The trailer of BULBBUL makes a statement that it is a "Fairy Tale Like No Other"; yes, it is a story of a fairy godmother protecting women from men who violate their bodies and strip them off their identities, their existence. Women who can invoke the supernatural to control people or events had been termed as 'witches' or 'demon-woman' by the society for ages.
A production by Clean Slate Filmz, the film begins with the imagery of red flowers blooming, Blood Moon, peacock feathers spiralling into the blooming of a flower and the invocation of the Third-Eye (signifying the transcendence into a realm of higher consciousness). Written and directed by Anvita Dutt Guptan, who is also known as the script-writer for women-oriented films like QUEEN and PHILLAURI, turns into a director with BULBBUL which is set in nineteenth-century feudal Bengal.
The colour red is present throughout the movie be it the Awlata (red-dye applied on the hands and feet of Bengali women), red Banarasi saree, blood, the Blood Moon, the red night sky signifying the various phases that the protagonist goes through - be it love, passion, sensitivity, rage, danger, determination, courage. Red is also the colour of the Holy Spirit. It makes us ponder upon whether 'Chudails' are actually evil, or is it patriarchy which makes us believe that women who cross their boundaries of domestic bliss to question the patriarchal norms or to avenge the atrocities are deemed evil and malicious. Bulbbul, the protagonist is married off to middle-aged zamindar babu Indranil (played by Rahul Bose) finds a friend in her husband's younger brother, Satya. As she grows up, Bulbbul, the 'Kolonkini Radha' played by Tripti Dimri finds herself attracted to Satya, played by Avinash Tiwary. The transformation of Dimri from naively in love to one who is at the helm of the zamindari household through body language and expressions is a treat to watch. Paoli Dam as Binodini and Parambrata Chattopadhyay as Dr. Sudip is effortless and breathes life into the character. It is through analepsis that the whole story is narrated.
The red sky and the Blood Moon against which the story is set and the murders take place, prophesies the beginning of an end - an end to the atrocities on women by men. It is interesting to note that the moon is symbolic of feminine energy, a spiritual connection, a reincarnation. In this case, it is Bulbbul's spiritual connection with Maa Kali, who is the Hindu goddess of death and destruction and her reincarnation as the Chudail with twisted legs after being mercilessly beaten by her husband and raped by her brother-in-law Mahendra (twin-brother, played by Rahul Bose) makes BULBBUL a revenge story wrapped in the garb of supernatural drama.
There is an eco-feminist approach in the climax where Mother Earth and Bulbbul merge together and is burnt literally and metaphorically (in love) by Satya.
BULBBUL is not the story of a particular woman or a particular age - it resonates with women of all class, age, race, and across time-period, who are subjected to patriarchal domination. BULBBUL calls for the breaking of the age-old shackles of pain and oppression. Yes, it is a fairy-tale which can turn real with women standing up for their own rights.
The colour red is present throughout the movie be it the Awlata (red-dye applied on the hands and feet of Bengali women), red Banarasi saree, blood, the Blood Moon, the red night sky signifying the various phases that the protagonist goes through - be it love, passion, sensitivity, rage, danger, determination, courage. Red is also the colour of the Holy Spirit. It makes us ponder upon whether 'Chudails' are actually evil, or is it patriarchy which makes us believe that women who cross their boundaries of domestic bliss to question the patriarchal norms or to avenge the atrocities are deemed evil and malicious. Bulbbul, the protagonist is married off to middle-aged zamindar babu Indranil (played by Rahul Bose) finds a friend in her husband's younger brother, Satya. As she grows up, Bulbbul, the 'Kolonkini Radha' played by Tripti Dimri finds herself attracted to Satya, played by Avinash Tiwary. The transformation of Dimri from naively in love to one who is at the helm of the zamindari household through body language and expressions is a treat to watch. Paoli Dam as Binodini and Parambrata Chattopadhyay as Dr. Sudip is effortless and breathes life into the character. It is through analepsis that the whole story is narrated.
The red sky and the Blood Moon against which the story is set and the murders take place, prophesies the beginning of an end - an end to the atrocities on women by men. It is interesting to note that the moon is symbolic of feminine energy, a spiritual connection, a reincarnation. In this case, it is Bulbbul's spiritual connection with Maa Kali, who is the Hindu goddess of death and destruction and her reincarnation as the Chudail with twisted legs after being mercilessly beaten by her husband and raped by her brother-in-law Mahendra (twin-brother, played by Rahul Bose) makes BULBBUL a revenge story wrapped in the garb of supernatural drama.
There is an eco-feminist approach in the climax where Mother Earth and Bulbbul merge together and is burnt literally and metaphorically (in love) by Satya.
BULBBUL is not the story of a particular woman or a particular age - it resonates with women of all class, age, race, and across time-period, who are subjected to patriarchal domination. BULBBUL calls for the breaking of the age-old shackles of pain and oppression. Yes, it is a fairy-tale which can turn real with women standing up for their own rights.
