Bengali drama ‘Shadowbox’ (‘Baksho Bondi’) shines at 75th Berlin International Film Festival

Bengali-language drama Shadowbox (Baksho Bondi) made a stellar premiere at the prestigious 75th Berlin International Film Festival

Bengali-language drama Shadowbox (Baksho Bondi) made a stellar premiere at the prestigious 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by debut filmmakers Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, the film competed in the newly introduced Perspectives section and received an overwhelming response from international audiences.

Billed as a tale of love and resilience, the film explores the journey of Maya (actor Tillotama Shome), the mother of a teenage son, and wife of a husband battling PTSD. “When he vanishes under mysterious circumstances, Maya faces a fight for survival that tests her strength, love, and resilience,” reads the plotline.

The film features Chandan Bisht as Sundar, Sayan Karmakar as Debu, and Suman Saha as Constable Ripon.

Speaking about the film’s reception at Berlinale, Tanushree said in a statement, “Experiencing the world premiere of our film Shadowbox (Baksho Bondi) at Berlinale, with its story finally coming to life on the big screen, was an incredibly special moment for us. This film has been a labour of love, shaped by the dedication and collaboration of so many creative geniuses from across the cinematic spectrum over the course of many years. To share this milestone with our entire team and witness the audience’s response firsthand was overwhelming in the best possible way.”

Saumyananda said, “Berlinale holds a very special place in my heart—it was here, twenty years ago when I was 17, at the Talent Campus, that I first began to shape my voice as a filmmaker. To return now with my debut feature feels both surreal and deeply fulfilling. It’s a full-circle moment! Having our film Shadowbox (Baksho Bondi) premiere at a festival as prestigious as Berlinale is both an honour and a profound milestone, and we couldn’t have imagined a more meaningful stage to introduce our film to the world.”

Notably, Shadowbox is the result of 17 producers coming together. In a joint statement, the producers said that making the film has been deeply meaningful to them. “Berlinale has a staggering legacy of championing independent films, and been the home of many of our cinematic heroes. We’re honoured and excited, and grateful to be here.”