Turning Rituals Into Nightmares: The World of Charak – Fair of Faith

In the world of Indian cinema, it's not often that a film dares to dig into the murky waters of faith and tradition quite like Charak – Fair of Faith. Produced by Sudipto Sen, whose name still stirs debate for The Kerala Story, this new horror mystery takes us deep into the rituals of Charak Puja in Eastern India. If you've ever thought folklore horror was just a passing trend, this film screams otherwise—drawing real-life fear from customs that still ripple through communities in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.

Charak Puja is no gentle celebration. The festival is famous—and infamous—for its spine-chilling rituals, where devotion sometimes pushes people to shocking extremes. Director Shieladitya Moulik and writer Sanjay Halder don’t sugarcoat these practices. Instead, they use the eerie setting as a backdrop to expose much bigger questions: Why do age-old traumas and silent rules still haunt families? When does faith tip into cruelty? How often do we hide questionable acts behind culture and tradition?

Both the film and its creators know exactly what they're poking at—the fine line between spiritual faith and inhuman acts. By focusing on hereditary pain and patriarchal expectations, Charak brings uncomfortable truths to light. When the camera lingers on rituals that cross the line from devotion to violence, you get the sense that this isn't just about India’s past—it's holding a mirror to uncomfortable tendencies everywhere.

From Berlin to Cannes: A Global Spotlight on Blind Faith

From Berlin to Cannes: A Global Spotlight on Blind Faith

Festival buzz isn't just empty words either; Charak – Fair of Faith made serious waves at the Berlin Film Festival, drawing rave reviews from critics who called it a "visionary critique." By the time it reached its special screening at Cannes in 2025, audiences weren’t just clapping out of courtesy—they jumped to their feet in outright applause. Not many films about Indian rituals grab this kind of global attention, and it’s clear why: the message cuts across cultures, exposing how rituals everywhere can sometimes turn dark.

The film owes some of its spotlight to the recent trend of folklore horror. Just look at the ripple effect from movies like Kantara. But while others flirt with superstition and myth, Charak hits where it hurts—turning rituals into real questions about the cost of blind obedience. Sen, reflecting on his journey from the controversial yet wildly successful The Kerala Story, calls the film an effort to showcase India’s mythology without holding back on the uncomfortable parts.

There’s no padding here. Charak – Fair of Faith goes for the jugular, exposing how easily centuries-old practices get justified, even when they’re harsh or outright cruel. Critics have hailed it as more than entertainment—calling it a wake-up call about what happens when tradition and trauma go unchecked. It’s not just for Indian audiences, either; the issues of faith, silence, and sacrifice ring true far beyond the film’s Eastern Indian setting.

If you’re tired of safe, formula horror flicks, Charak offers a chilling reminder: sometimes, the real monsters are hiding in plain sight—wrapped in rituals we think we know.

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