Tumbbad (2018)
The scariest movie about bad real estate decisions.
Movie Stats
- Movie: Tumbbad (2018)
- Directed by: Rahi Anil Barve
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- Release Date: October 12, 2018
- Language: Hindi
- Starring: Sohum Shah, Jyoti Malshe, Anita Date
- Episode: Fear of Stairs — EP 3
What We Talked About
In this episode, we descended into the rain-soaked nightmare of Tumbbad (2018), an Indian horror film like no other. Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, the movie blends folklore, body horror, and a cautionary tale about greed into something unforgettable — and genuinely terrifying.
Khilli chose this movie because it was the first Indian horror film that blew them away in theaters. We were all fascinated by the behind-the-scenes production — it took 18 years to develop Tumbbad, with six years of filming and three years of post-production. This was a labor of love from a tiny creative team, and the attention to detail shows in every single frame.
The story centers on Vinayak, a man obsessed with retrieving cursed gold from the demonic deity Hastar. The movie spans three generations, showing how greed is inherited like a family heirloom. Adam pointed out how Vinayak is less a traditional protagonist and more of a parasite — a man who contributes nothing but wants everything. Winnie noted that it’s rare to see a movie lean so hard into its protagonist being unlikeable, without any redemption arc.
Visually, Tumbbad is stunning. We loved the constant rain, the practical effects, and the grotesque creature design. Nicky was especially disturbed by the grandmother character — cursed by Hastar, immortal, and horrifying in a way that lingers long after the movie ends. We all appreciated how the body horror wasn’t just gross for the sake of it — it symbolized the physical toll of greed and obsession.
One of our favorite tangents was imagining what Haster (or Hastar) would sound like. Adam pitched him sounding like a weird British gremlin yelling “Vinayak!” from the shadows — a joke that completely derailed us for five minutes.
Khilli also explained how Tumbbad rejected being labeled a “Bollywood” movie. It doesn’t follow any of the traditional Bollywood formulas — there are no musical numbers or heroic moments. This is an Indian horror story through and through, rooted in myth but completely its own thing.
We ended the episode speculating about the upcoming Tumbbad sequel — and whether it could possibly live up to the original. Adam suggested that if they go full Gremlins 2 with it (multiple gods, comedy horror), we would absolutely be on board.
Khilli chose this movie because it was the first Indian horror film that blew them away in theaters. We were all fascinated by the behind-the-scenes production — it took 18 years to develop Tumbbad, with six years of filming and three years of post-production. This was a labor of love from a tiny creative team, and the attention to detail shows in every single frame.
The story centers on Vinayak, a man obsessed with retrieving cursed gold from the demonic deity Hastar. The movie spans three generations, showing how greed is inherited like a family heirloom. Adam pointed out how Vinayak is less a traditional protagonist and more of a parasite — a man who contributes nothing but wants everything. Winnie noted that it’s rare to see a movie lean so hard into its protagonist being unlikeable, without any redemption arc.
Visually, Tumbbad is stunning. We loved the constant rain, the practical effects, and the grotesque creature design. Nicky was especially disturbed by the grandmother character — cursed by Hastar, immortal, and horrifying in a way that lingers long after the movie ends. We all appreciated how the body horror wasn’t just gross for the sake of it — it symbolized the physical toll of greed and obsession.
One of our favorite tangents was imagining what Haster (or Hastar) would sound like. Adam pitched him sounding like a weird British gremlin yelling “Vinayak!” from the shadows — a joke that completely derailed us for five minutes.
Khilli also explained how Tumbbad rejected being labeled a “Bollywood” movie. It doesn’t follow any of the traditional Bollywood formulas — there are no musical numbers or heroic moments. This is an Indian horror story through and through, rooted in myth but completely its own thing.
We ended the episode speculating about the upcoming Tumbbad sequel — and whether it could possibly live up to the original. Adam suggested that if they go full Gremlins 2 with it (multiple gods, comedy horror), we would absolutely be on board.
Our Takeaways
“I love how gross it is — like the walls are wet, the bed is wet, everything is disgusting.”Adam
“This is like a folk horror story that could only come from India.”Khilli
“I don’t know what’s scarier — the monster or being trapped with your family forever.”Nicky
“You can feel how damp and suffocating this movie is — it’s like the air itself is cursed.”Winnie
Weirdest Tangent
We spent five full minutes doing terrible impressions of what Hastar would sound like — from British goblin to creepy ASMR doughboy.
About Fear of Stairs
Fear of Stairs: Desi Films Decoded is a podcast where logic takes a backseat to dance numbers — and every staircase could be a death trap.
We’re four wildly different movie nerds diving into the chaos of Indian cinema. Sometimes we’re charmed. Sometimes we’re confused. Always entertained.
New episodes drop regularly covering the boldest, weirdest, and most unforgettable films from across Indian cinema — not just Bollywood.
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