Shot across Sikkim, globally acclaimed horror film ‘Bokshi’ heads to theatres this October

GANGTOK, : Following an acclaimed run at some of the world’s leading international film festivals, Sikkim-set horror film ‘Bokshi’ is slated for a theatrical release in India on October 9.

Directed by Mumbai-based Assamese filmmaker Bhargav Saikia, written by Harsh Vaibhav, and produced independently by Lorien Motion Pictures, ‘Bokshi’ had its World Premiere at the prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2025.

‘Bokshi’ also holds the distinction of being the only Indian feature film showcased at the 2025 editions of some of the world’s leading international genre film festivals which include the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland, and SXSW Sydney in Australia, a press release informs.

With the support of the Information and Public Relations (IPR) Department, Government of Sikkim, ‘Bokshi’ was shot extensively across the breathtaking landscapes of West and East Sikkim over an ambitious 80-day schedule spanning 2021-2022. The film proudly champions local talent, featuring a diverse cast and crew comprised of skilled artists and film professionals from Sikkim and neighbouring regions, states the release.

‘Bokshi’ recently screened at the inaugural edition of the Sikkim International Film Festival in April, 2026. The film played to a packed theatre at PVR West Point Mall, Gangtok, and received an overwhelmingly positive response from the audience.

Speaking about the theatrical release of the film, director and producer Bhargav Saikia said, “After an exciting 2025 festival tour, we are thrilled to bring ‘Bokshi’ to our home audiences, especially the audiences in Sikkim and nearby regions. ‘Bokshi’ is a horror film made to be experienced on the big screen, and we hope people from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Kalimpong and other areas will come out in large numbers to watch and support the film.”

Penned by debutant screenwriter Harsh Vaibhav, the film follows a troubled teenager Anahita, whose school trek to a remote prehistoric site unravels unsettling connections to an ancient legend. As myth and reality begin to converge, she is drawn into a haunting mystery that forces her to confront the unknown.

Commenting on the film’s theatrical release, Harsh Vaibhav, who also serves as the executive producer, said: “Our film is inspired by the myths, mountains, and above all, the beautiful people of Sikkim. The film was made possible by the incredible on-ground support we received here as an outstation crew. We cannot wait for the people here to experience the world of Bokshi in theatres this October.”

Starring Prasanna Bisht (Chiraiya, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya), Mansi Multani (Kadakh, A Suitable Boy) and Siddharth Shaw (Do Gubbare, Chiraiya) in pivotal roles along with Shernaz Patel (Black, Guzaarish) as the voice of the titular character, ‘Bokshi’ is a multilingual film featuring Hindi, English and Nepali, along with Boksirit - a fully developed fictional language spoken by select characters in the film, the release mentions.

Renowned Dutch linguist Jan van Steenbergen created Boksirit exclusively for the film, making ‘Bokshi’ the second Indian feature after ‘Baahubali’ to feature a fully developed fictional language.

Among the local talent featured in ‘Bokshi’, Timothy Rai serves as line producer, alongside a talented ensemble cast from the region, including Trishala Tamang, Bhasker Pradhan, Biru Tamang, Prabhat Pakhrin, Avishek Lama, and Yangnim Subba, among others.

An ambitious horror feature and an independent film in the truest sense, ‘Bokshi’ features cinematography by A. Vasanth (Game Over) and debutant Siddharth Sivasankaran with editing by Himanshu Saikia, sound design by Dhiman Karmakar (Amar Singh Chamkila, Main Vaapas Aaunga) and music by Advait Nemlekar (Special Ops, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, Aashram), the release mentions.