Multilingual folk-horror feature film ‘Bokshi’, directed by Bhargav Saikia, is set for an India theatrical release on October 9, following a successful run at leading international film festivals, its makers said on Wednesday.Produced by Lorien Motion Pictures, Bokshi had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2025, according to a statement issued by the production house.The film also holds the distinction of being the only Indian feature showcased at the 2025 editions of major genre festivals, including Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain, Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland and SXSW Sydney in Australia, it added.Speaking on the theatrical release, producer-director Bhargav Saikia said, “We are thrilled to bring Bokshi to our home audiences after an exciting 2025 festival tour. Crafted specifically for young audiences, Bokshi is a horror film made to be experienced on the big screen.”Penned by debutant screenwriter Harsh Vaibhav, the film follows Anahita, a troubled teenager whose school trek to a remote prehistoric site unravels unsettling connections to an ancient legend. As myth and reality converge, she is drawn into a haunting mystery that forces her to confront the unknown.“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,” said Vaibhav, who also serves as the film’s executive producer.The cast includes Prasanna Bisht, Mansi Multani and Siddharth Shaw in pivotal roles, with Shernaz Patel voicing the titular character.A multilingual film, Bokshi features Hindi, English, Nepali and Boksirit — a fully developed fictional language created exclusively for the film by renowned Dutch linguist Jan van Steenbergen.“With this, Bokshi becomes only the second Indian feature after ‘Baahubali’ to feature a constructed language,” the statement claimed.Shot in the dense forests of Sikkim, the film distinguishes itself through its commitment to practical effects instead of heavy VFX or CGI, lending it an unsettling authenticity and psychological dread.The technical team includes cinematography by A Vasanth and Siddharth Sivasankaran, editing by Himanshu Saikia, sound design by Dhiman Karmakar and music by Advait Nemlekar.
