‘Bulbbul’ Review: The feminist fable we needed

Think about the last horror movie that kept you on the edge, not merely because of jump scares but rather because of the multitude of issues it tackles? A horror movie that compelled you to think and reflect?

Couldn’t think of one, could you?

But leave it to Anushka Sharma in the current millennium to produce movies that combine the elements of supernatural and poignant issues with sheer brilliance and beauty. Netflix’s latest offering ‘Bulbbul’ is just that and more.

Revisiting the classic fable of a ‘chudail’, with feet facing backward and a thirst for human blood, Bulbbul tells a story of a young girl who is married off as a child, in late 19th century Bengal.

Child marriage and the wrongdoings subjected to her by society, Bulbbul (played by Tripti Dimri) grows up with a vengeance. After all, a beautiful woman who cannot care less about being dependent on a man was considered dangerous back then.

But what do I know, that’s the case even now. Patriarchy clearly, and sadly, is going nowhere.

Reminiscent of Satyajit Ray’s ‘Charulata’, the movie engulfs you as it moves back and forth, dissecting the unspoken love between Bulbbul and her brother-in-law Satya (played by Avinash Tiwary).

A jealous and raging husband Indranil (Rahul Bose); a mentally-challenged but vicious brother-in-law Mahendra (played again by Rahul Bose); and a competitive sister-in-law Binodini (Paoli Dam) are all responsible for the atrocities Bulbbul has to encounter throughout her life.

Why you ask? Simply because she’s a woman. A woman whose life has to be directed by everyone around her, BUT her.

While the plot is given away in the first few minutes of the movie, it does not stop the director Anvita Dutt from keeping you immersed throughout. Add to that a brilliant soundscape by Amit Trivedi and the shades of red that engulf the movie throughout symbolic of a married woman’s clothes, sindoor, and the sacrifices she has to make.

Bulbbul is intricately woven, with a story that takes upon subjects of misogyny, feminism, patriarchy, and child marriage, making us all wonder why isn’t this being discussed more.

Splendid performances by a not-so-nepotistic cast, excellent cinematography, and the eerie, mystical story, Bulbbul will keep you engaged, not by being spine-chilling but by being too real and representative of what most women around us go through.