Bulbbul starts off with a child bride being wedded to Bodo Thakur of haveli. She meets a boy her age and she assumes she’s marrying Satya; it must be so because he is more of her age. She is wrong.
Satya and Bulbbul spend most of their time telling each other stories of witches, losing themselves in the undiscovered corners of the haveli, and in each other. That witch, of course, is very real, perhaps we’ve all seen her around us, and described that way because we failed to define her otherwise. Our limitation, her limitlessness. They grow co-dependent, but more importantly, she finds a safe house in him, something very few would understand, and fewer would accept.
Bullbbul cleverly uses the fairytale trope here to trap the audience. Even if you know what’s unfolding before you is a fantasy, it is just so fun that you cannot help but be mesmerised. The actors’ performances, of course, come in handy in this Netflix offering.
Bulbbul is a brave commentary on patriarchy, and how strong women who cannot be boxed or chained have threatened it in every century. Therefore, they must be burned, just so the phallic pillars of patriarchy can remain standing tall. Except once in a while, a Bulbbul is born from those ashes. And a fairy tale unfolds. We need more movies like Bulbbul, Stree and Pari in the industry which shows us the truth about the horrors done to women and that men will be held accountable for their actions one way or another.
People have many different comments about this movie, many wanted a horror movie and not got what they imagined. I loved the ending with the ulludwani of the witch. It would surely freak a non-bengali out for not knowing it’s significance.
