TheReviewMonk
Tumbbad backdrop

Tumbbad

12 October 2018Hindi1h 53mPart 1 of the Tumbbad series
FantasyHorror
out of 10
Recommendedmost critics liked it
Monk Score · 15 scored reviews · 5 not rated

Gothic visuals and mythological dread make this a rare Indian horror worth seeking out.

Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: atmospheric visuals and Gothic dread
  • Criticised: disjointed, repetitive narrative structure

Audience

User score 8.1 out of 10 from 7 ratings, Exceptional
Read 5 audience reviews ↓

Top cast

Full cast & crew

Critic consensus

What 20 critics are saying

Critical reception for Tumbbad is largely positive, with the majority of reviewers singling out its atmospheric visuals, period detail, and rare sense of Gothic dread as standout achievements for an Indian indie production. Several critics noted the film's ambitious blending of mythology, folklore, horror, and moral allegory as genuinely distinctive. The most consistent criticism centres on narrative pacing and structure, with some reviewers finding the story repetitive, disjointed, or emotionally distant from its characters. A handful of critics also flagged its niche, art-house sensibility as a barrier to mainstream appeal.

How the 15 scores spread

5 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 20 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

From the papers

Critic reviews (20)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Film Companion

    Film review ·

    Tumbbad is inspired by the works of Marathi horror writer Narayan Dharap. At the screening I was at, someone during the interval remarked, "It seems like a Marathi film." I don't know how he meant it but I take that as a compliment because even though the language spoken is Hindi, the atmosphere of the Konkan is so rich and the period details so well executed, that you feel it's Marathi. I left the theatre with images swirling in my head and a few questions that the film doesn't answer. Which is not a bad thing.

  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Debutant director Rahi Anil Barve has a distinct voice. Tumbbad is a gorgeous looking, intriguing morality tale which both entrances and repulses: it's not something I will forget.

  3. Top critic

    Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    The story becomes exasperatingly concentric, as Vinayak gets addicted to narrow escapes and keeps going back to the temple for more. The film thus finds itself in a loop as we see it play out for over thirty years, a short story told by a longform narrator. I marvelled at things, but also yawned.

  5. Zee News

    Film review ·

    You will never see anything like 'Tumbbad' again...Co-directors Anand Gandhi and Rahi Anil Barve have dared to enter a world that on paper seems impossible to render visually. Yet, they`ve done it!

  6. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    Tumbbad is miles above the average Indian fantasy-horror film in terms of both sophistication and vision.

  7. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    Tumbbad is a moody and atmospheric film. Some viewers may find the film a little too deep and disturbing, but fans of Hollywood horror films will be reminded of memorable movies in the genre like Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Eraserhead (1977). This one is genuinely scary.

  10. KoiMoi

    Film review ·

    Tumbbad is one magnificent looking film. A dark fusion of horror, fantasy, drama and thriller – the story of Tumbbad is surely to haunt your thoughts even after you leave the cinema hall. A treat for the lovers of this genre.

  11. Mumbai Mirror

    Film review ·

    What doesn't kill you, makes you more resilient. And if you survive the version of Beelzebub in this film, you surely have the liver for heart-pounding horror.

  12. IBNLive

    Film review ·

    The film is intriguing, sometimes even absurd, but you'll glide through its 104-minute duration. Tumbbad's biggest success is that it doesn't confine to any popular genre. It offers something new and that's enough. ​

  13. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    ...an artsy, gutsy mix of mythology, history, horror, and moral science. Do these elements seamlessly add up for you to naturally feel for the characters in the story? Honestly, no. Does the incredibly strong visual craftsmanship (rare for an Indian indie) satisfyingly guide you into a world hitherto unseen/unknown? Oh, absolutely.

  14. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    TUMBBAD rests on a unique concept but the disjointed narrative spoils the show. It'll be a challenge for this film to impress the masses and hence struggle to do good business at the box office.

  15. Rediff

    Film review ·

    What seemed missing in Tumbbad was that screwiness, that kinkiness, which shades so many of our best parables...

  17. LiveMint

    Film review ·

    A visually rich blend of fear and folklore...'Tumbbad ' is a technically accomplished and edgy home-grown horror fantasy

  18. Reuters

    Film review ·

    The rain never stops in Rahi Anil Barve's "Tumbbad". It pelts the ground relentlessly, rendering everything else insignificant and giving the film an eerie atmosphere and a sense of foreboding. This gloom is what gives the film its best attribute – atmospherics. Barve's film is redolent with a texture and detail that is rare in Indian films.

  19. Scroll.in

    Film review ·

    Barve and his team of collaborators leave much to interpretation, but Tumbbad, derived from the works of Marathi pulp horror writer Narayan Dharap (he is known for his Stephen King adaptations in Marathi), is a thrilling cinematic experience just as a horror film. For film lovers, the genre-bending is gratifying. It has been a while since a horror film spoke so eloquently about something as primal as greed and remained true to its Indian (Marathi) setting.

  20. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    The atmosphere, landscape, and themes in 'Tumbbad' are accentuated by a sense of Gothic dread and an eerie expectancy of the diabolical

From our readers

Audience reviews (5)

7 ratings · user score 8.1

  1. Anku ParasharOct 2018
    8/10

    I'm given 8/10 for this film .

    Report
  2. Asmita BhowateOct 2018
    9/10

    Tumbad is an Awesome movie.. A different story line.. The director has taken horror movie to a different level. A unique type of scary movie.. Enjoyed a lot.. worth watching..

    Report
  3. Tejas NairNov 2018
    8/10

    Tumbbad made me sit up from my chair and take notice at how a thriller can be told without resorting to cheap tricks that are prevalent in other titles coming out of the Hindi film industry in recent times. Sohum Shah produces and acts in this fantastic narration of the quality of greed in humans using a folklore about a mythological god-like creature that is itself a symbol of greed. Based on and named after a village in Western India, Tumbbad is told in a way that captures your attention from the first frame and does not let you stray. With some quality performances and an electric background score by none other than Jesper Kyd (I was in tears when I saw his name in the credits), the horror thriller depends on the folklore to carve a story that emphasizes humanity's greed for everything - from money to food to exclusivity. The amount of references it throws at you - as a period drama set in pre-independence India - is further bound to fascinate you while you get embroiled in one man's (Shah) quest for greed which he hopes to pass down to his future generations. Tumbbad is nothing like you have seen before and it should be seen on the big screen and revered for its creative art. TN.

    Report
  4. Aditya ParulekarFeb 2019
    8/10

    A thoroughly engaging eerie tale of greed and easily the most visually stunning film in a decade of Bollywood.

    Report
  5. Shashwat SisodiaOct 2019
    7/10

    Tumbbad directed by Rahi Anil Barve and Aadesh Prasad is like no other Bollywood film you have watched until...any time. This is a simply mind-blowing timeless saga telling you of the implications of greed. Set in pre and post British Raj, the riveting and ritually atmospheric saga creates a sensation in your mind. Sohum Shah and Muhammad Samad deliver effective performances, and the film is a craft of visual charm, horror, tense music and a setting which appears to be both on-screen and off screen. I praise the film not only for its depth of story, but also for its cultural impact. Its bold that a filmmaker uses a film like this to debut in Bollywood. It's the best horror film in Hindi this decade, and for that, don't miss it.

    Report

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

Cinematography

You may also like

Hindi films like Tumbbad

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.