March 24, 2020 — a date that still echoe in the collective memory of 1.45 billion Indians. On this day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the unthinkable — a complete nationwide lockdown in response to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus. Overnight, the world’s largest democracy came to a standstill. Trains screeched to a halt, buses vanished from the roads, and airports turned into ghost towns. Life as we knew it was paused.
Now, five years later, De’s Movies International (Film Production House) revisits that haunting moment in Indian history with its upcoming Bengali survival thriller ‘Banchao’ (Save Me). Produced by Niladri De and directed by Anirban Roy, the film is already creating waves across Tollywood for its gripping premise and emotional depth.
🎬 Banchao Teaser Out Now!
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A gripping lockdown survival thriller where one man is trapped in an empty bus during India’s 2020 shutdown.
Can he make it out alive?#Banchao #LockdownThriller #BengaliMovie #TeaserAlert #SurvivalDrama#Banchao #Lockdown #Covid #Corona #CovidLockdown pic.twitter.com/aOsbwow62F
Set in the heart of Kolkata, ‘Banchao’ tells the story of Deepu, a young man desperately trying to return home to Murshidabad just before the lockdown announcement. Stranded at a deserted bus stand, Deepu falls prey to a conman who promises him a ride home, takes his money, and leaves him inside an abandoned bus. Exhausted, Deepu falls asleep in the back seat, unaware that the stand is being cleared out by police and sealed shut — with him locked inside.
What follows is a nail-biting survival tale. Alone, without food or water, trapped in a silent city under curfew, Deepu is forced to confront not just his physical challenges, but emotional battles — including memories of his late father, the invisible struggles of migrant workers, and even the isolation captured in Tom Hanks’ iconic ‘Cast Away’.
Producer Niladri De shares, “We’ve made a film that speaks to every individual on this planet. Every nation was affected by COVID, and ‘Banchao’ is our tribute to the human spirit that fought through isolation, fear, and despair.”
Director Anirban Roy adds, “Anyone who lived through those early days of lockdown will feel this story in their bones. This isn’t just a film — it’s a mirror to what we all went through.”
With its compelling narrative and raw emotion, ‘Banchao’ promises to be one of the most memorable survival thrillers in Indian cinema. The big question remains — can Deepu escape the trauma and finally get out of the bus.… or will the lockdown seal his fate?
Get ready — ‘Banchao’ is releasing soon across India.
