Indian horror movies have undergone considerable evolution in the past. While earlier movies were restricted to ghosts and haunted places, modern filmmakers are trying out psychological horror, folklore, and thriller elements. While some films made a name for themselves with their scare tactics, others gained recognition due to the storytelling and the atmosphere that they provided. The following is a list of 10 such horror movies from India.
1.Tumbbad
Tumbbad is more than just another horror movie, it is an elite experience for audiance. Taking place in the eerie village under British colonialism, the plot revolves around a man's hunt for buried treasure that is also a part of an old curse. This film's unique visuals and rainy atmosphere, together with the intriguing story, have set it apart from other horror movies produced by Bollywood.
OTT Platform: Prime Video
2.1920
As soon as 1920 was out, it gained immense popularity among people who liked horror movies. In the movie, you can see how a couple lived in a haunted house where scary things started to happen to them. This movie contained everything that is typical of horror movies, ghosts, frightening music, and scary scenes.
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3.Raaz
Raaz was a massive success in the 2000s and is remembered to date because of the music and eerie aura surrounding the film. Raaz tells the story of a married couple who tries to salvage their marriage amidst supernatural happenings. The role played by Bipasha Basu made audiences glued until the end.
OTT Platform: Netflix
4.Pari
Not like other typical Bollywood horror movies, the movie, Pari, had a dark and creepy touch. Featuring actress Anushka Sharma, the movie portrayed horror in real life, focusing on black magic and supernatural phenomena. It generated terror not just through shocks but rather from the movie's atmosphere and narration.
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5.Bhoot
Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship, starring Vicky Kaushal, is about the haunting of a ship that lands up on the shores of Mumbai. As mysterious events start to occur due to the haunting, the thriller film becomes engrossing for the audience with its spine-chilling visuals and sounds.
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6.Bulbbul
Bulbbul mixed horror with folklore and social issues. The story revolves around a mysterious woman linked to deaths happening in a village. The movie looked visually beautiful but also had several creepy moments that stayed with viewers. Tripti Dimri’s performance was widely appreciated after the film released on streaming platforms.
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7.13B
13B had one of the most unique horror concepts in Indian cinema. The story follows a family whose television starts showing events from their future. Where the previous movie relied on jump scares, the latter one created suspense gradually and introduced an element of mystery into its plot. The performance of Madhavan and the unique plot line made this film extremely popular among all lovers of thrillers.
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8.Bhool Bhulaiyaa
Even though Bhool Bhulaiyaa had comedy, it also delivered several memorable horror moments. Vidya Balan’s performance became the biggest highlight of the film, especially during the emotional and scary scenes. The comic timing of Akshay Kumar was what balanced the suspense, making the film an extremely entertaining one.
OTT Platform: Netflix
9.Pizza
The Tamil thriller turned out to be unexpected due to the clever script. The plot focuses on the life of the pizza delivery boy who ends up being locked inside a house. As he explores the place, mysterious events start occurring. The film managed to attract lots of attention due to the unpredictable plot twists.
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10.Stree
Stree also showed us that horror and comedy can work together perfectly. Based on an urban legend, the film follows a spirit who kidnaps men during a festival. Rajkummar Rao’s performance, funny dialogues, and spooky scenes made the movie a huge success. It also helped popularize horror-comedy again in Bollywood.
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Conclusion
Indian horror movies are no longer limited to old haunted house stories. Now filmmakers are coming up with new ideas and stories along with good visuals too. It doesn’t matter whether the film is based on the eerie factor of “Raaz”, the fear factor of “Pari” or the folk horror of “Tumbbad”; all of them are entertaining people till date.