‘Bou Buttu Bhuta’- A Horror Thriller Starring Babushaan, Aparajita and Archita

‘Bou Buttu Bhuta’- A Horror Thriller Starring Babushaan, Aparajita and Archita

Being born into an Odia family, many of us have likely heard this famous folk tale from our grandparents, especially our grandmothers: “Jungle ku jibu? (Do you wish to visit the jungle?) Koli khaibu? (Do you wish to have some berries there?) Bagha asile daribuni? (If a tiger appears, will you not be afraid?).” After mentioning the tiger, the storyteller dramatically blows air from their mouth, making the children instinctively close their eyes, a moment that is both eerie and amusing. Building on this folk tale and adding an extra layer of horror with the word ‘Bhuta’ (ghost), Babushaan Films, in association with Sidharth Music, recently announced their upcoming horror-thriller Bou Buttu Bhuta. In the title announcement video, legendary actress Aparajita Mohanty is seen smoking a cigar for the first time on screen, while holding a chain tied around Babushaan’s neck. The video, released on YouTube by Sidharth Music, has received rave reviews from Odia cinema lovers, especially Babushaan’s fans.

Directed by Jagdish Mishra, Bou Buttu Bhuta features a story and screenplay by Mohammad Imran, dialogues by Pranab Prasanna Rath, cinematography by Rudrakanta Singh, music by Gaurav Anand, and background score by Abhishek Panigrahi. The film also boasts a stellar cast from O-town, including Choudhury Jayprakash Das, Udit Guru, Ravi Mishra, and Anugulia Bunty, who play major roles.The film has been scheduled to release on June 12, on the eve of Raja festival this year. After hit films like, ‘Akhire Akhire’, ‘Super Michhua’, ‘Bhala Paye Tate Sahe Ru Sahe’, ‘Lekhu Lekhu Lekhideli’, ‘Tu Je Sei’ and ‘Dil Deewana Heigala’, Sidharth Music has again collaborated with Babushaan for ‘Bou Buttu Bhuta’ and it has secured the satellite, OTT, and music rights. 

Babushaan’s wife, Tripti Satpathy, who is now producing films and overseeing Babushaan Films, has been praised for her keen eye in selecting strong scripts. She previously proved her expertise with the superhit film ‘Pabar’, and this time, with ‘Bou Buttu Bhuta’, she is confident that the story will offer audiences a fresh experience. “We wanted to bring something new to the big screen. It has been a long time since folklore has been explored in Ollywood. During a casual meeting with our story writer, Imran, he shared this concept with us, and we instantly loved it. The idea stayed in my mind for four to five months before Babu and I decided to move forward with it. We then had several story discussions, refining the structure, which took us nearly six months,” she shared.

“Definitely, it is risky. Usually, producers or filmmakers hesitate to be vocal and don’t engage deeply in the creative process, even though they should. Understanding the market, we believe in providing creative input to enhance our projects. In our team, we ensure that everyone is on the same page and take each other’s suggestions seriously. These creative discussions help streamline our work, making the final product better with each step. Our communication is completely transparent,” she added when asked about the current era of filmmaking and the evolving tastes of cinema lovers.

Shedding more light on the subject and the cast, Jagdish Mishra, one of O-town’s promising new-age directors, known for his work in the web series ‘Gangs of Puri’, shared his insights. “It’s a folklore-based story set in a village in Keonjhar. As the title suggests, the film revolves around a mother, a son, and, of course, a ghost. It’s a horror thriller designed to be a mass entertainer for Raja. We have planned a shooting schedule of approximately 35-40 days, primarily in and around Anandapur, Keonjhar, followed by locations near Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. This film also marks the reunion of Archita Sahu and Babushaan on-screen after six years, and Aparajita Mohanty’s return to the big screen after 6-7 years. As a team, we believe this film has a lot to offer our audience.”

“Honestly, this film is made purely for entertainment. However, it also carries some underlying themes that audiences will discover while watching it. My goal is clear, to create a film that entertains all kinds of viewers. Since this will technically be my debut release, I have high expectations and hope it performs well at the box office. But before anything else, our primary focus as a team is to make a good film. I believe the biggest USP of ‘Bou Buttu Bhuta’ is the performances of the lead actors. All three are phenomenal and are delivering their best in this film. Babushaan Films is also taking every necessary step to ensure a never-seen-before cinematic experience in Odisha. This will be one of the highest-budget films in the state, and I am confident that the final output will do justice to the content. The script by Mohammad Imran is fresh and unique, blending the essence of folklore with a modern horror aesthetic. Rudra’s cinematography will be one of a kind, and Gaurav’s music is truly the soul of the film,” concluded the director.