Assamese Filmmaker Bhargav Saikia’s ‘Bokshi’ Heads To Indian Cinemas After Global Festival Run

Most independent Indian films struggle to secure a theatrical release. Bokshi, directed by Assamese filmmaker Bhargav Saikia, took a different route. It first travelled across some of the world’s most respected film festivals before booking its date with Indian audiences.

Now, after winning recognition on the international festival circuit, Bhargav Saikia’s debut feature will finally arrive in theatres across India on October 9, 2026.

For audiences in Assam, the release marks a significant milestone. Saikia, who hails from Biswanath, has become one of the few filmmakers from the state to take an independent feature to globally acclaimed festivals before its domestic release.

Bokshi made its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2025. It later became the only Indian feature film selected for the 2025 editions of major genre festivals, including Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland and SXSW Sydney in Australia.

Set in the forests of Sikkim, Bokshi follows Anahita, a troubled teenager whose school trek to a remote prehistoric site slowly descends into a terrifying mystery linked to an ancient legend. As folklore and reality collide, she is forced to confront forces beyond her understanding.

Unlike many modern horror films that depend heavily on computer-generated imagery, Bokshi was shot over more than 80 days in the dense forests of Sikkim using practical effects. The makers believe the natural landscape itself becomes one of the film’s most unsettling characters.

The film also introduces Boksirit, a fictional language created exclusively for the project by Dutch linguist Jan van Steenbergen. According to the makers, Bokshi is only the second Indian feature film after Baahubali to feature a fully developed fictional language.

Produced independently under the banner of Lorien Motion Pictures, Bokshi stars Prasanna Bisht, Mansi Multani and Siddharth Shaw, while veteran actor Shernaz Patel voices the film’s mysterious titular character.

Debutant Harsh Vaibhav has written the screenplay.

Before making Bokshi, Saikia had already built a reputation through independent cinema. After studying filmmaking at Whistling Woods International in Mumbai, he produced the critically acclaimed Kaafiron Ki Namaaz and directed award-winning short films including The Black Cat and Awakenings.

Bokshi marks his first feature as director and producer.

At a time when horror films in India are increasingly leaning towards comedy and spectacle, Bokshi chooses a quieter path.

Drawing from Himalayan folklore, psychological tension and practical filmmaking, Bhargav Saikia’s debut has already earned global attention.

Its theatrical release this October will reveal whether Indian audiences are ready for the same journey.

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