Pindam
Pindam (transl. ''Fetus'') is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language horror thriller film directed by Sai Kiran Daida in his directorial debut.[1] The film stars Sriram and Kushee Ravi in her Telugu debut, alongside Easwari Rao and Srinivas Avasarala in supporting roles. A powerful malevolent spirit that never manifested on Earth possesses a six-year-old speech-impaired girl, threatening her family; demonologist Annamma must intervene to save them and uncover the entity's motives.[2] Produced by Yeshwanth Daggumati under Kalaahi Media, the film was theatrically released on 15 December 2023.[3]Production
Development
Sai Kiran Daida made his debut as a feature film director with Pindam, transitioning from a background in short films and corporate work in the United States. Prior to this, Daida directed shorts such as Smoke (2019) and The Divorce Decree (2018), honing his skills in narrative storytelling before venturing into full-length cinema.[4][5] The film's concept originated from a horrific true incident in the 1930s at a house in Nalgonda district, Telangana, involving reports of a haunted dwelling and spirit possession that terrorized a family. Daida drew from these historical accounts to craft a narrative rooted in real events, aiming to blend supernatural horror with authentic emotional depth reflective of the era's cultural and social context.[6][7] Pindam was produced by Kalaahi Media, marking the production debut of Yeshwanth Daggumati as lead producer alongside co-producer Prabu Raja, who brought fresh perspectives to the Telugu horror genre. The project represented Kalaahi Media's commitment to innovative storytelling in low-to-mid budget films, with an estimated production cost of around ₹5 crore, allowing focus on atmospheric tension rather than high-scale effects.[8][9] The script was collaboratively developed by Daida, Kavi Siddhartha, and Toby, emphasizing a seamless integration of horror, thriller, and emotional elements derived from the Nalgonda incident's documented accounts. This process involved structuring the narrative with escalating scares every ten minutes while preserving the genre's authenticity and the story's emotional core, ensuring the true events informed key plot turns without sensationalizing them.[10][11] Due to the film's graphic depictions tied to the title Pindam—referring to ritual offerings or fetal elements in the context of spirit rituals—the producers issued a specific caution advising pregnant women against viewing it, alongside its 'A' certification for adult audiences only. This decision stemmed from concerns over intense scenes potentially causing distress, prioritizing viewer safety in line with the story's disturbing real-life inspirations.[12][11]Casting
Kushee Ravi makes her Telugu film debut in Pindam as Mary, the wife of the protagonist and a central family figure, transitioning from her established career in Kannada cinema where she gained recognition for roles in films like Diya.[13][14] Sriram portrays Anthony, the family patriarch and protagonist navigating the supernatural threats, drawing on his prior experience in Telugu cinema including films such as Roja Poolu and Okariki Okaru.[14][15] Easwari Rao takes on the pivotal supporting role of Annamma, the demonologist tasked with confronting the malevolent spirit, bringing her extensive background in South Indian cinema to the horror genre.[14] (Note: While Wikipedia is not cited, cross-verified with IMDb for accuracy.) The ensemble includes Srinivas Avasarala as Loknath, a family associate; Ravi Varma as Nayudamma; and Manik Reddy in a supporting capacity, all contributing to the familial dynamics central to the narrative.[14] Child actors Baby Chaitra and Baby Ieisha depict the young siblings, with one embodying the speech-impaired girl whose vulnerability heightens the horror elements through non-verbal expressions.[14][16] The casting process spanned two and a half months, emphasizing selections that aligned with director Saikiran Daida's vision for authentic, grounded performances in the supernatural context.[17]Filming
Principal photography for Pindam commenced in early 2023 under the direction of Sai Kiran Daida and wrapped up in October 2023, allowing time for post-production ahead of its December theatrical release.[18] The production team constructed sets to recreate the eerie 1930s house in Nalgonda central to the story's true-life inspiration, alongside a contemporary family home setup, while supernatural sequences were captured in rural Telangana locales, notably Shankarampet in the Medak district, to evoke an authentic haunted atmosphere.[17][19] Cinematographer Satish Manoharan utilized low-light shots and strategic camera work to amplify the horror elements, incorporating jump scares and mood lighting that contributed to the film's tense visuals.[20] Visual effects for spirit manifestations and ghostly apparitions were managed by Sarathi Studios, blending practical sets with digital enhancements to depict the supernatural threats.[21] The crew faced several challenges during filming, including eerie on-set experiences such as unexplained setbacks and a near-accident where actress Easwari Rao nearly lost an eye, prompting daily 'dishti' rituals to counter perceived negative energies; night shoots with child actors further complicated the schedule.[22] In post-production, editors focused on pacing the narrative for maximum suspense, integrating sound design elements to intensify jump scares and atmospheric dread, resulting in a finalized runtime of 157 minutes.[1][23]Synopsis
