Bhargav Saikia's Bokshi Set for World Premiere at IFFR 2025

Directed by filmmaker Bhargav Saikia, Bokshi (meaning "Witch" in Nepali) is a unique folk horror fantasy filmed in the deep forests of Sikkim in Northeast India. The film will have its world premiere at the prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025. It has been selected in the Harbour section of the festival, which is named after the city of Rotterdam, known for its port. This section focuses on contemporary cinema from around the world. The festival will run from January 30 to February 9, 2025.

Bokshi features an ensemble cast including Mansi Multani (known for A Suitable Boy and Pari) and Prasanna Bisht (Faerie). The film is a multilingual project, featuring Hindi, English, Nepali, and a constructed language called Bokxirit, which is spoken by some characters in the film. This fictional language has been specially created for the film by the renowned Dutch linguist Jan Van Steenbergen and is presented as the ancestor of all modern languages.

The script for Bokshi has been written by debutant screenwriter Harsh Vaibhav. The story follows a troubled teenager, Anahita, who embarks on a school trip to a little-known prehistoric site and finds herself immersed in a long-forgotten myth. The journey turns terrifying as she is forced to confront her deepest fears, and the horrifying presence of the "Bokshi" threatens to come alive.

Bhargav Saikia, known for his award-winning short fantasy film The Black Cat, which was based on the works of Ruskin Bond and featured Tom Alter and Shernaaz Patel, is making his feature debut with Bokshi. His short film Awakenings (2015), a horror film, was showcased at various prestigious genre festivals, including Sitges and Neuchatel.

Excitement About Bokshi's World Premiere at IFFR

Expressing his excitement about Bokshi's world premiere at IFFR, Bhargav Saikia says, "IFFR is an ideal platform for launching my debut feature. The festival is known for its sharp programming and commitment to discovering new talent. Bokshi is an ambitious indie project and a genre-defying film that took almost five years to complete. I am grateful to IFFR for giving us this dream premiere!"

The story of Bokshi revolves around the troubled teenager Anahita, who finds solace in a mysterious history teacher, Shalini, who takes her on a trip to a little-known prehistoric site called The Nevel. As the journey takes them into an ancient forest, the trip takes a terrifying turn as mysterious connections emerge between Anahita and a cult that worships the legendary "Bokshi," a monstrous figure from ancient folklore. As Anahita grows closer to the forest’s mystical heart, she is forced to confront the terrifying myth of the "Bokshi" and the dark past she is linked to.

Bhargav Saikia’s Vision for the Film

Bhargav Saikia, originally from Assam in Northeast India, says he is particularly drawn to stories that explore life and the human condition through elements of fantasy and horror. "Bokshi is the journey of a young girl haunted by the demons of her past," he shares. "Told through the lens of folk horror and fantasy, it is a story of female rebellion, magic, shame, and eco-horror. The film is set in Northeast India, a region steeped in folklore, myths, and legends, which greatly influenced the narrative."

One of the unique aspects of Bokshi is its use of a completely invented language, Bokxirit, spoken by witches in the film. This language, designed to be the ancestor of all modern languages, was specially created for the film by renowned Dutch linguist Jan Van Steenbergen. Bhargav is especially excited about the inclusion of this language, which he feels adds a rich cultural layer to the film.

About Lorian Motion Pictures and Bhargav Saikia’s Career

Bhargav Saikia is the founder of Lorian Motion Pictures, the production company behind Bokshi. Lorian's productions have been showcased at several major film festivals, including the Jeonju International Film Festival, Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, and Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival. Lorian's feature project The Ordeal was an official selection at the 2018 Bifan N.A.F.F co-production market. Bokshi, their horror-fantasy feature, is set to have its world premiere at IFFR 2025.

by Shantishwarup Tripathi