acutely aware of the similarities between this tale and their own lives.
Satya (Avinash Tiwary) returns from London to his village, finding it terrorised by a string of murders thought to be perpetrated by a chudail (witch). He soon embarks on a quest to discover the truth, insisting that this was the work of a man. “Why can’t it be a woman?” his sister-in-law Bulbbul (Tripti Dimri) asks. He shrugs the question off, trying to comprehend how the sweet bade bahu had changed so much in the last five years. She still smiles, but her smiles are now more enigmatic and brash, hiding the pain inflicted on her by her husband Indranil and his twin Mahendra (both played by Rahul Bose).
Siddharth Dewan’s cinematography does well in creating a world that slides between reality and fantasy, where the night often brings with it a blood red tinge, signifying the presence of the supernatural. Amit Trivedi’s soundtrack complements the cinematography perfectly, creating a melancholic atmosphere that invokes the classic Thakumar Jhuli tales.
The mansion where Bulbbul resides is almost like a prison itself, and the jewelry that she wears, in particular the toe ring, are the shackles that keep her bound to her fate. The patriarchy around her is perpetrated by both men and women: Mahendra’s wife, Binodini (Paoli Dam) is quick to belittle her and her relationship with Satya, egging Indranil on towards jealousy. Bulbbul is wronged by almost everyone in her life who was supposed to support her. When Satya accuses her of adultery with the doctor Sudip (Parambrata Chattopadhyay), she can’t hide her disappointment, saying that Satya was the same as everyone else.
The ending doesn’t land perfectly, perhaps due to the film only being around one and a half hour long. Still, the direction and performances elevate the film above typical fair. Tripti Dimri is the standout, portraying both innocence in the flashback and a smiling nonchalance during the present scenes. Rahul Bose, who is used to characters that are entitled and uncaring of their wives, delivers another impactful performance. Avinash Tiwary also does well with a difficult character whose judgement and emotions are clouded by his upbringing and attachment to Bulbbul. Paoli Dam’s portrayal as the hooded, calculative Binodini doesn’t always get room to breathe, but she does well with what she’s given.
Bulbbul doesn’t always flesh out the ideas it explores, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
As a horror film, it might seem painfully predictable, but as a stylized soap opera, it definitely has its charms. It has a simple story, but it’s more than the sum of its parts.
