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5 reasons why you should watch Tumbbad

Looks like modern Indian Cinema is coming of age. If Tumbbad is any indication then it certainly is and we are in for a wonderful treat. Here are 5 reasons why you should watch this period horror thriller.

Visuals:

No, I am not talking about the CGI. Strangely, the CGI is the weakest part of this movie in terms of visuals. It’s the wide angle shots of the rain drenched village of Tumbbad, the shallow lakes, the raging pyres, old lanterns and the dimly lit dungeons which house unforgiving shadows and harbor secrets at every turn. It’s the rustic aura of a pre-independence India and its anachronistic yet familiar trappings. It’s the eerie and the uncanny center stage of this dark quest that is something straight out of a lovecraftian nightmare and Guillermo Del Toro’s fever dream. There is a scene in which a character swings solemnly on a royal swing in the dilapidated ruins of a once great mansion with the crimson cushions in stark contrast against the lifeless grey of stone and decay that permeates everything. It’s touches like these coupled with great production design that make this movie a visual treat.

Music:

While the explosively addictive title track by Ajay Atul refuses to leave your mind, the stunning soundtrack and background score by Jesper Kyd (Hitman, Assasin’s creed) haunts the viewers throughout the movie. From its slow atmospheric Blade-runner-esque sound to the occasional aggressive, heart-thumping crescendos, the score is a treat throughout.

Setting

The film though relying heavily on the universal themes of fear of the unknown and the horror of human nature, remains fundamentally an Indian story. Set in a pre-independence India and spanning across generations that document the journey of not just the characters but the country along with them, the film stays consistently authentic to the rich culture, setting and nuances. With stunning and detailed sets like the thriving vibrant marketplace, the enormous waada and long forgotten vehicle designs, the movie delivers a truly immersive Indian experience.

Characters:

At once both starkly realistic and fantastic, the characters in Tumbbad are layered and importantly human. In a story devoid of any conventional protagonist, Tumbbad explores dark human flaws and in the process, creates characters that are fascinating to watch and follow. No character feels like they are in the movie primarily to service the plot. They are all good, bad, ugly and tragic.

Themes:

Tumbbad is an exploration of many things. Apart from the obvious ever-present undercurrent of human greed and our inner demons, the movie also subtly manages to showcase class structures, gender roles and how society feeds demons both real and metaphorical. With clever writing, instead of relying on cheap gimmicks and excessive jump scares, the movie attempts to be disturbing in context of the actions of the characters. While juggling the gothic dread of cosmic horror and fear of the unknown, the film also attempts to delve into the classic horror themes of sins of past and how generations are doomed by cycles of familial behaviors and how we both succumb to and escape these cycles.

So these are 5 reasons why you should watch Tumbbad.

While there are occasional missteps and though it is not a flawless movie, Tumbbad definitely is a step in the right direction for Indian Cinema and a film to be experienced for its novelty, for the hope it kindles and the potential it promises.

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