2024 belongs to the horror genre. There have been many interesting movies, sequels, and brilliant new supernatural amalgamations of complicated human emotions. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that horror has evolved, with audiences being highly receptive to it. In India, where horror films were traditionally considered an inferior genre, it’s surprising to see filmmakers trying their hands at it with such excitement.
For a long time, horror was considered a bastardized genre in India. Movie industries made horror flicks with the same old angles, playing it safe. But now, horror has evolved beyond jump scares; the movies have a deep-rooted story beyond vindictive women, nuns, and ghosts with twisted arms and legs. And that’s a welcome change.
How else can one explain so many supernatural events that continue to inspire such films? More and more films are now based on folklore or urban legends, which people find incredibly relatable. That explains why the ghosts are no longer black-and-white villains but complicated figurines, like any human being.
As we wind up this incredible year for ghosts, ghouls, and tormented human souls, here’s a lowdown on the top five best Indian horror flicks. At the same time, though, Indian horror movies have also been quite terrible. Despite the genre’s resurgence, we continue to have big-budget movies with nonsensical storylines and highly plagiarized music. I also have five terrible Indian horror movies…Make your choice wisely and keep your expectations low.
5 Not to Miss Horror Flicks
Manichitrathazhu (1993)
The OG Bhool Bhulaiya, Manichitrathazhu (meaning The Ornate Lock), is a classic Malayalam movie that horror and suspense lovers cannot miss. This psychological thriller delved into Dissociative Identity Syndrome at a time when psychology had yet to evolve, and mental health was an utterly obscure concept.
Directed by Fazil, Manichitrathazhu was a path-breaking movie. With a spectacular performance by actor-dancer Shobana, the film delves into the deterioration of a woman’s mind when she encounters a heartbreaking love story that reminds her of her sordid past filled with abandonment and separation trauma. The movie was remade in five languages, culminating with Bhool Bhulaiya, the Hindi remake in 2007. The director of Bhool Bhulaiya, Priyadarshan, was the assistant director in Manichitrathazhu.
Watch it for its soulful songs and marvelous Bharatnatyam performances by Shobana.
Tumbbad (2018)
This Sohum Shah film was shot over eight years across the most rainy terrains of Maharashtra, just to get the realistic effect of a town cursed by the goddess’s wrath. Tumbbad was recently re-released in theatres across India and proved why it’s a cinematic marvel.
Based on ancient folklore, the movie portrays the devastating consequences of human greed and lust for wealth and gold. With mind-blowing performances by Mohammad Samad (the child actor who also voiced the great-grandmother, whose scary voice is heard throughout the film), Tumbbad is a must-watch and an unforgettable movie in terms of its story. The makers had to struggle to get the film financed, though, and it did not rake in money at the box office upon its initial release. But since then, thanks in part to OTT, Tumbbad has been hailed a cinematic masterpiece and one of the rare gems of Indian cinema.
Watch the movie and understand how much it elevated the horror genre.
Stree (2018)
When actor Vicky Kaushal was offered the movie, he refused and said such films don’t work in India. I’m pretty sure he regrets it! Stree not only became a blockbuster but has an entire multiverse now. The sequel, Stree 2 (2024), is the highest-grossing Bollywood movie ever!
This success is attributed to Raj and DK‘s brilliant script and screenplay in the prequel, which Niren Bhatt subsequently replaced in Stree 2. Stree is based on the urban legend of a witch who haunted Bangalore back in 1992 by calling out the names of the men of the household. The movie is set in Chanderi, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, where three friends have to save their beloved small town from a similar witch. But they do so hilariously.
Stree is a horror-comedy film, and its success proves that horror, if brilliantly merged with another genre, can have the strength and charisma of any good movie. The movie was also known for its gender-themed angle, where patriarchy was replaced by a world that suddenly turned dangerous for men, thus giving them a taste of what it feels like when women are shackled in the name of safety.
Bhoot (2003)
Director Ram Gopal Verma was once hailed as a supernatural thriller maverick. Back in the ’00s, he made some memorable films that are remembered to this day. Bhoot remains one of his scariest movies to date! With several amazing actors, including veterans like Tanuja and Rekha, and an impressive background score, Bhoot was terrifying!
Urmila Matondkar gave her career-best performance in the movie as a possessed woman who takes revenge by murdering the people involved in the killing of the former resident of the flat she lives in. The background score is enough to give you a heart attack, and several jolts in the film will keep you on the edge of your couch. Don’t watch this movie when you are alone. It will give you sleepless nights!
