As the anticipation builds around the upcoming dark thriller Mandala Murders, it’s the perfect time to revisit the stories that have already explored the haunting theme. Mandala Murders, featuring Vaani Kapoor, is a dark thriller that promises to dive into the chilling world of symbolic killings and ancient secrets. Over the years, Indian cinema and web space have fearlessly dived into the stories of mythology, occult practices, and murder. From black magic to cult killings and myth-inspired crimes, here are must-watch titles before Mandala Murders hits your screen.
Updated On: 2025-07-25 09:39 PM IST
Compiled by : Amarylisa Gonsalves
Tumbbad (2018)
A man’s greed leads him to worship a forgotten deity, Hastar, through secretive, dark rituals that go horribly wrong.
Kaali Khuhi (2020)
A young girl learns about the dark past of her village involving ritualistic killings of female infants in a well. The hauntings and deaths directly stem from past occult rituals.
Game Over (2019)
Starring Tapsee Pannu, this psychological thriller is about a trauma survivor, who is stalked by ritualistic killers who strike on a symbolic date. All the killings happen to be thematic, symbolic, and follow an anniversary ritual.
13B (2009)
13B: Fear Has a New Address is a psychological horror starring R Madhavan. A man sees his family’s fate unfold via a TV show, which features cultic undertones and supernatural elements tied to past deaths.
Laal Kaptaan (2019)
Laal Kaptaan saw Saif Ali Khan in a never-seen-before role. He plays a Naga Sadhu hunting down enemies in a revenge tale soaked in mysticism, death, and ritualised killings.
Lupt (2018)
In this 2018 supernatural thriller, a businessman and his family are haunted during a road trip by supernatural forces linked to past deaths.
Asur (2020)
Starring Arshad Warsi, Asur is a highly acclaimed web series, wherein a forensic expert and his former mentor get dragged into a series of murders that mimic ancient Hindu rituals. Turns out the killer believes he is Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu.
Phobia (2016)
Phobia is about a woman, played by Radhika Apte, who is suffering from agoraphobia. She begins to experience paranormal visions inside her new house, hinting at a ritualistic murder in the past.
Chhorii (2021)
A pregnant woman is caught up in a rural village where unborn girls are ritually killed for a cult-like belief to maintain purity.
Talaash (2012)
Talaash: The Answer Lies Within starring Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor is a suspense thriller where multiple deaths, including the protagonist’s son, are connected to a supernatural presence and karma.
Shaitan (2023)
Although it is primarily about gang violence, some murders are ritualistic and cult-like in nature. The characters perform killings as offerings and to "cleanse" the world.
