Pari (2018): Not a Fairy Tale – A Bleak Dive into Demonic Possession and Human Evil |🩸 ASRS Entertainment 🕯️ | 08 August 2025
Pari (2018) – Bollywood’s Most Disturbing Horror Fairy Tale
Title: Pari (2018): Not a Fairy Tale – A Bleak Dive into Demonic Possession and Human Evil
Introduction
In 2018, Bollywood horror took a bold turn with Pari, produced and headlined by Anushka Sharma. Gone were the formulaic haunted houses and overdone exorcisms. Instead, Pari dared to explore a terrifying blend of demonic folklore, trauma, cults, and social horror, wrapped in a bleak, rain-soaked visual aesthetic.
This is not your typical horror movie. It’s not even your typical Anushka Sharma movie. It’s raw, unsettling, atmospheric—and it lingers long after it ends.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
The story begins with Arnab, an average young man, who is involved in an accident that kills an older woman. Out of guilt, he discovers that the woman kept her daughter—Rukhsana—in chained captivity deep in the jungle. Feeling responsible, Arnab brings her into his home temporarily.
But Rukhsana is no ordinary woman. She’s feral, withdrawn, and often behaves like a cornered animal. As Arnab tries to protect her, he discovers a much darker reality: Rukhsana is the survivor of a demonic cult, and the forces chasing her are not entirely human.
The film slowly spirals into a tale of possession, inheritance, and trauma, with multiple shocking reveals that flip the narrative in unexpected ways.
Why Pari is Unlike Any Other Bollywood Horror Film
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It’s not about jump scares – It’s about building dread and exploring trauma.
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Anushka Sharma’s transformation – She delivers one of her most haunting performances, blending vulnerability with horror.
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The horror is more human than supernatural – Yes, there’s a demon. But the real horror lies in how humans treat other humans, especially women.
Themes and Symbolism
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Inherited trauma: Rukhsana’s body is a battleground for her mother’s choices and an ancient curse.
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Cults & blind faith: The film critiques religious extremism and the horrors committed in the name of righteousness.
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Feminine rage and vulnerability: Rukhsana is both the monster and the victim.
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Misunderstood monsters: The title “Pari” (angel/fairy) is deeply ironic, as Rukhsana is considered impure—yet she’s the most human character.
The rainy Kolkata setting, dripping walls, and oppressive skies add to the atmospheric gloom. You almost feel wet, dirty, and cold watching the film.
Direction & Sound Design
Director Prosit Roy crafts an atmospheric nightmare. Every scene feels like it's hiding something in the shadows. The background score by Anupam Roy uses silence as a weapon—unsettling, slow, and suddenly shrill when needed.
There are also body horror elements—scenes involving nails, transformation, and rituals that are genuinely hard to watch.
Critical Reception
Though not a box office hit, Pari received critical praise for its bold storytelling and genre-bending tone. It’s since gained cult status as a film that pushed Indian horror toward international standards, unafraid to get messy, dark, and uncomfortable.
Why You Should Watch It
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You want horror rooted in folklore and cult mythology
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You prefer psychological, disturbing horror over cheap thrills
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You’re a fan of female-led stories with emotional complexity
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You can handle dark, serious, and emotionally heavy narratives
"Pari is not a ghost story. It’s a cry in the darkness—a story of what happens when evil is inherited, not chosen."
Read Also
👉 [Tumbbad: A Mythical Monster Born from Greed]
👉 [13B: The TV That Shows Your Fate]
👉 [Aval / Gruham: South India's Ghostly Masterpiece]
👉 [Virupaksha: Superstition Meets Scares in Ritual Forests]
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