Raktabeej 2: Difference between revisions

 

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== Release ==

== Release ==

=== Theatrical ===

=== Theatrical ===

”Raktabeej 2” is scheduled for theatrical release on 26 September 2025 during the [[Durga Puja]] festival.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shiboprasad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s ‘Raktabeej’ sequel to release this Durga Puja| url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/shiboprasad-mukherjee-and-nandita-roys-raktabeej-2-is-set-to-release-this-durga-puja/cid/2079836 |date=7 January 2025}}</ref> The film will be distributed by Windows Production and Cinepolis. The release places it in direct competition with other major Bengali Puja releases including ”[[Raghu Dakat (film)|Raghu Dakat]]”, ”[[Devi Chowdhurani (2025 film)|Devi Chowdhurani]]”, and ”Raktabeej’s lead abir’s movie Joto Kando Kolkatatei”, creating what industry observers have described as an “epic Pujo box office clash.”<ref>{{cite web | title=Tolly ready for epic Pujo box office clash | work=The Times of India | date=18 August 2025 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/tolly-ready-for-epic-pujo-bo-clash/articleshow/123359080.cms }}</ref>

”Raktabeej 2” is scheduled for theatrical release on 26 September 2025 during the [[Durga Puja]] festival.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shiboprasad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s ‘Raktabeej’ sequel to release this Durga Puja| url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/shiboprasad-mukherjee-and-nandita-roys-raktabeej-2-is-set-to-release-this-durga-puja/cid/2079836 |date=7 January 2025}}</ref> The film will be distributed by Windows Production and Cinepolis. The release places it in direct competition with other major Bengali Puja releases including ”[[Raghu Dakat (film)|Raghu Dakat]]”, ”[[Devi Chowdhurani (2025 film)|Devi Chowdhurani]]”, and ”Joto Kando Kolkatatei”, creating what industry observers have described as an “epic Pujo box office clash.”<ref>{{cite web | title=Tolly ready for epic Pujo box office clash | work=The Times of India | date=18 August 2025 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/tolly-ready-for-epic-pujo-bo-clash/articleshow/123359080.cms }}</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

Upcoming Indian Bengali film

Raktabeej 2 (transl. Seeds of Blood 2) is an upcoming Indian Bengali-language political action thriller film directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, and written by Zinia Sen. The film is a sequel to the 2023 film Raktabeej and stars Victor Banerjee, Abir Chatterjee, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra, Seema Biswas, and Koushani Mukherjee in the lead roles. This film is produced and distributed by Windows and presented by Sanjay Agarwal.^[1][2] The film marks the collaboration of Abir Chatterjee and Ankush Hazra after 12 years since Kanamachi, where the latter played the lead role, and the former antagonist.

The film is scheduled for release on 26 September 2025, during the Durga Puja festival.^[3] A sequel to Raktabeej, it is reportedly inspired by the security challenges during former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee‘s 2013 visit to Bangladesh.^[4] The plot focuses on a high-stakes investigation into cross-border terrorism led by a new terrorist leader, Munir Alam. The mission spans from India to Thailand, dealing with extremist groups attempting to disrupt and destabilise the relationship between India and Bangladesh, creating national chaos between the two neighbouring countries.

Windows Production officially announced Raktabeej 2 on Republic Day (26 January 2025) with a motion poster release.^[14] Directors Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee described the project as a “political action thriller” with higher stakes and more intense cross-border themes than its predecessor.^[15] The film serves as a sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Raktabeej, which was based on real-life events, with the directors promising a more ambitious scope spanning global backdrops for both visual and thematic impact.

Despite facing competition from three other major Bengali films during the Durga Puja release period – Devi Chowdhurani, Raghu Dakat, and Joto Kando Kolkatatei – directors Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee expressed confidence in their project, citing their “lucky charm” or “lucky mascot” – veteran actress Anashua Majumdar, who has previously worked with Windows Production in films like Mukhoshdar Bou, Gotro, and the first Raktabeej.^[16] The directors shared a video acknowledging Majumdar as their favorite artist and lucky charm, with Shiboprosad Mukherjee stating that her involvement ensures superhit success for their films.

Seema Biswas reunited with Shiboprosad Mukherjee after 32 years, since their work in the 1993 film Uttoran. In Raktabeej 2 she appears in a markedly different avatar — draped in a jam-coloured Dhakai saree with a ghomta — and is described by the filmmakers as being presented in the mould of a political personality; many of her scenes are opposite Victor Banerjee. Press reports also highlighted the actress’s dedication on set despite physical discomfort during portions of the shoot.^[17]

Ankush Hazra was cast as the lead antagonist, marking a significant negative role for the actor.^[18] He featured in the song “Govinda Dant Maje Na” in Raktabeej, the prequel of this film, and also appeared in the credit scene.^[19]

Principal photography began in Kolkata on 11 March 2025.^[20]

An advance unit — including directors Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, writer Zinia Sen and other production personnel — flew to Thailand ahead of the main cast to scout locations and prepare the sets. The rest of the unit travelled in phases: several members reached Thailand on a Saturday night while others departed Kolkata in subsequent days. Reports note that Ankush Hazra left Kolkata on the Sunday night of Jamaiṣṭhī and Koushani Mukherjee (who had been in Bali) returned to Kolkata before flying to Thailand. Shooting for the Thailand schedule was reported to commence on 3 June, focusing on compact, intensive song and action sequences.^[21]