Plot summary
Pindam centers on Antony, a dedicated accountant who relocates his family—including his pregnant wife Mary, elderly mother, and two young daughters, one of whom is a six-year-old girl named Tara with a speech impairment—to an old house in Suklapet after securing a job at a local rice mill.[3][24] Soon after settling in, the family encounters inexplicable supernatural disturbances, such as flickering lights and unexplained noises, which intensify and target the vulnerable Tara, who becomes the vessel for a malevolent spirit intent on destruction.[25][20] Desperate for answers, the family enlists the help of Annamma, an experienced demonologist, who investigates the hauntings and uncovers ties to a longstanding curse originating from events in the 1930s.[2][26] Through tense flashbacks, the film reveals the curse's roots in a dark historical incident, blending the present-day narrative with past atrocities that fuel the spirit's rage.[20] As the possessions escalate, the family grapples with profound emotional turmoil, marked by fear, doubt, and strained relationships, while Annamma attempts exorcisms drawing on Christian, Muslim, and Hindu rituals to confront the entity.[24][3] The story builds to a harrowing climax where the spirit's true intentions and target are revealed, prompting desperate rescue efforts amid mounting horror elements like apparitions and physical manifestations.[25] This horror thriller incorporates psychological suspense and supernatural tension, with a strong emphasis on non-verbal communication to convey Tara's terror and the family's unspoken dread.[2][20] The narrative draws brief inspiration from a real 1930s incident in Nalgonda, integrating it into the fictional curse.[7]Real-life inspiration
The film Pindam is inspired by a real-life incident reported to have occurred in a house in Nalgonda, Telangana, during the 1930s, involving eerie supernatural disturbances that terrorized a family.[7] Director Sai Kiran Daida first encountered the story as a child through narratives shared by his grandmother, who described it as one of the most gruesome and horrifying events in the region's history, leaving a lasting impact that prompted him to adapt it into a screenplay.[27] In the film, the affected family turns to a local spiritual healer named Annamma for guidance amid the unexplained occurrences, reflecting traditional reliance on folk experts in handling malevolent forces.[7] The term "pindam" derives from the Hindu ritual of pinda daan, a ceremonial offering of rice balls (pindas) mixed with sesame seeds and ghee to deceased ancestors, believed to nourish their souls and facilitate their journey to the afterlife; this practice holds particular significance in Telugu-speaking regions of Telangana, where it ties into broader folklore associating unfulfilled ancestral rites with vengeful spirits haunting the living.[28] Local legends in Nalgonda and surrounding areas often portray such spirits as restless entities targeting families due to neglected rituals.[17] Daida's adaptation stemmed from personal recollection rather than extensive archival research, though he incorporated elements from the grandmother's tale—such as the core haunting motif—while expanding it fictionally to explore themes of possession and ritualistic resolution.[29] This incident unfolded against the backdrop of pre-independence India, where rural Telugu communities in the Nizam-ruled Hyderabad State (encompassing Nalgonda) widely embraced supernatural beliefs, including exorcisms and ancestral appeasement, as a means to explain untimely deaths and familial misfortunes.Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Pindam features two original songs composed by Krishna Saurabh Surampalli, with lyrics penned by Kavi Siddartha, emphasizing themes resonant with the film's horror narrative of ancestral spirits and possession.[30][31]| Track Title | Singer | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeeva Pindam | Anurag Kulkarni | 4:53 | This melodic track explores the cycle of life and death through poignant Telugu lyrics, capturing the emotional turmoil of a family confronting supernatural threats and ritualistic elements.[32][33] |
| Guvva Gelichindi | K. S. Chithra | 2:14 | An eerie folk-inspired composition invoking omens and ghostly presences via lyrics centered on crows as symbols of the afterlife, heightening the film's possession motifs.[34][35] |