‘Bokuler Buke Roktokorobi’: Finding empathy in the uncanny

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Rakshanda Rahman Misha

‘Bokuler Buke Roktokorobi’: Finding empathy in the uncanny

Photos: Courtesy

Imagine getting the chance to take revenge on someone who has wronged you. That is at the heart of the upcoming fantasy-thriller film “Bokuler Buke Roktokorobi”, which explores revenge through a blend of fantasy and reality. We take an exclusive sneak peek at the film, starring popular pair Mir Rabby and Priyontee Urbee under the direction of Shahrear Polock.

When I first caught a glimpse of its demo, what immediately caught my attention was its unusual title, “Bokuler Buke Roktokorobi”. As it turns out, the name came to the director rather unexpectedly.

“Actually, when we started shooting the film, the story was not fully developed yet. The idea came to me rather suddenly, as we were under pressure to complete the work within a specific timeline,” Polock said.

At the centre of the story is Bokul, played by Priyontee Urbee, who seeks revenge after being humiliated. Mir Rabby takes on the role of the antagonist, who is always seen with a roktokorobi, or red oleander flower, tucked behind his ear. These two elements eventually came together to give the film its unusual title.

If you are a fan of Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, there is another reason to look forward to the film. “Bokuler Buke Roktokorobi” features a song performed by Shafqat alongside Bangladeshi singer Shithi Saha, with music composed by Adit Rahman.

Polock’s close friendship with Shafqat eventually led to the singer lending his voice to the film.

“Shafqat Amanat Ali is one of my close friends. I directed a music video for him when he came to Bangladesh under the Sufiscore banner. At that time, Shithi Saha, Adit Rahman and I worked on a Bangla song with him. There is also a Hindi version of the song, which has already been released. I had saved the Bangla version for my film. At the time, I was determined that if I ever made a film, I would use that song in a romantic sequence,” the director said.

While supernatural stories often rely on overtly frightening imagery – objects flying through the air, figures floating or bodies contorting in unnatural ways; Polock has chosen a different approach. Rather than treating the supernatural presence as something designed purely to frighten, he attempts to portray what it might look like if such a being simply existed and moved through the world naturally. Instead of fearing her, the film wants the audience to sympathise with her.

One thing I noticed was the extensive use of prosthetic makeup, which proved particularly challenging as much of the filming took place during the chilly December weather. Urbee had to endure extensive prosthetic makeup, while several of the murder scenes also required substantial prosthetic work. Instead of hiring a professional, the director entrusted the work to members of his own team, including his cousin Sohana, a student at Rajshahi University. Some of the equipment required for the work was also brought in from abroad.

A significant portion of the film was shot in an industrial area in Narsingdi, while sets for a morgue and a police station were constructed in Manikganj. The extreme cold and dust were among the biggest challenges during filming. The director also wanted to capture natural fog and smoke in several scenes, which proved difficult to film.

As Polock describes the film as belonging to the “fantasy realism” genre, its post-production and technical work required additional time and attention. He hopes to release the film this year and is currently in discussions with several multiplexes and platforms.

Apart from Urbee and Mir Rabby, the film also stars Saiful Islam, Asif Ahmed, Kuntal Buki and Shahodot Shishir.

Polock describes “Bokuler Buke Roktokorobi” as a story that reflects the experiences of girls across Bangladesh. Through the film, he also hopes to leave parents with a message about being more conscious of their children’s safety and thinking twice before sending them somewhere alone.