{{Short description|2022 Indian Malayalam horror film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = Bhoothakaalam | image = Bhoothakalam film poster.jpg | image_upright = 1.25 | caption = Promotional poster | director = Rahul Sadasivan | story = Rahul Sadasivan | producer = {{ubl | Teresa Rani | Sunila Habeeb}} | screenplay = {{ubl | Rahul Sadasivan | Sreekumar Shreyas}} | starring = {{Ubl | Shane Nigam | Revathi | Saiju Kurup | James Eliya | Athira Patel}} | music = {{ubl|Score: | Gopi Sundar|Song: | Shane Nigam}} | cinematography = Shehnad Jalal | studio = {{Ubl | Plan T Films | Shane Nigam Films}} | distributor = SonyLIV | editing = Shafique Mohamed Ali | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2022|01|21}} | runtime = 105 minutes | country = India | language = Malayalam }}
'''''Bhoothakaalam''''' ({{translation|Past}}) is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language psychological horror film written and directed by Rahul Sadasivan, starring Shane Nigam and Revathy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Praveen |first=S. r |date=22 January 2022 |title='Bhoothakalam' movie review: Getting the scares right in effortless fashion |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bhoothakalam-movie-review-getting-the-scares-right-in-effortless-fashion/article38307652.ece|access-date=24 January 2022 |issn=0971-751X|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128122954/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bhoothakalam-movie-review-getting-the-scares-right-in-effortless-fashion/article38307652.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was produced by Anwar Rasheed under the banner Plan T Films in association with Shane Nigam Films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bringing novelty back to nightmare escapades |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2022/jan/25/bringing-novelty-backto-nightmare-escapades-2410909.html|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=The New Indian Express|date=25 January 2022 |archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129024348/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2022/jan/25/bringing-novelty-backto-nightmare-escapades-2410909.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shane Nigam and Revathy team up for Bhoothakaalam |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2021/oct/04/shane-nigam-and-revathy-team-up-for-bhoothakaalam-27084.html|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=Cinema Express |date=4 October 2021 |language=en|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204082203/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2021/oct/04/shane-nigam-and-revathy-team-up-for-bhoothakaalam-27084.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Gopi Sunder handled the background score while Shane Nigam made his debut as a music director as well as producer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2022/Jan/15/shane-nigam-revathy-film-bhoothakaalam-to-premiere-on-sonyliv-on-jan-21-trailer-released-2406926.html|title = Shane Nigam, Revathy-starrer 'Bhoothakaalam' to premiere on SonyLIV on Jan 21; trailer released| date=15 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Shane Nigam flaunts musical skills for Bhoothakaalam – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/shane-nigam-flaunts-musical-skills-for-bhoothakaalam/articleshow/88358578.cms|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en |last1=Mathews |first1=Anna|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128195339/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/shane-nigam-flaunts-musical-skills-for-bhoothakaalam/articleshow/88358578.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received critical acclaim for its atmosphere, sound design, and performances, with Revathy winning the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Vishal |date=2022-04-15 |title=Bhoothakaalam review: A gripping psychological horror |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/malayalam-review/bhoothakaalam-review-shane-nigam-revathy-rahul-sadasivan |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Film Companion}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Kerala State Film Awards 2022: Revathy wins Best Actress for 'Bhoothakaalam' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kerala-state-film-awards-2022/article67295345.ece |work=The Hindu |access-date=2025-12-27}}</ref> ==Plot== Asha lives with her son Vinu in a rented house, where she takes care of her ailing mother, who later dies. Asha is a school teacher and manages the household finances single-handedly. Vinu has completed his D.Pharm. and has been searching for a job for almost two years, but in vain. Unable to endure the struggle of unemployment, Vinu resumes his smoking and drinking habits. Asha is depressed and on medication, and is frustrated that Vinu cannot find a job in the same city.
Vinu begins to witness strange occurrences in the house, as though there were another entity present. Initially, he assumes that it is his mother trying to show her anger towards him, but he is later convinced that someone else is indeed there. Just like his friends and relatives, Vinu's mother also thinks that something is wrong with him and, at the behest of her brother, after a drunken brawl, she takes him to a mental health counsellor, George. Vinu, however, does not cooperate with George. While Asha begins to realise that Vinu's belief that someone else is present in the house is true, George learns from the neighbour about the mass deaths that had occurred in the house in the past, and investigates further to learn that the owner's son, who had been staying there years earlier, killed his wife and daughter and hanged himself for unknown reasons, while another bank manager tenant narrowly escaped death, although he was left paralysed during his stay. He also finds that both tenants had been suffering from emotional setbacks for different reasons at the time, and had been behaving irrationally while staying in the house.
