Keywords
Bengali Gothic, Gender Trauma, Ecofeminism, Ecogothic, Supernatural, Agency.
Abstract
Bulbbul, directed by Anvita Dutt, is a feminist tale of trauma, revenge and spectral justice against the haunting backdrop of a crimson-lit colonial Bengal. Pushing the boundaries of conventional horror tropes, Bulbbul situates itself as a regional Gothic tale where the lush forests of Bengal become a witness to the violence and trauma inflicted upon the female body. The film evokes a distinct eco-gothic sensibility wherein the suffering incurred by the female body is reflected in the wounds endured by the natural world, both shaped by the oppressive forces of patriarchy and colonialism. This paper aims to explore Bulbbul as not just a tale of gender trauma but as a powerful story of reclamation of agency and justice. Bulbbul’s metamorphosis into the supernatural figure of the ‘chudail’, that is simultaneously demonized and deified, can be seen as a powerful response to trauma, affording her the power and agency to exact revenge on the abusers in society that are complicit in silencing and dehumanizing women. The supernatural, thus, is positioned as a means for marginalized women to reclaim power and deliver justice otherwise denied in a colonial-patriarchal society. This paper also aims to illuminate the ecofeminist elements that pervade the film’s narrative focusing on Bulbbul’s affinity to the natural world. Nature, at once, becomes a refuge as well as a site of horror showcasing the intertwining relationship between women, nature, and the supernatural.
