Today, be it Hindi cinema or South cinema… there is a craze for horror movies everywhere. The dominance of horror movies at the box office shows how much the audience likes this genre. You must have seen Bhool Bhulaiyaa, 1920 or horror films like Stree which also did well at the box office. But do you know when India’s first horror film was launched?
In today’s time, the craze for horror films has increased a lot. If we look at the recent films, now the makers are adding a tadka of comedy to the horror films, which is attracting even those people who avoid watching horror films. But when India’s first horror movie was released, there was no comedy factor in it.
Every scene of this film terrified the audience. Story, scenes, characters and songs, everything was on-track. The name of India’s first horror film is Mahal Kamal Amrohi directed Mahal was released in 1949. This 2 hour 45 minute horror film had actors like veteran actor of that time Ashok Kumar, beautiful actress Madhubala, M Kumar, Kanu Roy and Leela Pandey in lead roles.
The film, made under the banner of Bombay Talkies, was one of the most expensive movies of that time. With an expensive star cast, magnificent sets and evergreen songs, every scene of the palace was shot with great precision by Kamal Amrohi. According to media reports, this film was made in Rs 9 lakh at that time, which is worth more than Rs 15 crore today.
You will be surprised to know that the film earned many times more at that time. It is said that it earned Rs 1.25 crore which is worth Rs 218 crore today. The story of Mahal movie revolves around mystery and reincarnation. The story begins with Hari Shankar (Ashok Kumar) coming to an old mansion called Mahal. The watchman of the mansion tells him the tragic story of a couple who used to live there.