One of the most popular movie genres has to be horror. It is not just the bizarre choices made by GenZ either. Horror has always been loved by people, old and young. You might be scared out of your wits while watching it but you would still be watching with half-closed eyes. Now even these movies have to be separated into two different sections, movies that scare the living daylights out of you and then there are movies that are so ridiculously bad that you love them. Some of the older movies from Bollywood might just be a part of the latter. Either way, that does not change the fact that we still love these movies. Many of the 90s kids would love to go back to their childhoods, just to watch these masterpieces for the first time and actually get scared.
What better occasion than right now to watch or learn about the most well-known horror films directed by the Ramsay Brothers? These movies would be absolute gems to watch with your chosen family who won’t judge you. The fun gets tenfold when you are high as a kite.
- Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche
Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche is a formulaic masala potboiler that should not be a big deal because we all adore Salman Khan movies. After a disloyal wife kills her disabled husband with the assistance of her boyfriend, strange things start to happen. Immediately following the murder, the disabled husband turns into a zombie and returns to harm the couple. It was the Ramsays’ first attempt at a horror film and a great one at that.
It was India’s first zombie film, and became a big success, encouraging the Ramsay Brothers to produce other films in this genre. This movie’s idea is straightforward. In order to exact revenge on his adulterous wife who killed him, a dead man resurrects. This is a story filled with blood, terror and excitement.
- Purana Mandir
The movie was proven to be a game-changer of a photo that went on to establish the common template for horror Bollywood films in 1980s as well as early 1990s. The story revolves around a monster named Samri, a devil-worshipper, who was executed by a king but he made sure to curse the family aroung 200 years back, only involving females, who died a horrific and terrifying death following the birth of their first born.
The Singh family woman fall in love with a guy (not-so-well-off), and both of them go escape to determine if that curse is genuine or simply a superstition that to be confronted by virtually indestructible Samri. Also, the musical background of the monster’s name, blaring in the movie whenever the ghost appeared, made it display torturous to both the sufferer and the spectators. The corny props were frightful when one was a youngster, though.
- Veerana
The horror movie stars Jasmine as a young woman who is controlled by a revengeful spirit. Jasmine prowls across desolate areas, trying to entice and murder individuals. Mahindra Pratap, her father and Sameer, his brother, slaughtered Nikita who was a witch who had returned from deads for possessing her, many years before. This sex-horror hybrid is well known for Jasmin’s sensuous performance.
If there were a better cast, better sets, better costumes, a better background soundtrack, better editing, a better storyline, better music, better lines, and better direction, this movie could’ve been outstanding. Just barely missed the mark. Still, it shouldn’t be missed. Gulshan Grover at his perverse best, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, the ultimate Thakur and father of Jasmine who was concerned about his possessed daughter, and Jasmine who used to seduce and then murder people all contributed to this horror fare.
- Purani Haveli
A wealthy family joyfully purchases an old mansion in a remote area, only to learn that underneath the mansion lurks the most horrifying creature that feasts on human flesh. The monster’s wicked soul forbade the new owners from having a peaceful existence. A string of murders then starts. Purani Haveli, like all Ramsay Brothers movies, relies on atmospherics and an ominous background score to captivate viewers.
This is a road trip movie with elements of bromance, romance, family drama, suspense, thriller, horror, action, gore, and zombies. Rarely would you see a movie with such an excellent blending of so many genres. This is yet another classic that is frequently shown on Zee Cinema.
- Tehkhana
Drawing inspiration from Hindu mythology and folktales involving tantriks, chudails, taweez, shaap and other elements was one of the Ramsay Brothers’ movies’ strengths. Even if they didn’t do a good job, they made an effort. Apart from being a horror film, Tahkhana is renowned for a truly terrifying monster. Together, two sisters who have been estranged since infancy open the gates to hell.
When one of the sisters, her boyfriend, and a few friends set out to find the riches, they come across the immortal monster Dhurjan. After seeing a few of the Ramsay Brothers’ movies, it becomes apparent that most of them have the same bungalow, a cast that is practically identical, similar sequences, and occasionally even the same character names.
- Shaitani Ilaaka
An evil witch seeks newlywed brides in order to summon a monster. The demon, who is about to emerge from his hiding place to resume his hunting spree, is stopped by a couple fighting the sorceress. Shaitani Ilaaka may seem archaic but the fact still remains that this was a good movie at the time that it was produced.
If Ramsay Brothers were experts at anything, it was creating masala horror films that entertained audiences without overtaxing their cognitive faculties. Shaitani Ilaaka is a particular favourite for quite a few people, and it was genuinely rather frightening. Shaitan, the demon in the movie, was unsettling, persistent and hairy.
- Bandh Darwaza
This film has it all—a vampire named Dracula Neola, a love triangle, dancing routines, fight scenes that are reminiscent of Bruce Lee action movies, etc. Even though the plot is a little drawn out, there is enough masala to have you sit down and watch the movie at least once.
The daughter of a successful businessman revives Dracula who had been long since exiled. Dracula was pretty frightening, with crimson blood-shot eyes and fangs, but the sidekicks were unreal even then, with a fake bald helmet. But ultimately, this was a classic horror film from the 1990s.
- Andhera
This film is so mysterious that IMDb even provides a storyline summary for it. This film ranked 7894 in the top 200, is an example of filmmaking. When Deepak, a driver, impregnates Asha, her brother Ranjeet’s pals sever his hands. Deepak acquires prosthetic hands and begins murdering Ranjeet’s buddies one at a time after becoming enraged. A must-see, just like every other movie on this list.
Conclusion
The Ramsay Brothers have to be the ones who would rightfully be credited for the earliest horror movies in Bollywood. The sibling duo produced low-budget movies with sleaze and horrors, which attracted a lot of viewers and led to the development of a cult following. The Ramsay Brothers have incorporated a variety of deathly figures into their plots, including zombies, vampires, werewolves and snowmen. These are just some of the movies which are great examples of early horror in Bollywood. No matter how corny they are, they still gave inspiration to modern horror.