Horror comedy is currently one of the popular genres in Bollywood. This is evident by the success of this genre continuously at the box office in films like Stree II, Munjya etc. But the real question in this aspect is why this genre had suddenly risen in Bollywood when earlier the horror films were heavily based on only sole focusing on the horror genre without having any space for comedy ?. One of the main reasons directly lies to the audience in this process.
The changing taste of the audience
The taste of Indian audiences ever since the COVID has drastically changed as they got more exposure to international cinemas. In this process, they have the chance to see horror comedies like Shaun of the Dead and What We Do in Shadows.
This has pushed the audience in this process to Indian filmmakers to successfully experiment with this content, which is the result of why these days there is an extreme amount of horror comedies being seen at the Indian box office. Now, speaking about filmmakers, one shouldn’t even deny their contribution also in this process.
The Creative filmmakers
Earlier, it was seen that the majority of the horror films in Bollywood were in the hands of mainly those people who were very amateurish in terms of depicting this genre. However, these days this genre is being managed by various people who have a very strong sense of filmmaking regardless of genre. One of the examples in this process can be Amar Kaushik, the man who is behind the critically acclaimed horror comedy films such as Stree, Stree 2, Bhediya etc.
Before even starting off with this genre he has already gained various accolades in film festivals and awards for his films such as Aaba and Bala. This kind of critical director, when they got the hand of this gene, has profoundly used their unique vision effectively in this film, which you can see the way he integrated horror and comedy together.
Not only he but Gurmeet Singh and other directors who are mainly in charge of horror comedy films these days also have a unique creativity in their throughout their career, which helps them to effectively put this local folklore on a successful adaption. Now, speaking about local folklore, do you know the local factor also has a strong hand in the success behind this?
Putting up a strong focus on the local culture
In the 90s and 2000s horror films, if you have noticed, you can see the main antagonist is being heavily ripped off from Hollywood supernatural creatures, which couldn’t resonate well with the Indian audience. However, this thing has changed as the recent horror comedy movies, especially the Maddock Supernatural Universe, have mainly used various urban legends and folklore of Indian culture as their main antagonist.
This primary thing has made this genre successful as the audience could easily resonate with those as they heard and grew up listening to these stories as a kid. However, using these folklore and urban legends to be properly present on the screen requires proper use of VFX. We are definitely not denying their role in this approach.
The VFX is the pioneer reason
Earlier in horror films in India, the scenes where humans transformed into beats or monsters instead of creating fear among the audience would make them laugh due to the poor VFX being seen in this process. Moreover, this is also the reason why this genre was not popular even ten years ago. However, things have changed as now Bollywood has collaborated with renowned VFX studios such as DNEG, Moving Picture Company and Digital Domain, who have done VFX for films such as Avengers Endgame, which got critically praised.
The collaboration with these VFX studios not only helps them to successfully showcase their scary visions but also, in this process, they have managed to create antagonists in the films, which makes the audience scared and laugh at the same time in this horror comedy film. This can be evident in the completing creatures which have been seen in Munjya, Stree and Stree ii that made the audience go through these reactions due to a strong VFX that has brought out these cultural folklores successfully.
Here are the Top 10 horror comedy Bollywood movies for you
At this moment, you have known how successful thing horror comedy films are in Bollywood. So you will definitely love to check in this process the top 10 horror comedy films that have been provided by us. In this month of October, the time of Halloween, let’s time to be scared!
Rank | Movie Title | Release Year | Watch full movie |
1 | Stree | 2018 | Disney+ |
2 | Bhoot Police | 2021 | Disney+ |
3 | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 | 2022 | Netflix |
4 | Roohi | 2021 | Netflix |
5 | Phone Bhoot | 2021 | Amazon |
6 | Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank | 2024 | (In cinemas ) |
7 | Go Goa Gone | 2013 | Jio Cinema |
8 | Bhootnath | 2008 | Disney+ |
9 | Bhool Bhulaiyaa | 2007 | Disney+ |
10 | Munjya | 2024 | Disney+ |
What are the upcoming horror comedy films of Bollywood?
However, if you feel like this genre is over in Bollywood, then the jokes for you are definitely in this process. As this is just the beginning, more is about to come soon. As in this process we have brought you the upcoming films of this genre, which you should unquestionably check out to make yourself more spooky.
Movie Title | Release Date |
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 | 1 November 2024 |
The Raja Saab | 10 April 2025 |
Stree 3 | TBA |
Munjya 2 | TBA |
Vampires of Vijaynagar | TBA |
Bhooth Bangla | 2025 |
Bhediya 2 | TBA |
Coca Cola | TBA |
Ghost | TBA |
Rosie: The Saffron Chapter 2 | TBA |
Evolution of horror comedy genre in Bollywood
The first-ever film which belongs to this genre in Bollywood has come from the film of Bhoot Bungla was directed by Mehmood. However, this genre got a new take on the 70s when the Ramsay Brothers decided to enter into the scene and created various films such as Purana Mandir. Darwaza etc, even though those films were not exactly comedy, those films have shown that you can also incorporate comedy in horror. In the modern days, films of Maddock supernatural universe or even Phone Booth, which is separate from them, heavily provided a tribute to the Ramsay Brothers in there scenes or characters.
FAQ
What has led to the rise of horror-comedy in Bollywood?
The rise of horror comedy in Bollywood can be attributed to a combination of factors, including changing audience tastes, the influence of international films, and the creativity of Indian filmmakers.
How has the audience’s taste changed?
Indian audiences have become more open to experimenting with different genres, seeking out unique and innovative content. This shift has created a demand for horror-comedy films.
What is the role of international films in the popularity of horror-comedy in India?
The success of international horror-comedies like “Shaun of the Dead” and “What We Do in the Shadows” has inspired Indian filmmakers to explore this genre and see its potential for commercial success.
Who are some of the talented filmmakers behind successful horror-comedy films in Bollywood?
Some notable filmmakers include Amar Kaushik (known for Stree and Bhediya), Hardik Mehta (known for Rooh Afza), and Gurmmeet Singh (known for Phone Bhoot).
Why are horror-comedy films often based on local folklore and urban legends?
Using local folklore and urban legends as antagonists in horror-comedy films makes them more relatable to Indian audiences, as they are familiar with these stories and can connect with the characters and themes.