Assam Filmmaker Bhargav Saikia’s ‘Bokshi’ Set for India Release on October 9
Following a successful run at leading international film festivals, Assamese filmmaker Bhargav Saikia's folk-horror feature 'Bokshi' is set for a nationwide theatrical release on October 9, 2026.
GUWAHATI- After earning recognition at several of the world’s leading international film festivals, Assamese filmmaker Bhargav Saikia’s debut feature film ‘Bokshi’ is set for a nationwide theatrical release on October 9, 2026. Set in Sikkim, the independently produced folk-horror film had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025.
The film has also been showcased at some of the world’s premier genre film festivals, including the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland and SXSW Sydney in Australia. According to the filmmakers, Bokshi was the only Indian feature film selected for these major genre festivals in 2025.
Speaking about the theatrical release, director and producer Bhargav Saikia said the team is excited to bring the film to Indian audiences after its international festival journey. He described Bokshi as a horror film crafted especially for young audiences and intended to be experienced on the big screen.
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Originally from Biswanath, Assam, Saikia is the founder of Lorien Motion Pictures and is currently based in Mumbai. Before making his feature directorial debut with Bokshi, he produced the independent feature Kaafiron Ki Namaaz and directed acclaimed short films including Awakenings and The Black Cat, the latter receiving nominations at the Critics’ Choice Short Film Awards.
Written by debutant Harsh Vaibhav, the film follows Anahita, a troubled teenager whose school trek to a remote prehistoric site uncovers disturbing links to an ancient legend. As myth and reality begin to merge, she is drawn into a mystery that forces her to confront the unknown. Vaibhav said the film explores themes of power, belief and the narratives that shape human lives.
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The film stars Prasanna Bisht, Mansi Multani and Siddharth Shaw, while veteran actor Shernaz Patel lends her voice to the titular character. Bokshi is a multilingual production featuring Hindi, English and Nepali, along with Boksirit, a fully developed fictional language created exclusively for the film by Dutch linguist Jan van Steenbergen. According to the production team, it is only the second Indian feature film after Baahubali to feature a fully developed fictional language.
Unlike many contemporary horror films, Bokshi relies primarily on practical effects rather than heavy CGI or visual effects. The film was shot over 80 days in the dense forests of Sikkim, with the natural landscape contributing to its psychological atmosphere and visual authenticity.
The production features cinematography by A. Vasanth, editing by Himanshu Saikia, sound design by Dhiman Karmakar, music by Advait Nemlekar, while Sethumadhavan Napan is handling its theatrical distribution in India.
