Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Bulbbul’ on Netflix, A Suspenseful Tale About A Child Bride and a Murderous Spirit

This Hindi-language film is the directorial debut from lyricist and screenwriter Anvita Dutt, and is another entry into Netflix India’s original film slate. How does this period piece stack up?

BULBBUL: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Bulbbul is a child bride in 1880s India, married off to a royal but unloving man, Indranil. Bulbbul takes a liking to her husband’s brother, Satya, who is the same age as her, and after noticing their attachment, Indranil sends Satya away to London to study.

Years later, Satya returns to his village and to Bulbbul, who now carries herself differently after Satya’s departure. Satya arrives not only to a changed household, but also a changed village. He begins investigating the many mysterious murders that are occurring around town, but never looks in the most obvious place.

What Will It Remind You Of?: Bulbbul‘s central murder suspect is largely believed by the villagers to be a “demon woman” that appears in red mist before she kills a man. Stay with me here…but the image of her silhouette against a red backdrop immediately brought back memories of Game of Thrones‘s resident Lady in Red, Melisandre. The mystery and intrigue around both characters only adds to the striking similarity.

The setting of opulent 19th century India and a forbidden love storyline will also give you Devdas vibes, one of the most tragic but beloved Bengali tales of all time.

Performance Worth Watching: Tripti Dimri’s central performance as Bulbbul is crucial to the film, and she knocks it out of the park. Dimri is beguiling, coy, inviting, and mysterious all at the same time, making her a strong new on-screen talent for Indian cinema.

Memorable Dialogue: “Can you tell me a story?” Bulbbul and Satya’s friendship and distant, unspoken love is predicated on the stories that they tell each other, starting on the night of Bulbbul’s marriage and continuing on until the day he is sent away. Spoken and written, these stories are their attachment in physical form and are a crucial piece of evidence for Indranil’s jealousy.

Sex and Skin: Unfortunately the only sex we get is a rape. While it’s obviously horrifying to watch, its existence is pivotal to the film and not included just for shock value, so I will allow it.

Our Take:  From the first frame, Bulbbul pulls you in–the colors are rich, the setting is luscious, the costumes are regal, and the score is haunting. As a story, I love the way that Bulbbul blends genres: Satya and Bulbbul’s story of starcrossed lovers is the undercurrent of the film, but mystery, sci-fi and thriller aspects are interwoven delicately throughout. While I saw the film’s reveal coming from a mile away (and I suspect you will, too), there were still moments of genuine surprise and I was fully immersed throughout.

Subtly, Bulbbul is a feminist film that showcases the plight of women while celebrating the ways that they prevail in the face of cruelty. Bulbbul and her sister-in-law Binodini endure major trauma at the hands of their husbands and the other men in their sphere, and without much agency over their lives, they are inevitably pitted against one another. Dutt is careful in her contrast between the two women. One has chosen to suppress her true feelings, while the other wears her heart on her sleeve; they are two ends of the same stick.

The best part, aside from the heaps of praise I have already shelled out, is that Bulbbul manages to tell this beautiful and intricate story in an hour and 34 minutes. *Insert raising hands emoji*

Our Call: STREAM IT. Suspenseful, visually arresting, and chock-full of charismatic performances, Bulbbul is an incredibly impressive debut from director Anvita Dutt and a must-see for your next movie night.

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Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared on Paste Magazine, Teen Vogue, and Brown Girl Magazine. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.

Watch Bulbbul on Netflix