Indian cinema has succeeded in making its mark on the world with its many inimitable qualities, from the larger-than-life spectacle to the savory melodrama. While Indian romances and blockbusters are well-known to global audiences to different degrees, its work on the horror genre doesn’t enjoy the same popularity.
But Indian film audiences have no dearth of horror movies to call their own. With elaborate folklore to draw from, Indian horror cinema has a style of its own, and when it comes to the regional South Indian film industries, they have mastered an even more idiosyncratic take on the horror genre. From mind-bending thrillers that remind you of the horror offerings of Japanense and Korean horror cinema to fully-fledged entertainment packages featuring action, comedy, and a healthy serving of the paranormal, here are 14 of the best South Indian horror movies you need to watch.
14 Pisaasu
Directed by acclaimed Tamil director Mysskin, the 2014 movie Pisaasu made a definite mark on its viewers with its unique take on the horror genre, blending it with heartfelt romantic notes. The movie begins with an up-and-coming violinist named Siddharth, played by Naga, witnessing a violent accident one day. A compassionate man, he is moved to help the victim to the fullest and rushes her to the hospital, where she passes away while holding hands with the protagonist. Following this incident, strange events begin taking place at his home, and Siddharth finds himself heading towards a discovery that will move him to his very core.
13 Kumari
The 2022 Malayalam-language film Kumari is one of the most memorable horror offerings to come out of India recently. A unique and well-realized premise combines the eerie familiarity of Indian mythologies with the terrifying unknowability of classic Lovecraftian mysteries. Actress Aishwarya Lekshmi appears in the leading role as the titular Lekshmi, an exuberant young woman who is unceremoniously married off to a village far away. Even as she tries to make the best of her circumstances, her life is thrown into terrors of the cosmic variety. She discovers that the family she has married into is under the debt of an otherworldly entity, and her soon-to-be born child might be at imminent risk because of it.
Kumari is an excellent watch among South Indian horror movies with its superior ambiance. It develops its story less with idle plot points and more with its compelling atmosphere, which continuously whispers through each frame to craft a truly memorable watch.
12 Arundhati
Telugu-language film Arundhati falls more in line with the standard horror offering that comes out of the regional South Indian film industries. Anushka Shetty, who is effectively the default choice for powerful women leads in Telugu cinema, appears as the titular character in this movie about reincarnation and powerful occultist spirits. Written as a chapter in the lore of an ancient royal clan, Arundhati centers around the enmity between an illustrious heir of the Gadwal royal clan and an evil sorcerer who desires her. As supernatural elements come into play, it is only until two generations later that the saga is finally concluded.
11 Chaarulatha
Chaarulatha can easily disturb you with its premise if you haven’t watched the Thai film Alone, upon which it was based. The movie stars Priyamani in dual roles as conjoined twins Charu and Latha, who both fall in love with the same man. When their mother finally decides to have the two sisters separated through surgery, one of the sisters dies. But her malevolent spirit soon begins haunting the other sister, seeking to settle a grudge over their shared romantic interest.
10 U Turn
An intriguing supernatural thriller that will remind some viewers of Korean cross-genre thrillers, the 2016 Kannada-language movie U Turn has enjoyed massive success in the South Indian market, even being remade a staggering seven times. The movie follows an interning reporter Rachana, played by Shraddha Srinath, who investigates a series of unusual accidents at a particular flyover in her city. She quickly understands that these accidents are being caused by drivers who choose this point to take illegal U-turns on the road, leaving road dividers haphazardly on the road. But when these rule-breakers begin to die off one by one, Rachana is slowly taken down the tunnel of a supernatural mystery.
9 Aranmanai
The 2014 Tamil horror comedy Aranmanai enjoyed such widespread popularity that it spawned an entire film series, which is set to receive its fourth title soon. With a title translating to “palace,” the film series revolves around haunted ancestral mansions of village royalty. The first movie into the film series begins when a large family visits their village with the goal of renovating and selling the ancestral palace. As work begins, however, supernatural apparitions and unexplained murders set the family members on the trail of an obstinate spirit that is also hiding a horrendous family secret.
Aranmanai has a fairly involved storytelling, the kind of which is typical to South Indian cinema and perhaps even resembles the best of it. Typical Indian beliefs, superstitions, and motives figure into the plot for a rich, culturally grounded story.
8 Kanchana
Kanchana is by far the most popular horror film series to come out of the regional South Indian film industries, loved and adored across the country. The franchise fits perfectly into the horror comedy tag, leaning more into the comedic side than Aranamanai. The Kanchana movies typically have a hefty runtime filled with numerous comedic gags. Possession is a major theme across all movies, and they often use the possession element to reveal tragic stories as commentaries on societal issues. An involving combination of horror, comedy, and drama has made Kanchana an evergreen film brand to come out of India’s Tamil film industry.
