Guwahati: Indian horror film ‘Bokshi’, extensively shot across Sikkim and inspired by the region’s myths, folk traditions and landscapes, has released its trailer ahead of its nationwide theatrical release on October 9.
The trailer introduces a folk-horror story centred on Anahita, played by Prasanna Bisht, a troubled teenager who joins a school expedition into the mountains. What begins as a mountain trek gradually takes a darker turn when the group encounters a mysterious site linked to an ancient legend and a feared figure known as Bokshi.
The film combines forests, mountains, rituals and supernatural elements, with Sikkim’s landscape playing an important role in the story. Mansi Multani plays Shalini, Anahita’s mysterious history teacher, who becomes part of the unfolding mystery.
Directed and produced by Bhargav Saikia, with Harsh Vaibhav as writer and executive producer, the film has a strong connection with Sikkim.
The filmmakers spent nearly three years travelling through the region and researching its culture, folklore and landscapes before production began. The film was later shot over an 80-day schedule at various locations across East Sikkim, West Sikkim and around Gangtok.
Rather than using the region only as a backdrop, the filmmakers have made its forests, mountains and cultural setting an important part of the film’s visual and narrative identity.
The production also involved several local artistes from Sikkim. The cast includes Trishala Tamang, Biru Tamang, Avishek Lama, Prabhat Pakhrin, Bhasker Pradhan and Yangnim Subba, among others.
Sikkim-based line producer Timoti Rai worked with the filmmakers during the research and production process and helped develop the project in the state.
‘Bokshi’ has already travelled to international film festivals before its theatrical release in India. The film has also attracted attention from filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who shared its trailer on Instagram and expressed his interest in the project.
The October 9 release will be particularly significant for audiences in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills, where much of the film was created and shot.
For the filmmakers, bringing the movie to theatres in the region offers audiences an opportunity to see familiar mountains, forests and cultural influences represented through a folk-horror story.
With its mix of local folklore, supernatural elements and real Himalayan landscapes, ‘Bokshi’ is positioning itself as a horror film that draws much of its identity from the region where its story took shape.
