“Kooki” is a 2024 Bollywood Hindi drama film, produced under the banner of Niri Media OPC Private Limited. The film features a talented ensemble cast including Ritisha Khaund, Rajesh Tailang, Dipannita Sharma, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, and Ritu Shivpuri.
The film had its international debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 and was also showcased earlier at the BVFF (Bodh Gaya International Film Festival) in 2023.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Pranab J Deka
- Story: Dr. Junmoni Devi Khaund
- Producer: Dr Junmoni Devi Khaund
- Star Cast: Ritisha Khaund, Rajesh Tailang, Dipannita Sharma, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Ritu Shivpuri
- Cinematography: Gyan Gautam
- Editor: Jhulan Krishna Mahanta
- Music Director: Tapan Jyoti Dutta, Pallab Talukdar, Sourav Mahanta
- Production company: Niri Media Opc Private Limited
- Genres: Drama
- Distributor: Jai Viratra Entertainment Limited
- Release date: 28 June 2024
- Running time:115 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Kooki 2024 Trailer
Film Star Cast
- Ritisha Khaund as Kooki
- Rajesh Tailang as Dhanajay Mishra
- Rina Rani as Suman Mishra
- Dipannita Sharma as S.P. Mandira Singh
- Bodhisattva Sharma as Saptrishi
- Devoleena Bhattacharjee as Navnita
- Ritu Shivpuri as Dr.Priyadarshini Pator
- Pretty Kongana
- Kamal Lochan Deka
- Asha Chothani
- Nancy Singh
- Sneha Pallavi
- Abhishek Pandey
- Mrigendra Narayan Konwar
- Rina Rani
- Ujjal Kumar
- Bibhuti Bhushan Hazarika
- Monuj Borkotoky
- Ranjeev Lal Baruah
Story of the film
Rape-related movies frequently center on courtroom drama or investigations. But does justice suffice? This is contested by Kooki, who highlights the enduring wounds a survivor bears. Kooki is gang-raped and left for dead in Assam. Family members assist her while she recovers, and Dr. Priyadarshini Pator (Ritu Shivpuri) and SP Mandira Singh (Dipannita Sharma) come together for her. The question is then raised by a video that Kooki uploads and a debate by journalist Navnita (Devoleena Bhattacharjee): Why isn’t rape as horrible as murder? The central question of the movie is this one.
The story depicts Kooki’s pre-tragic existence as a teenager with a nascent romance with Saptarishi (Bodhisattva Sharma), a close friend named Rashmi (Nancy Singh), and devoted parents Dhananjay Mishra (Rajesh Tailang) and mother Suman (Rina Rani). After an assault, attention turns to the psychological and emotional damage. It criticizes the country for failing to safeguard its women despite several changes.
Pranab J. Deka, the director, tells a moving story that holds your attention through to the very end. However, certain parts are left undeveloped since the examination of Kooki’s PTSD and the central topic comes late. Other significant issues that are brought up in the film include the idea that justice and the law are two distinct things and that an accused person is innocent until they are proven guilty in court. But these are also still mostly unexplored.
Assam’s scenery, artistic expressions like the performance of Bhaona and Nagara Naam artist Subash Nath, and other elements are all captured in the film. Gyan Gautam, the cinematographer, does a fantastic job of capturing the locations and the crime, which will chill you to the bone without coming off as titillating.
Kooki is also known for his strong performances. In her portrayal of the pluviophile who later finds rain to be distressing, Ritisha Khaund excels. You’ll be moved by her speech on how she feels deceived, even though justice has been served, since she is too young and innocent to comprehend how the world functions. As her lawyer father, Rajesh Tailang, is exceptional and demonstrates his skills in a sequence in the hospital when he enters the doctor’s office as a calm and controlled man, but leaves broken. Nevertheless, it is not believable how unconcerned he appears to be shortly after. Rina Rani, Dipannita Sharma, Ritu Shivpuri in a cameo, Nancy Singh as the gregarious buddy, and Bodhisattva Sharma as her partner and support system all provide excellent performances.
Release
The movie had its Cannes debut on May 21, 2024.
The movie debuted in theaters on June 28, 2024.
Review
ABP News’s Mahpara Kabir gave Kooki a rating of three out of five stars and commented that it’s a powerful movie with a powerful dialogue questioning why rape isn’t regarded as the most horrible crime.
According to Times Now’s Ashna Santosh, Kooki is a moving film that goes beyond simple narrative to elicit deep levels of reflection.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025h, April 17). Kooki (film). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kooki_(film)
- Kooki (2023) ⭐ 5.9 | Drama. (2024, June 28). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29310746/
- Roy, D. (2024b, June 27). Kooki Movie Review: A poignant tale of trauma and justice. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/kooki/movie-review/111322639.cms
