Bohurupi 2024

Set in the rural village of Chhyanchrapur, near Raipur in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, this story draws from a string of real-life bank heists that unfolded between 1998 and 2005. The film centers on Bikram Shiboprosad Mukherjee — a commerce graduate who works in a local jute mill and is portrayed as the title character, a complex figure described as a bohurupi, capable of shifting identities and disguises. His life takes a drastic turn when he is arrested on false charges of murdering a communist union leader and stealing jewels, a accusation that shakes the foundations of his world.

Although he pleads his innocence, Sumanta Ghoshal Abir Chatterjee is obstinate and brutal in the jail, where he and other officers subject Bikram to merciless beatings. This harsh mistreatment becomes a turning point, reshaping Bikram’s beliefs about honesty and society and pushing him toward a path of crime. Within the confines of prison, Bikram meets Selim Silajit Majumder, a seasoned bank robber who takes him under his wing and teaches the tricks and trades of robbery, setting the stage for Bikram’s later heists.

Meanwhile, Sumanta’s personal life is fraught. His wife Pori Ritabhari Chakraborty battles a rare bipolar disorder, prompting Bikram to send her to a mental home to help balance the pressures of marriage and his burgeoning criminal life. In the village, Jhimli Koushani Mukherjee emerges as the area’s best pickpocket, and Bikram falls in love with her, eventually marrying her. This partnership adds another layer to Bikram’s already tangled existence as he orchestrates a dramatic bank robbery at the Ajaygunj Co-operative Bank in a mere four minutes, thrusting him into a fierce cat-and-mouse chase with Sumanta.

Over three years, Bikram carries out a remarkable 22 robberies, evading capture each time thanks to his talent for disguises and shifting appearances. As the chase intensifies, Sumanta uncovers a painful betrayal: many of Bikram’s subordinate officers have skimmed off a large portion of the loot after robberies, aided by a disguise Bikram himself once wore outside a temple. This revelation intensifies the pursuit and deepens the moral complexities at play, transforming the conflict into a high-stakes confrontation between law enforcement and the elusive thief.

The final act presents a gripping thief-versus-police showdown, with Sumanta determined to bring Bikram to justice and deliver a jail sentence for his crimes. In a poignant closing moment, Sumanta sits beside Pori and signs his own book, “Bohurupi,” symbolically passing a record of his journey to Bikram, who attends the Kolkata Book Fair along with Jhimli and their son. The film’s resolution blends memory, consequence, and obligation, leaving audiences with a measured reflection on crime, identity, and the price of truth.