Bulbbul

Bulbbul

Year: 2020

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Anvita Dutt

Echo Score: 78
ThrillerHorrorFantasyHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

A young bride grows into a mysterious woman, ruling her household while haunted by a painful history. As supernatural events and the unexplained deaths of men grip her village, she must confront the secrets of her past and the darkness surrounding her. The story unfolds as a unique and unsettling fairy tale.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Bulbbul yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Bulbbul (2020)

Trace every key event in Bulbbul (2020) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Child marriage sets Bulbbul's fate

In a 19th-century Bengal village, Bulbbul is married off to wealthy lord Indranil at the age of five, starting a life she does not choose. She grows up under Indranil's household while developing a close, protective bond with Satya. The village whispers about a witch called the chudail, a legend that shadows Bulbbul's world from the start.

early 19th century Bengal Presidency village
2

Bulbbul and Satya's childhood friendship

Bulbbul and Satya grow up as close friends, sharing stories and imagining the chudail together. Their innocent companionship becomes a quiet rebellion against the expectations placed on them. The legend of the chudail threads through their afternoons and secret conversations.

childhood village home
3

Satya returns; upheaval signals change

Twenty years pass and Satya returns from London after five years away. In the interim, Indranil's mentally challenged twin Mahendra is killed, and his widow Binodini moves to an outhouse; Indranil has left the village. Bulbbul has stepped into Indranil's role in his absence, while the village doctor Sudip regularly visits to check Bulbbul's injured feet.

20 years later village
4

Suspicion falls on Sudip

With another murder in the village, Satya grows suspicious of Doctor Sudip's involvement. He suspects Sudip of being linked to the killings attributed to the chudail, though the evidence remains murky. The fearsome reputation of the chudail hangs over Bulbbul and the villagers alike.

present village
5

Bulbbul investigates a village suicide

A village boy tells Bulbbul that his mother killed herself after her husband took a second wife, prompting Bulbbul to seek out the man. The pursuit exposes the painful gender injustices faced by women in the area. Bulbbul's curiosity marks the start of a personal awakening.

present village
6

Flashback: Binodini's jealousy and manipulation

Through flashbacks, Binodini is shown as jealous of Bulbbul and hints that Bulbbul loves Satya. Her plotting plants seeds of mistrust in Indranil's mind and drives a wedge between Bulbbul and Satya. The past begins to shape the present with dangerous consequences.

flashback flashback
7

The manuscript burned

Bulbbul and Satya had been collaborating on a story, but heartbroken, Bulbbul burns the manuscript in the fireplace. Indranil retrieves only the title page, misreading the names as evidence of an affair. His anger hardens into a resolve to separate Bulbbul from Satya.

flashback fireplace room
8

Indranil's brutal assault on Bulbbul

Enraged, Indranil beats Bulbbul and mutilates her feet with iron bars, leaving her bedridden. While she recovers, Mahendra assaults her, and in a sadistic moment, suffocates her accidentally. The violence shatters Bulbbul's innocence and seeds a new, terrible awakening.

flashback estate/house
9

Bulbbul awakens: transformation and Kali's sign

After the trauma, Bulbbul undergoes a supernatural transformation, turning into a powerful and fearless woman. A blood-red moon signals the goddess Kali's support as she embraces a mission to defend women and punish those who harm them. The change marks the birth of the chudail within Bulbbul.

post-trauma village
10

Bulbbul's vigilante justice against male abusers

From then on, Bulbbul acts as an avenger, targeting men who abuse, murder, or exploit girls. Her killings blur the line between monster and savior, and she is effectively the chudail the village has feared. Among her targets, Mahendra is also killed as part of her quest for vengeance.

post-transformation village
11

Present-day confrontation and revelation

In the present day, Satya escorts Sudip toward Calcutta as the village road is terrorized by the chudail. A driver is killed in the commotion, and Satya confronts the possibility that Sudip is innocent. He shoots at the chudail but ends up in a confrontation with Sudip; a forest fire erupts, revealing Bulbbul's true identity as the chudail.

present day village, forest, Calcutta
12

Aftermath: Indranil's empty estate and Bulbbul's vengeance

A year later, Indranil returns to his empty estate, unaware of the fates that befell his family. Satya leaves the village, burdened by guilt for not stopping the tragedies. That night, Bulbbul appears to Indranil, smirks, and hints that she will kill him as revenge.

one year later Indranil's estate

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07

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