Tumbbad

Tumbbad is not a common movie. It will leave you gripped to your seat making you think "what would happen next". Whole movie is so beautifully shot no wonder it is shot in natural light and the beauty is visible. This movie is a feast for your eyes with cinematic excellence is on full display. You wouldnt even have time to wander off your mind but watch it with eyes wide open. You won't enjoy it on small screen but have to watch in cinema halls. Mind you this movie took 6 years in making can you believe in the perseverance of the people who clung onto movie for 6 years despite harships.

TUMBBAD is a small village in India where a shrine was built for a god named Hastar. He was the greedy, malevolent offspring of the goddess of prosperity, and was only spared from obliteration by the other gods, on the condition that he never be worshiped.

This is not a spoiler, since it is told in the first few minutes of the film.

What follows is the story of what happens when human and demonic desires intersect. Hastar's temple is said to contain a vast fortune in a secret chamber. Needless to say, circumstances arise which stir Hastar from his long slumber.

Enter Vinayak Rao (Sohum Shah), a man so driven by his lust for gold that he returns to TUMBBAD fifteen years after a terrible event, in order to find and abscond with Hastar's treasure.

This isn't a good idea. At all.

Rao is an astoundingly single-minded, repellent character, willing to do anything to get what he wants. He truly believes that he can trick a god to attain his riches. His family suffers much for his stubborn folly.

TUMBBAD is no mere monster movie, though the creature is impressive. It's a fantasy / horror fable, much like something from Guillermo del Toro, giving us something to think about while being scared. Some of the plot twists are inspired, especially near the end.

This movie deserves a much wider audience...

This was something that may give may give 'goosebumps' to the makers of Hollywood movies. This is a movie that will add to the Indian cinema a tons but unfortunately Indian cinema is not prepared for it. The viewers are not prepared for it. We are still into watching that regular melodrama and item songs. I was fantasized for the making of Stree and acting and drama that made it. But after watching this I can proudly appreciate the concept and depth that this movie offers. This shows us what a thriller can be like. The biggest attraction of the movie was the story that was very symbolic of the human craving. Human craving takes you into darkness is the message of the movie . Sohum Shah has played his part powerfully and so has Anita Date. The direction was not orthodox and was original. This is the first movie of its type and definitely Hollywood can learn from it. This is a much an improvement over the Hollywood stories like Annabelle, Conjuring. A must entertainment for all. Watch it, especially if you are not into watching the regular drama that Indian cinema offers like Race 3

This movie will definitely be in the conversation of the greatest Indian movies ever made. 50 years from now, people will be referring to this film as an absolute classic and masterpiece in the genre. Sohum Shah, take a bow. Whoever did the VFX and Makeup deserves all the awards. The story is so original and I felt the eerie atmosphere throughout the movie. Also, today's bollywood movies often try to show as much brightness in every scene. The fact that the cinematography of this film is so awesome, that it's dark, in the rain, just immerses you in the plot and the 1900s. I heard it took 6 years of hard work. Thank you for giving the Indian audience this amazing film. A big step for the future of Indian cinema

Original, unsettling & enveloped with a dreadful aura, Tumbbad is a wicked blend of fantasy & folklore that makes fab use of its rich & riveting mythology to deliver a dark, delirious nightmare, and is all the more strengthened by its claustrophobic set pieces, ominous camerawork & unrelenting score.

Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, the most impressive bit about his first feature is that it is devoid of the awful gimmicks that destroy most Bollywood horrors. It retains its Indian roots, relies on its chilling ambience to ratchet the tension, and doesn't go overboard with most elements, thus keeping the interest alive until the end.

The remote location, period setting, dilapidated sets, perpetual rain & pitch dark alleys contribute plenty in creating a sense of apprehension that keeps us riveted throughout. The sophisticated camerawork & menacing score further amplify the unsettling vibe. Performances, however, are a bit overdone and certainly could've used some restraint.

Overall, Tumbbad is a welcome entry in Bollywood horror with a level of maturity that most of its counterparts lack. Scoring high marks on storytelling & technical fronts, it is a polished piece of work that puts greater emphasis on atmosphere to derive the chills instead of resorting to tiresome clichés, and is neatly executed by the debutant filmmaker. Definitely worth a shot.