‘Chhorii 2’, an original film from Prime Video is all set to premiere on the platform this April 11th, 2025 and it might just shake things up for the horror genre in the Indian OTT landscape.
Though there has been attempts like ‘Bulbbul’, ‘Ghost Stories, ‘Kaali Khuhi’, ‘Ghoul’, ‘Dyybuk’, ‘Betaal’, ‘Adhura’, ‘Durgamati’ and more, horror has to be one of the least explored genre by OTTs in Indian entertainment industry mostly because they don’t give the expected return to the platforms.
One reason for that has to be the risks involved with getting that gut wrenching scary feeling right and keeping the thrill alive without being too predictable. That means setting an eerie environment all along through the story rather than simply relying on cheap jumpscares.
According to director Vishal Furia he attempts to do that with ‘Chhorii 2’, a sequel to his 2021 film ‘Chhorii’ which itself is a remake of his Marathi film ‘Lapachhapi’. While the first part received praise for the atmospheric tension it created and Nuhsrratt Bharuccha’s performance, it wasn’t that ground breaking a film which elevated the horror genre in the Indian OTT.
Now that ‘Chhorii 2’ is coming the anticipations are high as the story builds on the previous part, featuring a haunted village and a superstitious cult. Moreover, the film adds Soha Ali Khan to the cast and also involves a psychological angle to it, all with an intent to deepen the horror narrative.
That said, it’s not a guaranteed game changer. As mentioned above ‘Chhorii 2’ is a sequel tied to a remake and thus comes with the baggage to take the story forward. For a true revamp, Indian OTT needs to have more standalone horror originals that go beyond existing templates.
On the other hand, ‘Chhorii 2’ could inspire this shift if it manages to get the critical and commercial acclaim upon its premiere on Prime Video in a couple of days. Its success would also be a testament to the fact that there is an appetite for well made horror rooted in local context tapping into folklores. ‘Chhorii 2’ can serve as that step towards revitalising the horror genre on Indian OTT which will still need a wave of fresh stories to have that full transformation. And it won’t be possible without solid backing from the platforms.
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