Guwahati: Following an acclaimed run at some of the world’s leading international film festivals, Assam filmmaker Bhargav Saikia’s directorial debut feature ‘Bokshi’, which is set in Sikkim, is slated for a theatrical release in India on October 9, 2026.
Produced independently by Lorien Motion Pictures, ‘Bokshi’ had its World Premiere at the prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2025.
‘Bokshi’ also holds the distinction of being the only Indian feature film showcased at the 2025 editions of some of the world’s leading international genre film festivals which include the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland, and SXSW Sydney in Australia.
Speaking about the theatrical release of the film, director and producer Bhargav Saikia said, “We are thrilled to bring ‘Bokshi’ to our home audiences after an exciting 2025 festival tour, including screenings at iconic festivals like Rotterdam (IFFR) and Sitges. Crafted specifically for young audiences, ‘Bokshi’ is a horror film made to be experienced on the big screen.”
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Originally from Biswanath in Assam, Bhargav Saikia is now based in Mumbai and is the founder of Lorien Motion Pictures.
He began his professional filmmaking career as the producer of the acclaimed independent feature ‘Kaafiron Ki Namaaz’ in 2014. His directorial works include the short films ‘Awakenings’, which screened at international genre festivals including Sitges and the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, and ‘The Black Cat’, an official adaptation of Ruskin Bond’s short story starring Tom Alter and Shernaz Patel.
‘The Black Cat’ was nominated for Best Director and Best Fiction Film at the Critics’ Choice Short Film Awards in 2018. Saikia is making his feature directorial debut with ‘Bokshi’.
Penned by debutant screenwriter Harsh Vaibhav, ‘Bokshi’ follows a troubled teenager Anahita, whose school trek to a remote prehistoric site unravels unsettling connections to an ancient legend. As myth and reality begin to converge, she is drawn into a haunting mystery that forces her to confront the unknown.
Commenting on the film’s theatrical release, Harsh Vaibhav who also serves as the executive producer said, “Bokshi is a fearless story about power, belief, and the narratives that shape us. We can’t wait for audiences to experience its world in theatres this October.”
Starring Prasanna Bisht (Chiraiya, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya), Mansi Multani (Kadakh, A Suitable Boy) and Siddharth Shaw (Do Gubbare, Chiraiya) in pivotal roles along with Shernaz Patel (Black, Guzaarish) as the voice of the titular character, ‘Bokshi’ is a multilingual film featuring Hindi, English and Nepali, along with Boksirit – a fully developed fictional language spoken by select characters in the film.
Renowned Dutch linguist Jan van Steenbergen created Boksirit exclusively for the film, making ‘Bokshi’ the second Indian feature after ‘Baahubali’ to feature a fully developed fictional language.
What further distinguishes ‘Bokshi’ from conventional horror films is its commitment to practical filmmaking. Instead of relying on heavy VFX or CGI, the film employs practical effects and was shot extensively in the dense forests of Sikkim for over 80 days. The natural landscapes lend the film an unsettling authenticity, heightening its sense of mystery and creating an immersive atmosphere of psychological dread.
An ambitious folk horror feature and an independent film in the truest sense, ‘Bokshi’ features cinematography by A. Vasanth (Game Over) and debutant Siddharth Sivasankaran with editing by Himanshu Saikia, sound design by Dhiman Karmakar (Amar Singh Chamkila, Main Vaapas Aaunga) and music by Advait Nemlekar (Special Ops, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, Aashram).
The film’s Indian theatrical distribution is being handled by Sethumadhavan Napan.
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