Vinu tries to confide in his girlfriend about the happenings, but she does not understand. Vinu's uncle concludes that he is insane and must be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. That very night, Asha tries to poison herself and Vinu at dinner, but throws away the poisoned food when she and her son speak, understand each other, and decide to reconcile. Soon afterwards, the ghosts in the house make their presence known and terrify the two, who manage to escape.
In the end, Asha and Vinu, now reconciled, are shown vacating the house the very next day with the help of the uncle and George.
==Cast== *Revathi as Asha *Shane Nigam as Vinu *Saiju Kurup as George *James Eliya as Madhu *Athira Patel as Priya *Valsala Menon as Vinu's grandmother *Abhiram Radhakrishnan as Shyam *Gilu Joseph as Dr Beena *Manju Sunichen as Asha's neighbour *Sneha Sreekumar as Vice Principal
==Music== Gopi Sundar did the background score for the film. The sole song from the film was written, composed and sung by Shane Nigam.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Song !! Singer !! Lyricist !! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | ''Raa Tharame''||Shane Nigam ||Shane Nigam || |}
==Sound Department== Vignesh Radhakrishnan and Kishan Mohan did the sound design and Rahool Syam did the production sound mix. Mix and mastering was done at Sapthaa Records, Ernakulam.
== Themes and analysis == {{original research section|date=April 2022}} Bhoothakaalam deals with themes of psychological disorder and its effects. Though the film presents itself as horror, it is just as much an allegory for grief, trauma, clinical depression and how the central character is slowly going insane. The movie follows a template of connecting psychological disorder with fear inducing fantasy. The film also depicts the portrayal of characters who are affected by mental disorders like clinical depression and substance abuse, delivering a hard reality check on the gravity of such mental issues. The director has used an eerie looking house as a metaphor for the minds of its inhabitants, a mother and son. When the mother has clinical depression, the son also shows similar traits of this suffocating state of mind. Asha is reluctant to take her anti-depressants, and Vinu is addicted to alcohol and drugs as an escape from crushing depression and sleeplessness. Once they both start to experience paranormal activities in the house they live in, their fear becomes real in their minds. The movie shows what psychosis is, a kind of overwhelming fear which is capable of twisting and tweaking reality. This can be a result of many underlying psychic problems like depression or substance abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2022 |title=Bhoothakaalam, on Sony LIV, explores the horrors of the human mind |url=https://www.news9live.com/entertainment/movie-review/bhoothalakam-directed-by-rahul-sadasivan-explores-a-realm-beyond-fears-148288|access-date=30 January 2022 |website=NEWS9LIVE |language=en|archive-date=30 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130235509/https://www.news9live.com/entertainment/movie-review/bhoothalakam-directed-by-rahul-sadasivan-explores-a-realm-beyond-fears-148288|url-status=live}}</ref>
Its slow narrative builds this unsettling sense of atmosphere and dread of the unnatural and unknown, along with an unexpected but welcome mystery element. The concept of the paranormal is brought together playing with perspectives mixed with psychological settings. The subject also speaks about the universal fear of isolation and emotional longing. And when attaching this sadness and gloom to the central characters, the experience becomes haunting in a very personal and relatable way.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2022 |title=How Bhoothakalam marks a progression in psychological horror genre in Malayalam |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/how-bhoothakalam-marks-a-progression-in-psychological-horror-genre-in-malayalam-7742953/|access-date=30 January 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en|archive-date=30 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130230959/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/how-bhoothakalam-marks-a-progression-in-psychological-horror-genre-in-malayalam-7742953/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Reception == B Rohan Naahar from ''The Indian Express'' stated: "Bhoothakaalam has one of the most thrillingly staged conclusions to any horror film in recent memory."<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 February 2022 |title=Bhoothakaalam: Stunning Malayalam horror film is an antidote to the toxic Conjuring franchise |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/bhoothakalam-stunning-malayalam-horror-film-sonyliv-7751674/|access-date=8 February 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208115736/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/bhoothakalam-stunning-malayalam-horror-film-sonyliv-7751674/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Hindu'' wrote: "Bhoothakaalam shows us how to get the scares right, in quite an understated, effortless fashion." calling it a "a textbook in how to scare the audience with minimal use of jump scare techniques."