Dhumketu Movie Review: It’s ultimately released in theatres on 14th August 2025 after languishing in development hell for almost a decade. Starring Dev and Subhashree Ganguly and directed by Kaushik Ganguly, this romance-thriller drama was filmed between 2015 and late 2017 but never got its day in the sun until now. Like a long-forgotten comet reappearing after years, the film returns, sparking curiosity about whether it can still connect with audiences in a vastly different cinematic landscape.
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Dhumketu Movie Overview
- Language: Bengali
- Theatrical Release Date: August 14th, 2025
- Director: Kaushik Ganguly
- Story: Kaushik Ganguly
- Baap of Movies Rating: 3/5
- Star Cast: Dev, Subhashree Ganguly, Chiranjeet Chakraborty, Rudranil Ghosh and others
- Cinematographer: Soumik Halder
- Editor: Subhajit Singha
- Music: Anupam Roy
- Duration: 131 Minutes (2 hours and 11 minutes)
- Banner: Dag Creative Media & Dev Entertainment Ventures
Dhumketu Movie Plot

His life stands on its head when he is laid off, sending him into a whirlpool of doubt and frayed relationships. Kaushik Ganguly’s narrative feels different & loved. The contrast between the breathtaking landscapes and the muted emotions offers a fascinating backdrop to the drama.
Dhumketu Movie Review: Performances That Carry the Film
Dev’s acting as Bhanu is the soul of the movie; he walks a tightrope between confidence and vulnerability, and his metamorphosis from a young, fiery man to his 82-year-old self is both credible and moving. The old look is not merely a cosmetic feat but an emotional one as well, since Dev ensures the character’s essential humanity is preserved at all times.
Subhashree Ganguly, as Rupa, matches Dev’s pace with realistic grounding. Her performance eschews melodrama; she is not a silent victim nor a weeping girlfriend. Rather, she questions, assists, and provokes, and her relationship with Bhanu rings true. Their romance is understated but potent, set on a foundation of unspoken understanding rather than high-drama gestures. Even amidst the tense moments, there is a feeling of warmth underneath that speaks volumes for all the years shared.

The supporting cast adds to the richness of the film. Chiranjeet Chakraborty adds a restrained nastiness that raises the stakes, and Rudranil Ghosh provides moments of lightness without breaking the tone. These performances make the world of Dhumketu feel lived-in, as if the characters’ lives existed long before and after the film’s events.
Visual and Musical Brilliance
One cannot ignore the film’s unique position as a time capsule. Because it was shot in the mid-2010s, some hairstyles, costumes, and even rhythms of dialogue bear the mark of that time. Although this sometimes makes viewers think of the wait between filming and release, it also creates a sense of nostalgia. Instead of seeming dated, it seems more like looking into an archived moment in time.
Visually, Dhumketu is breathtaking. Cinematographer Soumik Halder frames the tranquillity and majesty of Sikkim with sweeping vistas of mist-shrouded slopes and green tea estates. These are contrasted with close interior shots, such as small kitchens and modest rooms, that ground the storytelling in a human experience. The visuals are not merely pleasant to the eye; they complement the emotional essence of the film.

Music plays a significant role in the emotional texture of the film. Anupam Roy’s “Gaane Gaane”, sung so beautifully by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, is an overall emotional thread. Another song, “Maa”, provides depth at key moments, reinforcing ideas of yearning and belonging. Indraadip Dasgupta’s background music is understated, emerging only to the extent required and never overwhelming the narrative.
A Film That Rewards Patience
At 131 minutes, Dhumketu is not in a hurry. It assumes the viewer will fall in love with its characters and repays that investment with performance that is genuine and sincere. Dev and Subhashree stand out not because they command the frame with grandeur but because they live their characters with truth. The cinematography and music enhance what they do, setting the tone as intimate and yet cinematic.
It is not a movie for those looking for high-voltage action or fast plot turns. It is for those who value emotional truth, thematic complexity, and the poetry of quietness. For a film that was all but lost to history, Dhumketu has resurfaced with elegance, bearing the scars of its past without allowing it to overshadow the narrative. Finally, it does not streak across the horizon as a blazing meteor; rather, it burns steadily, and it is that soft light that makes it remembered.
Dhumketu Public Review And Reaction
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