Chandramukhi

"Chandramukhi", directed by P. Vasu, was a Tamil remake of "Manichitrathazhu" that went on to break all box-office records and established Rajinikanth at the head of a Tamil renaissance in the early 2000s. The narrative chronicles the journey of an NRI pair who shift base to a grandpa’s palace, overlook the haunting alarms and soon get up to discover terrifying scenes requiring psychiatric treatment.

Saravanan, a well-respected psychiatrist living in the U.S., comes home to visit his childhood friend Senthil and wife Ganga, who’ve taken up residence in the dangerously stimulating Vettaiyapuram mansion, renowned for its haunting presence. Despite villagers’ protestations, the family moves in. As unexplained occurrences increase, mysterious objects moving, disembodied voices at night, and freak accidents, Saravanan starts probing. Ganga, adventurous yet doubtful, unlocks a mystery-filled chamber linked to an ancient tale. The chamber used to be the residence of Chandramukhi, a Mohiniyattam dancer, who was killed by her aggressive husband, King Vettaiyan. Ever since, her ghost is rumoured to walk the halls of the palace. Once the room is opened, supernatural occurrences intensify and soon all of the members start to fear that a spirit has come back.

As fear sweeps through the town like a contagion, Saravanan, applying a mix of science and logic, sets out to solve the mystery. Through his practice, he discovers that Ganga, a woman traumatised by past experiences, is unwittingly afflicted with dissociative identity disorder. She has literally made the world go round by taking on the persona of Chandramukhi, the one sowing all the turmoil. To cure her, Saravanan stages an elaborate ritual in which Chandramukhi thinks Vettaiyan is finally dead. Upon restoring the illusion, Ganga is liberated from the demeanour, the spectre tricks come to an end, and peace returns to the house. The families are finally reconciled, and Saravanan openly declares his love for Durga, the gardener’s granddaughter.

"Chandramukhi" masterfully merges horror, psychology and humour, resulting in a truly unforgettable entertainer. For all its baffling elements, Rajinikanth’s magnetic presence and Jyothika’s intense performance make the film worthwhile. The combination of heart-pounding action and lost lore of the Filipino culture has captivated audiences. With a taut script, creepy but funny sequences and a deadpan ending, it is still one of the best films in Indian horror.