7 Pizza
Released in 2012, the Tamil-language film Pizza was critically acclaimed for its unique story and impressive performances. The movie was a breakout hit for actor Vijay Sethupathi, who acts in the lead role as a pizza delivery man who gets trapped in a house whose inhabitants are serially murdered in circumstances that defy logical explanation. Pizza has a mind-bending plot that confounds viewers with elements of supernatural mystery as well as crime thriller, as it comes with a surprising twist on top of an already captivating premise.
6 Jallikattu
India’s official entry to the 93rd Academy Awards, Jallikattu is one movie on this list that will undoubtedly leave an impression. The most appalling horror movies are often those that appear to take place in relatable, realistic circumstances. These tales feature few supernatural elements, but arrest your breath with horrific incidents that can just as easily happen to us by chance.
Jallikattu begins in a placid, harmonious village community in Kerala, where a massive upcoming wedding feast is the talk of town. As the local butcher makes his preparations to butcher a massive buffalo, it runs off into the nearby forest. The entire village is enlisted to hunt down the beast; after all, a runaway buffalo promises a rare treat to its catchers in this small community. But along the way, slow chaos descends upon its peaceful inhabitants as they get consumed by greed.
5 Yavarum Nalam
One of the significant Tamil-language releases of 2009, Yavarum Nalam (translating to “everyone is well”) is a horror thriller full of twists and turns that make for a great casual watch. Its story has been compared to the kind often seen in Japanese horror, but without the excess gore. R. Madhavan stars in the movie as a family man who is excited to move into a new apartment, fulfilling a lifelong dream. But this new chapter in his family’s life is marked by a series of inauspicious signs.
Amidst these troubling omens, Madhavan’s character soon becomes obsessed with a TV show whose events and characters eerie parallels his own life. As the show begins to take a dark turn, he goes on a desperate search to unravel the mystery about the TV show, where many horrifying surprises await him.
4 Bhinna
Bhinna is a landmark for the Kannada film industry, set apart by its unusual plot and the fact that it is the first Kannada-language original feature by a streaming platform in India. Actress Paayal Radhakrishna appears in the lead role as Kaveri, an actress who swears by the method acting style and who is struggling to solve complicated issues in her marriage.
When a new acting role comes her way, she decides to take the opportunity to lock herself up in a vacation home and focus on preparing for her part. But as she begins her work, she finds that the script has many parallels to her own life. The viewer is left to wonder if the events are all taking place in Kaveri’s mind or whether something more sinister is at play.
3 Trunk
The 2018 Kannada film Trunk was the directorial debut for Rishika Sharma, and received positive reviews for its realistic touch. While the common stance for many South Indian films often takes an overly dramatic turn, Trunk settles upon a tone of pure dread. The movie follows paranormal activities in the lives of a newly married couple, Rahul and Harini, played by Nihal Rajput and Vaishali Deepak. It takes its time developing its story, beginning with the earliest days of the couple’s relationship, and the viewer gets to see how the two fall in love and eventually get married.
The elements of horror begin to settle into place once the two begin their married life, as Harini begins to show signs of possession by an otherworldly entity. And it seems to be connected with a mysterious trunk that Harini brought to her new home.
2 Kantara
The year 2022 was a tremendous one for Indian cinema, as audiences were treated to multiple titles that were quickly dubbed iconic, winning hearts across the country. Kantara was one of those movies, a mammoth achievement for the Kannada film industry that became the third highest-grossing movie of the year. Written, directed by, and starring Rishab Shetty in the lead role, Kantara drew attention to a cultural phenomenon known as Bhoota Kola, a ritual dance tradition where local protector gods are believed to possess the bodies of its dancers.
Kantara delivered an unprecedented portrayal of this little-known South Indian tradition, filled with awe-inspiring spectacle. Shetty appears in the movie as a man born into a family of Kola dancers, who seeks to reject his calling. Hounded by supernatural occurrences and political conspiracies surrounding his small village community, Kantara traces the character’s journey as he eventually finds his way back to his destiny.
1 Virupaksha
The classic South Indian horror tropes of black magic and wars waged on the mystical front find a more dramatic expression in the 2023 movie Virupaksha. The story begins in a little village where an innocent couple is accused of practicing black magic and lynched, leaving behind an orphan boy. 12 years later, the village is stricken by a string of unusual deaths, from freak crow maulings to gruesome forms of suicide.
It is up to Surya, played by Sai Dharam Tej, to get to the bottom of this supernatural mystery before the entire village is annihilated. Virupaksha draws from common folklore to build its narrative, making for a captivating watch as multiple forces such as an unseen sorcerer and the village priests’ arbitrary superstitions battle against each other.
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