Charak: Bengali Folklore To Hit Cannes, What Is This Film About?

Where cinema is a festival, style is a dare, and the red carpet is a celebration, the Cannes Film Festival 2025 has surprised us right from the start with a selection of Indian films! Cannes is not just about gowns and glam, it's an experience. And this time too, India is at the centre of that experience. Proudly we Indians can say that our very own Bengali Folklore Charak is going to hit 78th Cannes Festival. Are you excited to know about the film?

Charak Tells A Real-horror story

Charak, a story of Bengali folklore now on the world stage. Courtesy of Shiladitya Maulik. Shiladitya Maulik's new film 'Charak', made about the faith, blindness and reform of 'Charak Puja', has received a nomination at Cannes this time. Such international recognition surrounding the folk heritage of Bengal is undoubtedly surprising.

The film shows that preparations for Charak have begun in a remote village. The villagers are busy celebrating like every year. Charak monks are preparing themselves for the specific day by fasting and worshipping Lord Mahadev. At that time, two children from the village had disappeared! They are nowhere to be found. When they were finally found, they were dead. It is believed in that region that if a human child of a certain age is sacrificed, a lot of wealth can be gained. So, out of that kind of greed, a child has been sacrificed! 

Such a heart-wrenching incident can be seen in Shiladitya's second Hindi film. The shooting is done in Purulia, Jharkhand, and several other places.