Devi Chowdhurani | |
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![]() theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Subhrajit Mitra |
Written by | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
Screenplay by | Subhrajit Mitra |
Story by | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
Based on | Devi Chaudhurani |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Anirban Chatterjee |
Edited by | Sujay Dutta Ray |
Music by | Bickram Ghosh |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Reliance Entertainment SSR Cinemas |
Running time | 160 minutes |
Countries | India United Kingdom [1] |
Language | Bengali |
Budget | ₹25 crore [1] |
Devi Chowdhurani is an upcoming Indian Bengali-language period action-adventure film directed by Subhrajit Mitra. [1] [2] Based on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel of Devi Chaudhurani, the film is produced by Aniruddha Dasgupta and Aparna Dasgupta under the banner of ADited Motion Pictures (USA) and co-produced by Hassan Choudhury under the banner of HC Films Limited (UK). [3]
Devi Chaudhurani stars Srabanti Chatterjee in the titular role, alongside Prosenjit Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Alexx O'Nell, Arjun Chakrabarty, Bibriti Chatterjee, Kinjal Nanda, Darshana Banik, Carl Harte, and Priyadarshini G. Roy in other pivotal roles. [4] [5]
Principal photography commenced in January 2024, with filming taking place in Kolkata and Purulia, West Bengal. After being delayed multiple times, the makers announced with a new poster that the film would be released in May 2025. [6] [7]
Set in the 18th century, the period drama follows Prafulla's transformation from an innocent young girl into Devi Chaudhurani, a powerful bandit queen. [8] [2] [4]
In August 2023, it was reported that filming would begin in March 2024. The film is produced by Aniruddha Dasgupta and Aparna Dasgupta under the banner of ADited Motion Pictures, with Hassan Choudhury as co-producer under Hc Films Limited. Devi Chaudhurani is one of the most expensive Indian Bengali films ever made, with a budget of ₹25 crore. Besides directing, Subhrajit Mitra wrote the screenplay based on the novel Devi Chaudhurani by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, and also wrote the dialogues. Pradyumna Kumar Swain was hired as the action choreographer. [13]
The film marks Sabyasachi Chakraborty's comeback to films. [11] [14] [15] In January 2023, Sabyasachi Chakraborty attended the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh (East Bengal) as a special guest, where he told the media that he would be retiring from films for some time. [16] [17] [18] However, Devi Choudhurani: Bandit Queen of Bengal's director Subhrajit Mitra chose Sabyasachi Chakrabarty to play the role of Zamindar Haravallav Ray in May 2023. Srabanti Chatterjee will play the role of Devi Chaudhurani, [10] while Prosenjit Chatterjee will portray Bhavani Pathak, an important character in the film. [1] [9] Indraneil Sengupta was initially cast as Rangaraj, but actor Arjun Chakraborty was eventually roped in for the role. [12] [19] [20] The film went to the floors on 27 January 2024. [21]
The film was initially planned to begin shooting in November 2023 with around 250 crew members. However, delays pushed the start of filming to January 2024. [22] Filming began on 27 January 2024 in North Kolkata, at Jimmy Laha's house. At that time, Srabanti Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Kinjal Nanda, and Darshana Banik took part in the shoot. On 28 January, the crew and production team arrived in Purulia district for the remaining shoot of the first phase. Srabanti was joined by Bibriti Chatterjee and Arjun Chakrabarty during filming. Various scenes were shot at the Ajodhya Hills and its foothills in Purulia, including sequences in the deep forest. Some fight scenes were filmed here, featuring talwar and bow and arrow combat. These scenes were shot between 28 January and the first week of February at various locations in Purulia district. [21]
The second phase was filmed in Birbhum and Kolkata in West Bengal, as well as in the states of Jharkhand and Bihar. [23] Prosenjit Chatterjee, who plays the character of Bhavani Charan Pathak, joined the shoot for this phase. [21]
In late 2024, the makers unveiled the official pre-teaser, announcing that Devi Chaudhurani would be released in theatres on 1 May 2025. On 22 March 2025, the official teaser, starring Prosenjit Chatterjee and Srabanti Chatterjee, was released. [24] On 8 May 2025, the film’s teaser was showcased at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. [25]
On 28 May 2025, the producers announced that Devi Chaudhurani would now be released in cinemas during Durga Puja 2025, shifting from its earlier May release window. [26]