Ghost Stories Back To Make A Splash

Ghost Stories back to make a splash. With the much-anticipated release of the ghost story Geetanjali Malli Modalaiyindi in March, it appears that spooky thrillers are once again capturing audience attention. Past successes like Virupaksha, Masooda, Maa Oori Polimera 2, and to some extent, Oori Peru Bhaivarakona have proven the box office potential of Ghost Stories. Renowned writer Kona Venkat believes that well-crafted spooky thrillers always resonate with audiences. He notes that female-centric Ghost Stories, like the one featuring actress Anjali as a dreaded ghost in this film, tend to connect better with viewers.

Kona Venkat highlights the prevalence of female ghost myths in epics, Puranas, and local folklore, such as the stories of Saakini and Daakini, or the tales of women in white sarees walking at midnight or near dilapidated wells. He suggests that these myths make female ghosts more relatable and believable to audiences, leading to their popularity in films.

Actresses like Anushka, Charmee, Nayantara, and Hansika have delivered spine-chilling performances in ghost roles, further solidifying the appeal of female-centric Ghost Stories. Even Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut portrayed an evil spirit in her recent South Indian film Chandramukhi 2.

Producer Anil Sunkara discusses the success of their ghost story Oori Peru Bhairvakona, attributing it to its connection with the Garuda Puranas, which justify the existence of spirits and their motivations for vengeance after death.

Regarding upcoming sequels like Virupaksha 2 and Maa Oori Polimera 3, Anil Sunkara notes that Ghost Stories offer flexibility in designing sequels, as spirits are not bound by time or place and can return if they have unfinished business.

However, portraying a ghost comes with its challenges. Actress Nandita Swetha, who has played ghost roles in Ekkadi Pothovu Chinnavada and her upcoming film O Manchi Ghost, shares that such roles require mental and physical preparation, often leading to sleepless nights and changes in behavior even off-screen. It takes her about three months to transition out of such roles and return to normalcy.