Tumbbad - Ground Breakingly Greedy Good!

Tumbbad

Hindi / Horror

104 mins

In Theatres this week / Prime Video (currently unavailable)

Disclaimer - I assume you have watched this movie, if you haven't - no significant spoilers here, but my opinions are better understood AFTER you see the movie (for sure you must!)

For all my boastful "passion" for the movies,  i was totally unaware of when this movie opened in 2018. I blame it on my general nervousness around horror movies. I am not a  fan of the "jump scare, ghastly faced ghouls"(ala Evil Dead ), much prefer the more psychological dread of "The Exorcist" or  "The Omen" . Also, 2018 was a lot less social media driven, so news did not travel as well as it does today!.

It will forever remain a regret of  the cinema lover in me that I watched this a full year later on Prime Video.  Naturally,  I was doubly delighted at the opportunity to atone for it yesterday night,  when i caught the re release of this masterpiece in a sold out screening.

Tumbbad  is one of  the most groundbreakingly original, visually spectacular depiction of innovative story boarding in Indian cinema - period. Any commentary about the movie will use the word "Atmospheric" repeatedly,  it truly is one of a kind.  The rain is almost like a second lead,  the darkness (literally) and figuratively (in all the characters), the exponential lust for wealth from Daadi to Vinayak, eventually to young Pandurang is so masterfully told!

The cinematography by Pankaj Kumar is stunning. The production design, creating the dim, ghastly daadi's den to the Goddess' womb where "Hastar" waits for bread is outstanding. The soundscape, sound editing is absolutely spectacular. The movie also owes Jesper Kyd (a music composer for famous video games like Assassin's Creed, Hitman) for the most original background score marrying electronic synth with Maharashtrian  folk.

Edited beautifully, there is no single scene which feels useless in the movie. Through the different characters, Tumbbad beautifully explores the seven deadly sins, focussing on greed, leading to the breathtaking reveal inside the womb of the goddess!

So many frames of the movie will stick in my mind for eternity, none more than when the Pandurang lights the match to see Vinayak climbing toward  the hole, leading the Hastar out,  to the   "The Final Choice"  , hold your breath stuff. I had goosebumps the kind when Captain America said the famous "Avenger's Assemble " or when Tom Cruise runs on the streets of London, movie magic! (Heck i have some now as i listen to it while i type!)

The movie is truly a mammoth achievement by film maker Rahil Anil Barve and kudos to Sohum Shah for supporting his vision. There is a promise of a sequel now and i will definitely be there, to atone for not celebrating the movie when it should have been. Rahil Barve also has a few projects in pipeline (co written with Raj and DK), so that should also be worth waiting for! 

Almost 50 years ago , “ So ja beta warna Gabbar aa jayega” created the dread of the iconic villain . Little did we know that many more years later a play on this quote would be a “get out of jail” phrase  . Bravo