Updated on: 31 July, 2024 05:08 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Indian folklore is a fascinating amalgamation of mythology and fiction. Horror as a genre gives you goosebumps with an eerie and unpleasant feeling. However, it is one of the most watched genres that keeps the audience hooked. With Stree 2 releasing on August 15, heres a look at seven horror movies based on Indian folklore and urban legends that once created havoc in various parts of the country. The fourth one is an unmissable and terrifying tale.
1. Lapachhapi (2017)
Hereditary secrets or curses that are carried on from generations act as a potent plot in Indian horror films, frequently hiding horrific crimes and secret religious customs perpetuated by mysterious families. The Marathi horror film Lapachhapi is a classic example of one such movie.When a pregnant couple lands in the middle of a sugarcane field, seeking to hide from the debtors who are after their lives. The husband hopes to leave his wife with a rural family near the fields while he goes away to make arrangements to pay off the debts.
But this family, who is willing to help the couple, hides a dark secret that puts his pregnant wife and unborn child in severe danger.
2. Tumbbad (2018)
Listed on IMDb's top 10 horror movies, Tumbbad took the Indian dark cinema to a different level with its horrifying storyline and cinematic magic. The movie revolves around greed with a hint of a fictional, created myth.Sprinkled with touches of cosmic horror, Tumbbad follows a family that uses its knowledge about a forbidden folklore story of genesis to climb up the affluence.
3. Pari (2018)
Anushka Sharma's fictional horror is a praiseworthy attempt at combining eastern folklore with horror tropes that are typically found in a Hollywood movie. The actress stars as a woman of dubious birth, seemingly destined for dark purposes with cults and demons in her pursuits.While the execution is far from perfect, there are some jump scares that were highly appreciated by the Indian audience.
4. Kantara (2022)
Kantara was the breakout movie of 2022, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. It took over the audience's expectations and imagination when it comes to narrating an Indian folklore by its spellbinding portrayal of bhoota kola.Even though it is more towards traditional deities who channel in into a human on occasions of a kola to help and guide the villagers, Kantara exuded a rather horror effect to it, all thanks to Rishab Shetty's mastermind and phenomenal performance.
Kumari (2022)
With the growing triumph of South Indian cinema, Kumari is yet another testament to the amazing horror offering to come out of the Malayalam cinema. Helmed by Nirmal Sahadev, the film stars Aishwarya Lekshmi in the titular role.Kumari is a fascinating blend of Indian folklore with fantasy that will go beyond your imagination. The movie follows an event of a curse clan who is forced to worship an otherworldly abomination, who sounds familiar to anyone who has grown up in the Indian folklore context.
6. Munjya (2024)
The latest horror comedy that took the internet by storm, Munjya, became yet another addition to the Indian folklore urban legend that demands marriage and sex.The movie starred Sharvari and newcomer Abhay Verma. Munjya collected over 100 crore across the globe and continues to entertain horror movie fans.
7. Stree 2 (2024)
The much-awaited upcoming sequel to the 2018 horror comedy also revolved around the story of an urban legend named Nale Ba, who targeted men by kidnapping them to a mysterious location.Stree 2 reunites Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee, Panjak Tripathi, and Aparshakti Khurrana. Releasing on August 15, the film also stars Tamannaah Bhatia in a stunning cameo.
