🎬 Overview
Released in 2018, Tumbbad is an Indian horror fantasy film directed by Rahi Anil Barve, with Anand Gandhi serving as co-director and producer. The film was jointly written by Barve and Mitesh Shah. The film stars Sohum Shah, who also co-produced it. Blending Indian mythology, Gothic horror, and a cautionary tale about greed, Tumbbad is one of the most visually striking and thematically rich films to emerge from Indian cinema in recent years.
Tumbbad portrays the early 20th-century folklore about a cursed village called Tumbbad, which spans several decades. It tells the story of an ancient secret that is buried—both literally and metaphorically—a wicked secret that the village holds. The film’s lush cinematography, pervasive sense of dread, and compelling narrative have earned it acclaim as a rare example of Indian horror cinema executed with both artistry and thematic depth.
📘 Plot Summary
The narrative pans out through the years 1918, 1933, and 1947, which are interconnected by the character Vinayak Rao, portrayed by Sohum Shah. During his childhood, Vinayak lives in the forsaken village Tumbbad, where his family serves a reclusive older woman who is the master of a dilapidated mansion. His mother warns him to never venture to the inner parts of the mansion since it keeps a secret for centuries which is supposedly linked to an ancient god known as Hastar.
Hastar, according to the myth, is the firstborn of the goddess of prosperity, who attempted to claim some of her wealth and tried to steal her food (grain). As a punishment by the other gods, he was cursed to never receive worship. His essence was locked away in the womb of the goddess—sealed and feared and forgotten.
Tragically, Vinayak’s childhood comes to an end when his brother dies from an enigmatic fall. Along with his mother, he escapes Tumbbad promising never to return. However, the secrets that the old woman took with her and the promises of gold, compelled Vinayak to go back as an adult.
In the 1930s, he learns that the basement of the mansion holds an ancient treasure that can only be accessed through a ritual where Hastar must be fed. He now exists as a grotesque, demonic being tethered to a dark pit. By following the rules of the ritual—feeding him dough effigies and collecting gold coins from his body—Vinayak’s wealth begins to increase.
His greed, however, intensifies even further. He trains his son in the ritual and becomes obsessed with hoarding more gold. In 1947, as India gains independence, Vinayak’s internal corruption is at its peak. He attempts one last self-destructive journey into the goddess’s womb to steal more than just gold coins.
This destructive decision results in his demise. Once contained, Hastar now multiplies himself. Vinayak unleashes untold horror, but still manages to redeem himself by sacrificing his life so that his son can escape. Ultimately, the son, perhaps wiser than his father, chooses to reject the gold and cast it into the abyss, breaking the cycle of greed that spans across generations.
👥 Cast & Characters
Sohum Shah as Vinayak Rao: The main character, whose emotional journey from innocence to greed serves as the film’s core. Shah captures the moral complexity of a man both courageous and deeply flawed.
Jyoti Malshe as Vinayak’s mother: Devoted and stern, she tries to protect her children from the the curse of Tumbbad, but was never able to escape the curse’s grip herself.
Deepak Damle as Raghav, who guards the mansion’s secret and is Vinayak’s hesitant guide.
Mohammad Samad as Pandurang, who ultimately bears the wrath of his father’s greed as he succumbs to the consequences of greed.
🎥 Direction, Style & Cinematography
Tumbbad showcases mastery of atmosphere and world-building. Director Rahi Anil Barve tells a richly visual story that draws viewers into a decaying and rain-soaked world. Practical effects with minimal CGI, coupled with haunting production design, bolster the film’s realism and horror.
Pankaj Kumar, the cinematographer, created classic horror style imagery that uses shadows, firelight, and rain to build tension. Throughout the film, rain serves as a symbol of the curse, never letting up.
The sound design along with the background score by Jeshna Jayaraj enhances the film’s immersive quality. Instead of using jump scares, the film employs silence, stillness, and peripheral motion to evoke discomfort and slowly build dread.
📚 Themes & Analysis
- Greed and Corruption
At its center, Tumbbad tries to convey a moralistic message about the consequences of greed. Vinayak’s growing obsession is accompanied by increasingly grotesque transactions with Hastar. Each visitation to the ‘womb’ pays him gold, but siphons more of his humanity and soul.
- Myth and Mortality
The film synthesizes its own mythos, drawing from Vedic culture alongside fictional elements. Hastar embodies the forbidden idol as the anthropomorphic representation of unbridled greed and the murderous balance between divinity and humanity. The relentless cycle of sin and retribution is a recurring theme.
- Colonial and Post Colonial Allegory
Set in the timeframe of the British Raj and culminating in Indian independence, the film critiques the colonial structure and power dynamics while suggesting an inheritance of those systems by postcolonial leaders. The 1930s Vinayak’s mansion-like home reflects the newly found wealth perceived as a corrupting influence after the colonizers left.
- Parenthood and Legacy
Vinayak’s dynamic with his son mirrors his relationship with his mother. The generational transfer of secrets and curses shows how trauma and greed are passed down through the family line. Still, Pandurang’s final rejection of the treasure offers some hope that the cycle can be broken.
🎭 Performances
With a controlled and detailed performance, Sohum Shah carries the film’s narrative. He refrains from melodrama and depicts Vinayak as a man whose moral compass deteriorates over time. His evolution from a cautious child into a corrupted adult, and ultimately a sacrificial father, is tragic yet plausibly convincing.
The realism is augmented by the supporting cast, in particular Deepak Damle, whose portrayal of the caretaker is disturbing yet sympathetic. As a child actor, Mohammad Samad’s portrayal of an innocent child emotionally burdened by a dreadful legacy adds depth to the final act.
📈 Critical Reception
Tumbbad received extensive praise from critics for its creativity alongside technical and narrative craftsmanship. It debuted at the Venice Film Festival, which is uncommon for Indian horror films, and was enthusiastically noted for its innovative take on genre filmmaking. In India, it was celebrated as a new direction in horror cinema, breaking the formulaic reliance on superficial scares in favor of atmosphere, myth, and depth.
Numerous critics compared it to Guillermo del Toro’s films, highlighting the fairytale tone intertwined with elements of horror and moral allegory.
🧭 Conclusion
Tumbbad is much more than a horror film. It intricately weaves Indian mythology and serves as a cautionary tale about the greed and its consequences across generations. It is a landmark Indian film because of its striking visuals, unique storytelling, and haunting atmosphere.
In a landscape often dominated by formulaic storytelling, Tumbbad makes its mark with boldness and artistry, standing the test of time and remaining relevant. It is one of those films that leaves an impression and compels the audience to ponder over what is truly worth sacrificing in the endless quest for ‘more.’
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