Sudipto Sen is known for choosing subjects that unsettle audiences and spark debate, and with his upcoming film Charak, he dives into one of the most disturbing themes yet, child sacrifice carried out in the name of faith. The filmmaker says the story is rooted in the centuries old Charak festival, observed during Chaitra Mahina between mid March and mid April. He previously directed The Kerala Story. 

Sudipto Sen details the reason behind his film's title Charak

“Charak for us is that festival which happens during Chaitra Mahina, and it has to do with an encircling bar, where people get hanged and rotate around the whole crowd,” Sen explained. “It has been said that whatever you have done, you go to Charak, it will be redeemed, and your unfulfilled wishes will get fulfilled.” He added that this belief system has kept the festival alive for more than a thousand years, tracing its origins back to the period of Buddha.