A sleeper hit of the OTT era, Masooda brought horror back to everyday settings. Based on real-life incidents, it depicts a middle-class family terrorized by a vindictive spirit that manifests through a neighbor. The horror here is painfully real: failing security systems, gaslighting by authorities, and the helplessness of a single mother. Its raw, documentary-style approach and lack of a heroic savior make it one of the most disturbing films in recent memory.
A recent gem, Shapitam (The Curse) uses horror as a device for a time-travel mystery. A family returns to their ancestral home, only to find that every night, a 200-year-old curse replays a violent murder. The film is notable for its high production value, lack of clichéd songs, and a twist that redefines the villain as a victim. It represents the mature, experimental phase of contemporary Telugu horror. top 10 horror movies in telugu
Before Mantra , there was Deyyam . Starring the legendary sound designer and actor, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this film follows a man who begins to see spirits after a family tragedy. The genius of Deyyam is that it keeps the audience guessing whether the horror is real or a figment of the protagonist’s guilt-ridden mind. Its melancholic tone and tragic ending are unforgettable. A sleeper hit of the OTT era, Masooda
Horror and comedy are a notoriously difficult mix, but Ohmkar’s Raju Gari Gadhi cracked the code. The plot involves a spirit trapped in a villa, seeking revenge against a reality TV show crew. What makes it work is its balance: genuinely creepy moments (the ghost’s backstory is tragic and terrifying) juxtaposed with sharp, situational humor. It revitalized the genre for modern audiences and spawned a successful franchise. Its raw, documentary-style approach and lack of a
Long before Arundhati , Kodi Ramakrishna created this folkloric epic. Ammoru pits a benevolent village goddess against a sorcerer who conjures black magic and a terrifying Brahmarakshasu (a demonic spirit). The film is a visual feast of kumkum , fire, and ritualistic chanting. It is less about scares and more about the cultural fear of the occult, establishing the archetype of the “mother goddess” as the ultimate antidote to evil.
No list begins anywhere else. Directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, a master of the genre, Arundhati is the magnum opus of Telugu horror. It follows a woman who discovers she is the reincarnation of a fearless queen locked in a centuries-old battle with the sadistic, occultist Pasupathi. With stunning production design, a terrifying antagonist (Sonu Sood in a career-defining role), and a narrative that blends historical drama with supernatural vengeance, Arundhati proved that Telugu horror could be both sophisticated and commercially viable. It is the gold standard.