For an Indian audience pretty much exasperated by routine horror clichés of jump scares, spirits in white sari and various exorcisms and occultist fares , Tumbbad is a revelation - something which can easily be termed as the best horror movie as an Indian production in recent times. That said the horror element is not a forced one but highly intertwined with the overall plot, making it one of the best story oriented horror tales with the thriller element taking the front stage for the major portion. Brilliantly directed as a period-fantasy-thriller-adventure flick, Tumbbad has 100% desi soul, blended magnificently into the dark and cursed landscape of Tumbbad. Set in Tumbbad in the 1920s and spanning from there through 3 chapters till post independent India, the plot revolves around the three generations of a family facing the consequences when they build a temple for the first-born of a goddess, named Hastar--he who must not be worshiped. Hastar is a terrible entity who can curse a person yet also can grant gold coins. And the story put emphasis on human nature and the never ending greed all the while drawing parallels to the exploitation of poor souls by the ever greedy masters. Among a bevy of not-so-famous actors, the main hero of the movie might as well be the art direction - simply brilliant at multiple levels. Pre-Independence Era sets, spooky mansions of Tumbbad and even minute details like locks and doors are done with an eerie perfection and earthen feel that it blends right in to the dark and contrasting frames throughout the movie. While majority of bollywood is losing it over overtly bright and rich visuals and glitz of Bhansali movies, here the makers have created absolute magic with a perennial rain receiving glum Tumbbad landscape. Considering the apparently small budget of the film, VFX employed is top notch compared to disasters like Thugs of Hindostan. It might be downright fitting for the bollywood mainstream audience to push aside the khan clan now and give talented makers like this a chance worth every penny they spend for a cinema!
