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Bulbbul

24 June 2020Hindi1h 34m
FantasyHorrorThriller
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 6 scored reviews · 4 not rated

Striking feminist fable, but its thin script can't match its visual ambition.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: feminist themes and visual craft
  • Criticised: thin, predictable script

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Critic consensus

What 10 critics are saying

Critical reception for Bulbbul is mixed-to-positive, with reviewers broadly appreciating its feminist thematic ambitions and its blending of the supernatural, feudal, and mythological to critique patriarchy. Several critics praised Anvita Dutt's confident debut direction and the film's visual style, while Tripti Dimri's performance was singled out. However, a recurring criticism is that the script is underwritten, the plot thin and predictable, and the pacing stretched despite its short runtime — with at least one critic finding it outright boring.

How the 6 scores spread

4 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 10 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (10)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review

    Bulbbul is fashioned as a sharply relevant fable. It is a powerfully feminist, revisionist tale of a woman wronged, and it is told with economy, precision, style and feeling.

  2. Filmfare

    Film review

    Overall, it's a fantastic debut for Anvita Dutt. Bulbbul feels like it's been directed by an experienced hand and not a newbie. The film deserved a big-screen release and we hope it gets one in the future.

  5. News18

    Film review

    Actually, the film hugely impresses, despite an underutilised Avinash Tiwary, for the first few minutes, but then it slowly eases its grip over the audience which keeps looking for a thicker plot but gets only the most likely outcomes. Despite being only 94-minute long, Bulbbul seems stretched and repetitive.

  8. Hindustan Times

    Film review

    Over-directed but underwritten, Bulbbul is a visually striking film that is let down by a weak script. Because the characters are so thinly written and the surprises so carelessly telegraphed, Dutt's film is forced to rely more heavily on technical details.

  10. The Hindu

    Film review

    Anvita Dutt does something similar but adds to the locale. She mixes the feudal with the supernatural and the spooky, the mythological and the fablesque to strike at the putrid core of patriarchy in a thoughtful, moving, engaging and powerful manner.

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