I was hooked to Bulbbul from the very first look of the short clip that was released by Netflix India. After watching Betaal, I was curious to see what Netflix India had to offer in the name of horror. And let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. To be honest, you might not become a fan of the film, but you certainly can’t hate it.

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Background score and screenplay

Set in the early twentieth century in Bengal, the story is a striking and beautifully haunting portrayal of events. From the first minute, you will be a fan of the background score. It is eerie and makes you restless, but something about it is enchanting. It sets the perfect mood for the movie to follow through. And so does the ominous lighting of the movie. In tones of orange and red, it immediately catches your attention, building the elements of this horror fairytale perfectly.

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An exciting blend of reality and fantasy

The movie is the perfect description of your grandmother’s frequently told tales of witches and demons. The purani haveli, haunting background music, nighttime shots, and unexplained deaths come together to make a wholesome horror story.

The movie starts with the wedding ceremony of Bulbbul, a little girl who barely even knows the meaning of marriage. She becomes a child bride to Indranil, a landlord who is thrice her age. The boy she presumes is her groom is actually her younger brother-in-law, Satya. She forms a special bond with him, and they spend their childhood immersed in stories and folklore.

Then, the movie moves forward 20 years, and a lot has changed. The little Bulbbul turns into an enigmatic, witty, and strong woman. The badi bahu and thakuraayan of the haveli now has an unsettling charm about her. And as Satya returns from London after completing his education, things take a quick turn. What follows next is a series of mysterious deaths of men in the village. And the rumoured cause? The chudail, of course.

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Well-written characters in a gripping tale

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Even though at some point, you do realise what the climax is going to be, you won’t be able to turn your attention away. Every single character is carefully written, and their portrayals are spot on. Tripti Dimri (Bulbbul) and Rahul Bose (Indranil and Mahendra) gave brilliant performances and had an amazing pull towards their characters. And even the rest of the cast — Avinash Tiwary, Paoli Dam, and Parambrata Chattopadhyay — stood out and brought the story together.

Final thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Bulbbul and every single plot twist in it. And what I enjoyed even more was the unpredictability of the story. You might not love it, but you will definitely not hate it. Put this on your watchlist for this week.