“Devi Chowdhurani” (2025) is a high-profile Bengali period action-adventure film, adapted from the classic novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. It tells the epic, inspiring story of India’s first fictional woman freedom fighter, against the backdrop of British colonial Bengal.
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Cast and Crew
- Director & Writer: Subhrajit Mitra
- Producers: Aniruddha Dasgupta, Aparna Dasgupta, Hassan Choudhury
- Cinematographer: Anirban Chatterjee
- Composer: Bickram Ghosh
- Action Director: Pradyumna Kumar Swain
Lead Cast:
- Srabanti Chatterjee as Prafulla/Devi Chowdhurani
- Prosenjit Chatterjee as Bhavani Charan Pathak
- Sabyasachi Chakrabarty as Haraballabh Ray
- Arjun Chakrabarty as Rangaraj
- Bibriti Chatterjee as Nishi
- Kinjal Nanda as Brojeswar
- Darshana Banik as Sagar
- Alexx O'Nell as Captain Munroe
- Carl Harte as Warren Hastings
- Dr. Priyadarshini G. Roy as Diba
Plot Overview
Set in 18th-century Bengal, the film follows Prafulla, a wronged and abandoned young woman, who undergoes a striking transformation into Devi Chowdhurani—the revered bandit queen. Adopted by the legendary dacoit leader Bhavani Pathak, she leads a formidable gang fighting oppression, injustice, and the might of the East India Company during the Sanyasi and Fakir Rebellion, becoming a symbol of hope and revolt for the downtrodden.
Highlights and Reception
Released on September 26, 2025, as one of the most expensive Bengali productions with a reported budget of ₹25 crore.
Lavish historical sets, costumes, and visually ambitious action and battle sequences.
The film is being praised for strong performances, especially Srabanti Chatterjee’s portrayal of the title character and Prosenjit Chatterjee’s nuanced take on Bhavani Pathak.
Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's return to the screen as the conflicted zamindar is also highlighted.
Some criticism aimed at the film’s visual effects and action compared to its scale, but the authentic emotional depth and historical flavor have been appreciated.
The adaptation stays closer to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s original, unlike earlier films, focusing on social transformation, self-discovery, and the politics of rebellion.
Additional Details
The movie was released only in theatres with no OTT release as of now.
Filming took place largely in Kolkata and Purulia, West Bengal.
The cast also features a mix of established stars and fresh faces, with special attention to costumes and period-appropriate music and choreography.
“Devi Chowdhurani” stands out for its cultural relevance, ambitious scale, and the powerful feminist lens on one of Bengal’s most iconic legends.