13B (2009)
The movie was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Yavarum Nalum (meaning All Are Fine) and has attained cult status now because of its unique storyline. The film shows a family moving into an apartment on the 13th floor and experiencing weird occurrences, not because of some ghost in the apartment but because of a soap opera on TV. Starring R. Madhavan as the protagonist, 13B did not receive much attention among the Hindi audiences upon its release but has since been hailed as a groundbreaking film, earning rave reviews on its OTT release.
You will love the thrills and the suspense when Manohar (Madhavan) discovers the mystery behind the apartment and the sordid past of its previous residents. What worked for the film was its realistic nature. Because, do you know? 13 is considered an unlucky number for residences, too. Many apartments in India do not have a 13th floor.
5 Horror Flicks to Forget
Bhool Bhulaiya Sequels (2022-2024)
Director Anees Bazmee took over the rights to the movie, turned it into a franchise, and added tonnes of silly comedy. The only saving graces in the sequels of Bhool Bhulaiya are the actresses—Tabu, Vidya Balan (who led the 2007 movie), and Madhuri Dixit. One wonders why these superb actors chose to do a more laughable film than a scary one.
Both sequels, though successful at the box office, earned the ire of critics and audiences alike. These movies are rugged to watch, and you might fast-forward the entire film when you watch it on OTT. Mediocre and silly, the Bhool Bhulaiya Sequels are a waste of time. They don’t take your boredom away; they make it even worse. The makers try too hard to make the film a horror-comedy but fail miserably.
Kaal (2005)
Now, it started great! You had a steamy item song right at the beginning of the movie with Shah Rukh Khan, who doesn’t even star in the film. The movie opens with friends accompanying a wildlife expert to a fictional national park and encountering a mysterious, murderous entity who is not a tiger as initially believed. It turns out it’s a ghost who kills tourists.
The movie’s heart is in the right place, but the plot doesn’t reveal the intent. It’s all so twisted and confusing, with characters appearing and disappearing randomly, that your head is all messed up. Repetitive jumpscares don’t make the movie scary, either. While it claims to be a movie on wildlife preservation (especially tigers), it somehow makes animals the villains. Unfortunately, it is easily forgettable.
Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009)
The sequel to the superhit movie Raaz (2002), this one is another forgettable film on the list. Too many storylines are juxtaposed, conveying a convoluted message that makes you wonder what exactly the filmmakers have in mind. It starts with the same old trope of an artist’s artwork coming to life, except that the artist only paints one woman.
The movie is not a direct sequel to the original; hence, the storyline also has none of the original’s vitality. There’s an unnecessary romance thrown in and a lot of murders. All of it is linked to the entertainment industry and its business strategy, which somehow interferes with religious rituals. By the end of it all, nothing adds up. It’s just a ghost seeking social justice if that’s a thing at all.
Dhootha (2023)
This is a series about corrupt journalists. The storyline seems like a prequel to 13B because newspaper clippings predict the future, and it is all linked to India’s freedom struggle. The show is thrilling, and you will get hooked. However, it’s not a well-researched show, which is evident from the story’s progression.
The ghost of a murdered deceased journalist targets a modern, corrupt journalist and family, killing his children. It’s somehow linked to pre-independence India where a few corrupt journalists turn out to be murderers. And now it’s their successors who carry that corruptness in their blood. Instead of commenting on the sordid state of journalism in India, the show alludes to stereotypes and culminates with poetic justice. The script is pretty wishy-washy, with mediocre performances. Naga Chaitanya’s looks and hotness might make you complete the series. At least they could keep the suspense lingering till the last episode.
Krishna Cottage (2004)
This could have been a successful TV series if Ekta Kapoor had not wanted to make movies. Krishna Cottage has everything a suspense thriller series requires—a wandering female ghost looking for her lost lover, unrequited love stories, mysterious mishaps and murders, flat tires, empty tunnels, and a group of friends losing their lives one after the other. Even the cast was primarily TV veterans.
Krishna Cottage makes no sense as a film. It starts with an unfinished book, appearing only towards the end and nowhere throughout the film. There are sorcerers and psychics thrown in, and a spirit call reveals who the real ghost is because there were supposed to be two of them. And it all ends with a rebirth angle. Suddenly, everything is fine, and the ghost realizes she is wrong.
Watch the movie purely for entertainment and genuine performances. But be warned, it’s made in a proper TV series manner. So, you might want to take breaks, or the suspense won’t add up.
List Courtesy of Neha Jha
Feature Image from ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ via News9 Live