2018 · Film
Tumbbad
Folk horror film in which Vinayak Rao, a man from a cursed Maharashtra village, chases a hidden family treasure guarded by a monstrous deity across three decades.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Tumbbad is streaming in India on Prime Video with a subscription.
With subscription
Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026Open ↗
The story
In 1918, in the rain-soaked village of Tumbbad, a widow and her two sons live in the shadow of a crumbling mansion owned by the local zamindar, said to hide a mysterious treasure. The family also keeps a starving, chained old woman in a back room. Years later, her son Vinayak returns to Tumbbad, determined to find the treasure. He learns that it is tied to Hastar, a forgotten, cursed deity, and that taking the gold means facing a terrifying presence in the dark.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Viewers who like slow-burn folk horror built on myth, greed and atmosphere rather than jump scares. It is rated A for disturbing imagery and violence, so it is not one for children, and at 108 minutes it is a compact watch.
Genres:HorrorFantasy and sci-fi
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Tumbbad was inspired by a story by the Marathi writer Narayan Dharap. Director Rahi Anil Barve began writing it in 1993 and finished a first draft in 1997. The film was first shot in 2012, then rewritten and reshot, with filming completed by May 2015. Sohum Shah, Aanand L. Rai and Anand Gandhi were among its producers, and Jesper Kyd composed the score.
It premiered in the critics' week section of the 75th Venice International Film Festival, the first Indian film to be screened there, and opened in Indian cinemas on 12 October 2018. It won three Filmfare Awards, for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Sound Design. A theatrical re-release on 13 September 2024 grossed over ₹38 crore, more than its original run, and Wikipedia lists it as the second highest-grossing re-released Indian film. A sequel, Tumbbad 2, was announced during that re-release.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Folk horror, Period fantasy
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Certificate
- A
- Director
- Rahi Anil Barve
- Cast
- Sohum Shah, Jyoti Malshe, Anita Date-Kelkar, Mohammad Samad, Deepak Damle
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Tumbbad in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Tumbbad is streaming in India on Prime Video with a subscription.
- Is Tumbbad in Hindi?
- Yes. Tumbbad is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Tumbbad suitable for children?
- Tumbbad has a CBFC A certificate, which means it is restricted to adults aged 18 and above.
- How long is Tumbbad?
- Tumbbad runs for 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).