For Shieladitya Moulik‘s Bengali-language family thriller Chheledhora, which stars Swastika Mukherjee, the principal photography started on March 1. Itanagar and Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh are two striking and little-known locations where the film, an Indo-American co-production, will be filmed.

Moulik returns with a genre-bending story that combines emotional family drama with thriller elements and subtle dark humor. His previous Bengali film Surjo had an 11-week theatrical run. Chheledhora presents itself as an uncommon road film in Bengali, with a morally nuanced female lead.

The film tackles themes of parenthood, guilt, responsibility, and emotional neglect—concerns that transcend geography, class, and social boundaries—while remaining firmly anchored in its cultural milieu. Chheledhora is a story that appeals to a broad range of viewers because it addresses common human concerns in modern society. The movie is also being made with the global film festival circuit in mind, where personal, character-driven stories with universal emotional stakes are still very popular.

The movie centers on Mukherjee’s character, Brishti, a divorced, severely flawed, and emotionally misinterpreted woman. Brishti takes her young daughter away for a birthday celebration out of impulsive defiance, but things go wrong when the child is actually kidnapped. In a turn of events, Brishti makes an unanticipated discovery that sets off a heated conversation that turns into a journey that changes her life.

According to Moulik, “Chheledhora is a story about damaged parents discovering the courage and selflessness they didn’t know they possessed. I’m drawn to flawed people—those who make bad decisions and stumble but are still capable of loving. At its core, the movie is about healing, second chances, and rediscovering one’s humanity, but it also takes place like an uncertain road trip”.

Mukherjee said, “Brishti is not meant to be likable, and that honesty moved me.  She is deeply flawed, impetuous, and wounded, but her love for her daughter is fierce and instinctive. She must face herself in ways she has shied away from for years as a result of this journey. This is fundamentally a very personal tale about motherhood, forgiveness, and perseverance during times of emotional breakdown”.

Chheledhora is produced by Handyyman and Sita22 Films. This marks a notable Indo-American collaboration.

The film is shot by Italian cinematographer Vincenzo Condorelli (Cobalt Blue, Songs of Paradise), who will capture the vast Ziro Valley landscapes while maintaining the intimacy of the character-driven story.

Additional casting announcements are anticipated in due course, and production is slated to continue through the end of March.

Priyanka Dutta