Raghu Dakat

Raghu Dakat

Set in Bengal during the decades following the Sepoy Mutiny, the film begins with an aged Damru narrating events to villagers gathered by torchlight. He describes how British indigo planters, supported by local landlords, force peasants into exploitative contracts, sometimes using the peasants’ bloodied fingerprints as signatures. When a farmer refuses to comply, British officer Duncan orders a public hanging to intimidate the villagers. The execution is interrupted by Raghu, an outlaw devoted to Kali, who defeats the mercenaries of Ahindra Barman, the zamindar of Rudrapur. Raghu humiliates Duncan but spares his life, telling him to remember his name. Rumors about Raghu grow after a captured mercenary claims Raghu is the son of Maa Kali, and his actions take on legendary status. A ritual dance follows, and it is revealed by Kalu Ustad that Ahindra is sending all taxes and indigo harvests to Duncan’s factory. Raghu intervenes when he learns of girls being abducted under Ahindra’s protection, Raghu rescues the abducted girls and on their way back meets Saudamini at Mahadevpur, a skilled fighter.

Director

Dhrubo Banerjee

Release

25 Sep 2025

Run time

152 min

Language

Bengali