Not Dies Irae, Bhoothakaalam remains director Rahul Sadasivan’s best film; it proves supernatural is less scary than loneliness

Not Dies Irae, Bhoothakaalam Remains Director Rahul Sadasivan’s Best Film

While Rahul Sadasivan's Pranav Mohanlal-starrer Dies Irae enjoys continued success, Bhoothakaalam remains his finest work to date.

The Fear of Loneliness vs. Supernatural

Imagine being alone in a house rumored to be haunted. What scares you more — the ghost itself or the overwhelming solitude? Would you feel safer with loved ones nearby or entirely alone when loneliness becomes unbearable? And what is scarier — an actual ghost, or the haunting memories of your past?

Exploring Deep Psychological Themes in Bhoothakaalam

These unsettling questions are central to Sadasivan’s second film, Bhoothakaalam (2022). The story urges us to confront long-buried emotional wounds that remain unresolved.

“Bhoothakaalam highlights that the supposed supernatural may be far less harmful than people’s psychological scars, and that repressing these can only lead to a ferocious eruption one day.”

Starring Revathy and Shane Nigam at their best, the film excels not only in its technical qualities but also in its detailed exploration of the characters’ inner worlds. It examines their psyches with great depth, laying them bare for the audience without judging their true nature.

Why Bhoothakaalam Stands Out

The movie ultimately suggests that the real horror often comes from within — the ghosts of the past and the loneliness that humans fear more than any supernatural being.

Author’s summary: Bhoothakaalam skillfully reveals that the terror of loneliness and repressed trauma can surpass any supernatural fear, making it Rahul Sadasivan’s most powerful film.

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The Indian Express The Indian Express — 2025-11-06