Thai horror film fest enchants Kolkata

The debut edition of ‘Frightening the Soul: Thailand’s Mutelu Supernatural Film Festival’ kicked off at Cinepolis, Acropolis Mall on April 25, presented by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata.

The two-day film festival was inaugurated by Siriporn Tantipanyathep, consul-general of Thailand in Kolkata, and actress Rituparna Sengupta. The festival offered a glimpse of Thailand’s unique approach to supernatural storytelling, introducing the Kolkata audience to the fascinating, mystical world of mutelu – a term signifying powerful spiritual forces and supernatural elements, deeply rooted in Thai cultural beliefs and folklore.

The open-to-all festival offered the 2004 cult classic Shutter by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom (adapted in Hindi as Click, starring Shreyas Talpade) and more recent productions like the horror comedy The Undertaker (2023) and the psychological horror film Home For Rent.

“We are very excited to bring Thai horror cinema to Kolkata, a city known for its love of storytelling and culture,” said consul-general Tantipanyathep, “Through this festival, we hope to spark a deeper curiousity about Thailand’s rich cultural heritage, spiritual traditions and incredible travel experiences.”
Pics: Samik Sen