Why did the Joker laugh so heinously? If you ever asked this irreverent question, the chances are you would ask another. Why does a Chudail’s feet face backwards? Chudail is a ghastly witch found hanging from trees at night in dense forests of North India. And, just like the Joker has a characteristic laugh, a Chudail has her feet facing backwards.
If Todd Phillips answered the question, regarding the Joker; then Anvita Dutt has answered your query regarding the Chudail. If Arthur Fleck was the backstory for the Joker then Bulbbul is the backstory of the Chudail. The analogy rudely stops here otherwise, the movie Joker should be renamed as Arthur.
Bulbbul’s central story, to me, is about intimate partner violence. It is complicated, and Anvita Dutt uses intricate styles, themes, essays, colours, darkness, varied pace of story telling to bring out intricacies of intimate partner violence. Whether Anvita Dutt fails or passes as a movie maker, I do not know. However, where she connects is with the truth of intimate partner violence across so many time periods, across so many geographies for so many women.
My connection with Bulbbul will be second hand, as I am not a woman. Some women may not connect either. But many will.
If you take away that the Joker is not a villain, then Bulbbul will make you realise ek Chudail bhoot nahi per Devi hain.
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