The Thailand schedule captured two song sequences: a romantic number reuniting Abir Chatterjee and Mimi Chakraborty (a pairing from the prequel) and a second song featuring Ankush Hazra and Koushani Mukherjee intended to advance the narrative. The production worked with a compact technical unit supplemented by roughly 25 local Thai crew members for location management and logistics; press reports highlighted the warm local hospitality and attentive on-set care.^[21] Mimi Chakraborty’s Thailand schedule included a filmed bikini sequence — reported as her first such sequence — which received media attention.^[22] Actor Mimi Chakraborty has also become the first Bengali actress to wear a bikini in a Bengali film.^[23]

The actress revealed in an interview with Anandabazar that she had to undergo intense physical preparation, including significant weight loss through exercise without supplements, before agreeing to director Shiboprosad Mukherjee’s request to wear a bikini. She added that convincing her mother about the sequence was initially difficult, but she explained it as an important step to offer something new to audiences.^[24] Mimi noted that having Abir Chatterjee as her co-actor made filming easier. Music composer Anupam Roy also remarked that such bold romantic sequences are rare in Bengali cinema and credited the directors Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee for taking the risk.^[24]

Screenwriter Zinia Sen recounted moments of tension and play on set: she said Mimi once jokingly threatened co-director Shiboprosad Mukherjee by saying, “If I get a real gun I will shoot Shibu first,” an anecdote the director took in good humour. The shoot saw at least one stunt-related mishap: during an early sequence a harness did not function as expected while Mimi performed a jump, causing her to fall and injure her knee; she was briefly in pain and emotional but returned to complete the shot after recovering.^[25]

During the Kolkata and Thailand schedules, actor Kanchan Mallick fell ill and was briefly hospitalised but later recovered and rejoined the production.^[26]

Nusrat Jahan described “Order Chhara Border” song as “full of life, rhythm, and colour” and mentioned that performing it on screen was “truly exhilarating.”^[27] She also revealed that despite having no time to rehearse due to other promotional commitments, she managed to prepare with just one hour of rehearsal before the shoot, relying on her ability to multitask and the infectious vibe of the production.^[28]

The music features compositions by Bonnie Chakraborty, Anupam Roy, Surojit Chatterjee, and Silajit Majumder.^[29] Background score is made by Bonnie Chakraborty, his third collaboration with Shiboprasad and Nandita since Dabaru and Bohurupi. Lyrics were penned by Surojit Chatterjee, Zinia Sen, Bonnie Chakravorty, Anindya Bose and Anupam Roy.

The first single “O Babur Maa” was released on 6 August 2025, featuring Manasi Sinha.^[30]

The second single “Order Chhara Border” was released on 22 August 2025.^[31] The music video featured Nusrat Jahan in a special appearance.^[32] The third single “Deewana Banaisen” was released on 3 September 2025.^[33]

The album also includes a song “Chokher Neele”, composed by Anupam Roy featuring the playback debut of Suchandrika Goldar.^[34]

The official teaser was released on 23 July 2025 at a launch event held at The Park Hotel in Kolkata.^[35] The 1-minute-49-second teaser introduced Ankush Hazra as the new villain and provided glimpses of the cross-border thriller narrative.^[36]

An innovative marketing campaign featured Nusrat Jahan participating in a flash mob performance in Kolkata’s New Market area, promoting the “Order Chhara Border” song.^[37] This marked Jahan’s first flash mob experience, about which she stated: “I had never performed in a flash mob before. Although I was rather anxious and unsure of how it would go, the entire experience was a lot of fun. For me, everything was entirely new, and it was thrilling to watch the crowd go wild, embracing the music and the atmosphere.”^[38]

Raktabeej 2 was trending on IMDb’s list of most-anticipated Indian films, ranking at the top of the list and outpacing several high-profile Hindi and South Indian projects followed by Raghu Dakat. Sangbad Pratidin framed the film’s online popularity as a notable response from Tollywood to the dominance of big-budget Hindi and South Indian releases and credited the teaser and song clips for generating significant pre-release buzz. ^[39]

The makers announced “Bengal Tour” on 5 September 2025, to promote the film across several towns in West Bengal including Berhampore (Mohan Mall) on 7 September 2025, Chandannagar (Cinema Haat) on 13 September 2025, Kolkata (Lake Mall) on 13 September 2025, Bardhaman (Curzon Gate) on 14 September 2025, Durgapur (Junction Mall Ground) on 14 September 2025, Madhyamgram (Star Mall) on 20 September 2025 and Kolkata (Diamond Plaza) on 20 September 2025 in a Raktabeej 2 themed bus, featuring the characters in giant posters all over the bus.

Raktabeej 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on 26 September 2025 during the Durga Puja festival.^[40] The film will be distributed by Windows Production and Cinepolis. The release places it in direct competition with other major Bengali Puja releases including Raghu Dakat, Devi Chowdhurani, and Joto Kando Kolkatatei, creating what industry observers have described as an “epic Pujo box office clash.”^[41]