‘Tumbbad’ mid-ticket review:The first half is an engrossing watch with more mystery and less horror

Directed by: Rahi Anil Barve, Anand Gandhi
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros International
Cast: Sohum Shah, Harish Khanna, Anita Date
Duration: 1 hour 44 minutes

The first half of ‘Tumbbad’ is an engrossing watch that is more mystery, less horror. Yes, there are a few jump scares early on but after a while, they stop. The film is set in a small village called ‘Tumbbad’ where there is a huge treasure chest hidden.

A child named Vinayak Rao is eager to know its whereabouts, but he is stopped by his mother. His grandmother (Dadi) is a monstrous creature who hisses and speaks in a ghostly tone. Vinayak is scared of her but knows that she is his key to the treasure. A tragedy ensures that the Vinayak and his mother leave the village.

But years later, Vinayak Rao returns to Tumbbad and that’s when his life takes a turn. The best thing about this movie is its cinematography. Every frame is beautiful and sets the mood to establish a story that is essentially about greed. The performances are restrained and subtle. The second half promises to reveal much more, and we have a feeling that this is not one of those films that has a happy ending.

Also Read: ‘Tumbbad’ trailer: This film promises to be a spine-chilling affair