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Praveen |first=S. r |date=22 January 2022 |title='Bhoothakalam' movie review: Getting the scares right in effortless fashion |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bhoothakalam-movie-review-getting-the-scares-right-in-effortless-fashion/article38307652.ece|access-date=28 January 2022 |issn=0971-751X|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128122954/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bhoothakalam-movie-review-getting-the-scares-right-in-effortless-fashion/article38307652.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Sajin Srijith of ''The New Indian Express'' gave 4/5 stars and described Bhoothakaalam as a "Gimmick-free, supremely effective horror flick."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhoothakaalam: Gimmick-free, supremely effective horror flick |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2022/jan/21/bhoothakaalam-gimmick-free-supremely-effective-horror-flick-2409287.html|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=The New Indian Express|date=21 January 2022 |archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128195340/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2022/jan/21/bhoothakaalam-gimmick-free-supremely-effective-horror-flick-2409287.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Writing for ''Hindustan Times'', Devarsi Ghosh wrote that the film is a "moving mental health drama disguised as horror," praising the writing, acting and direction."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=Bhoothakaalam movie review: Shane Nigam and Revathy's film is moving mental health drama disguised as horror |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/bhoothakaalam-movie-review-shane-nigam-and-revathy-s-film-is-moving-mental-health-drama-disguised-as-horror-101642687495518.html|access-date=2022-01-28 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en|archive-date=2 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202071426/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/bhoothakaalam-movie-review-shane-nigam-and-revathy-s-film-is-moving-mental-health-drama-disguised-as-horror-101642687495518.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Deepa Soman of ''The Times of India'' gave 3 out of 5 and wrote: "Though it's all staple horror film elements, thanks to the performance of the lead actors – one stays enticed till the last moment of the film to see how things turn out for the family in distress."<ref>{{Citation |title=Bhoothakaalam Review: A stereotypical yet intriguing horror tale |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/malayalam/bhoothakaalam/ottmoviereview/88996507.cms|access-date=2022-01-28 |last1=Soman |first1=Deepa|archive-date=23 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123143548/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/malayalam/bhoothakaalam/ottmoviereview/88996507.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Anna M. M. Vetticad of ''Firstpost'' gave the film 4 out of 5 stars praising the story, direction, performance, cinematography. She mentioned "mental health, the pressure of elder care, alcoholism, drug abuse, a flawed education system, unemployment."<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2022 |title=Bhoothakaalam movie review: Terrifying mind games with Revathy and Shane Nigam on board |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bhoothakaalam-movie-review-terrifying-mind-games-with-revathy-and-shane-nigam-on-board-10306671.html|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=Firstpost |language=en|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128203323/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bhoothakaalam-movie-review-terrifying-mind-games-with-revathy-and-shane-nigam-on-board-10306671.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Saibal Chatterjee of ''NDTV'' gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, the film is "fleshed out with commendable control by Revathi and Shane Nigam" as they "confront a rapid unravelling of their lives in a house where a dark secret lurks in the shadows."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhoothakaalam Review: Revathi Is Flawless In Must-Watch Film |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bhoothakaalam-review-revathi-is-flawless-in-must-watch-film-3-5-stars-2720829|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=NDTV|archive-date=2 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202032931/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bhoothakaalam-review-revathi-is-flawless-in-must-watch-film-3-5-stars-2720829|url-status=live}}</ref> Sowmya Rajendran of ''The News Minute'' stated, the film became " one of the scariest horror films to come out in recent times."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2022 |title=Bhoothakaalam: How the Malayalam horror film reinvents the haunted house |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bhoothakaalam-how-malayalam-horror-film-reinvents-haunted-house-160224|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=The News Minute |language=en|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128222903/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bhoothakaalam-how-malayalam-horror-film-reinvents-haunted-house-160224|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sanjith Sidhardhan from OTTplay gave 3.5 /5 stars and called performances of lead cast "powerful," while appreciating "eerie atmosphere in which most of the story evolves."