Bohurupi Review: Mukherjee's Sublime Lead vs. Messy Editing

This Bohurupi review starts with a simple promise: a Bengali crime drama built on real bank robberies, with a thief who loves a disguise and a cop who refuses to lose. Directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy, the film runs 155 minutes and leans heavily on its lead performance. It is an uneven ride, but a rewarding one for patient viewers.

It is also a rare case of a Bengali action crime film that takes its inspiration from a true story, and that grounding gives it a flavour many genre films lack.

Bohurupi Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Bohurupi plot is rooted in events that shook West Bengal between 1999 and 2005. Bikram, known as Chuni, walks out of prison and gathers his old troops from Chhyanchrapur. Together they plan a run of daring bank heists across the state.

On the other side stands Sumanta Ghoshal, a tough police officer determined to end the spree. What follows is a chase driven by wit, nerve and pride. The filmmakers have said the idea came after the real man behind the robberies reached out to them, which explains the film's lived-in feel.

I will keep the details there, because the pleasure is in watching the two men outthink each other.

What Works in Bohurupi

The biggest strength is the central performance. Shiboprosad Mukherjee doubles as co-director and co-lead, and one critic called his work sublime for good reason. He gives Chuni charm, cunning and a trace of weariness, so the thief feels like a person rather than a poster.

The real-life basis also helps. Heists are grounded in a specific time and place, and the Bengal setting gives the crime a texture that generic action films lack.

Other highlights:

• A cat-and-mouse structure that keeps the stakes personal.

• A second half that tightens up once the police investigation gets more room.

• A disguise-heavy hook that suits the title, which roughly means a person of many faces.

If you like crime stories with a human centre, browse more crime movie reviews on our site.

Bohurupi Cast and Performances

The Bohurupi cast is led by Shiboprosad Mukherjee as Bikram "Chuni" Pramanik and Abir Chatterjee as the supercop Sumanta Ghoshal. Their face-off is the spine of the film, and it works because both actors play it with restraint rather than bluster.

Koushani Mukherjee appears as Jhimli and Ritabhari Chakraborty as Pori, adding a personal layer around the main duel. Pradeep Bhattacharya plays Khuro and Sridip Mukhopadhyay plays Nitai, two members of the world around Chuni.

The supporting roles are less developed than the leads. Still, the ensemble gives the gang a believable, lived-in rapport.

Where Bohurupi Stumbles

The film is long, and not every stretch earns its time. One Letterboxd reviewer called it forgettable for much of its running time, rescued mainly by its lead performance, and that feels fair. The early going can drift before the chase sharpens.

The technical side is also divisive. Some viewers complain that the cinematography is messy and the cuts too frequent, which breaks immersion during key scenes. For an action crime film, clean staging matters, and here it sometimes slips.

Fans of high-octane spectacle may also find the action modest. If that is your priority, our action movie reviews offer louder options.

Is Bohurupi Worth Watching?

Yes, if you value performance and a true-crime hook over polish. The film opened to positive responses from audiences and critics, and it reportedly became a box office hit. IMDb shows 7.8/10, while Letterboxd averages 3.33 out of 5 from 825 ratings, which suggests warm but not rapturous approval.

So is Bohurupi worth watching? Mostly, yes. Mukherjee's performance and the Chuni-versus-Sumanta duel justify the time, even when the editing and pacing frustrate.

You can read more background on the film at Bohurupi on Wikipedia.

Who Will Enjoy Bohurupi

• Viewers who like true-crime heist stories with a regional flavour.

• Fans of Bengali cinema and of Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Abir Chatterjee.

• Audiences who prefer character-driven chases to pure spectacle, and who enjoy a good thriller rhythm.