Su from So

In a coastal village in Karnataka everyone knows everyone. Then one of the villagers is believed to be possessed, and the village takes it seriously. Amulet sellers, rituals, neighbourhood gossip and panic feed each other. What comes out is not horror but a comedy circling around fear. Directed by and starring JP Tuminad, the film uses the belief world of the Tulu and Kannada coast as its material. Local rituals, family hierarchy and how a rumour spreads through a village are its real subject. The cast is drawn largely from the region and from unknown performers. It was made on a low budget and became an unexpected success at the Kannada box office. Who it's for: Viewers who like regional Indian cinema, films that mix horror and comedy, and village narratives. Who it's not for: The humour rests heavily on local language and culture, and a great deal is lost in translation without that context. The horror side is also light.