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhoothakaalam movie review: Shane Nigam, Revathi's terrific performances will keep you on tenterhooks |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/bhoothakaalam-movie-review-shane-nigam-revathis-terrific-performances-will-keep-you-on-tenterhooks/4a5efc7c2e204|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=OTTPlay |language=en|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129000556/https://www.ottplay.com/review/bhoothakaalam-movie-review-shane-nigam-revathis-terrific-performances-will-keep-you-on-tenterhooks/4a5efc7c2e204|url-status=live}}</ref> Manoj Kumar R from ''The Indian Express'' gave 3.5 out of 5 and wrote, "Shane Nigam is impressive as the man staring into the abyss while Revathi channels the pain of a torment soul. Together, they draw us by the collar and retain the hold till the very end."<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2022 |title=Bhoothakaalam review: Revathy, Shane Nigam deliver a physiological doozy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/bhoothakaalam-review-revathy-shane-nigam-deliver-physiological-doozy-7734764/|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201214741/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/bhoothakaalam-review-revathy-shane-nigam-deliver-physiological-doozy-7734764/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cris from ''The News Minute'' gave 3.5 out of 5 and stated, "Bhoothakaalam is a well-prepared movie, scripted carefully and made richer by beautiful performances."<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2022 |title=Bhoothakaalam review: This Revathy-Shane Nigam film is a tightly scripted horror ride |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bhoothakaalam-review-revathy-shane-nigam-film-tightly-scripted-horror-ride-160087|access-date=8 February 2022 |website=The News Minute |language=en|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208115934/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bhoothakaalam-review-revathy-shane-nigam-film-tightly-scripted-horror-ride-160087|url-status=live}}</ref>
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma tweeted that he hasn't seen a more realistic horror film than Bhoothakaalam since William Friedkin's ''The Exorcist'' (1973).<ref>{{Cite web |last=റിപ്പോർട്ടർ |first=ഫിൽമി |date=24 January 2022 |title='ഭൂതകാലം', 'എക്സോസിസ്റ്റി'നു ശേഷം കണ്ട മികച്ച ഹൊറർ ചിത്രം: റാം ഗോപാൽ വർമ്മ |url=https://www.reporterlive.com/film-news/best-horror-movie-after-bhoothakalam-and-exocist-ram-gopal-varma-69613|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=www.reporterlive.com |language=ml|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124095243/https://www.reporterlive.com/film-news/best-horror-movie-after-bhoothakalam-and-exocist-ram-gopal-varma-69613|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhoothakalam: Director Ram Gopal Varma believes it is the next best realistic horror film, after Exorcist |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/bhoothakalam-director-ram-gopal-varma-believes-it-is-the-next-best-realistic-horror-film-after-exorcist/49fc739ce1732|access-date=28 January 2022 |website=OTTPlay |language=en|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128222906/https://www.ottplay.com/news/bhoothakalam-director-ram-gopal-varma-believes-it-is-the-next-best-realistic-horror-film-after-exorcist/49fc739ce1732|url-status=live}}</ref>
Film critic Anna M. M. Vetticad ranked it second in her year-end list of best Malayalam films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/best-malayalam-films-2022-a-year-so-good-that-keeping-this-list-down-to-10-was-impossible-11875531.html |title=Best Malayalam Films 2022: A year so good that keeping this list down to 10 was impossible |author=Anna M. M. Vetticad |website=Firstpost |date=26 December 2022|access-date=4 January 2024|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102014605/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/best-malayalam-films-2022-a-year-so-good-that-keeping-this-list-down-to-10-was-impossible-11875531.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Award !Category !Recipient !Result !Ref. |- |2022 |Kerala State Film Awards |Best Actress |Revathi |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2022 |title=52nd Kerala State Film Awards: The complete winners list |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/52nd-kerala-state-film-awards-the-full-winners-list-live-updates-7939205/ |access-date=1 June 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615072227/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/52nd-kerala-state-film-awards-the-full-winners-list-live-updates-7939205/ |url-status=live}}</ref> |- |2022 |Critics Best Actress |Best Actress – Malayalam |Revathi |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/winners-of-the-68th-filmfare-awards-south-malayalam-2023_-67192.html|title = Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) 2023}}</ref> |}
== See also ==
* ''Bramayugam'' * ''Diés Iraé''
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb title|15560626|Bhoothakalam}} *[https://letterboxd.com/film/bhoothakaalam/ Bhoothakalam] on Letterboxd
Category:2022 horror films Category:2022 films Category:2022 Malayalam-language films Category:Indian horror films Category:2022 Indian films