The raw, menacing portrayal of Pasupathi and the film’s atmospheric dread. 2. Maya (2015) – Psychological Slow-Burn From the director of Ghazi (Sankalp Reddy), Maya stars Nayanthara and Aari. Unlike typical jump-scare fests, Maya is a sophisticated psychological horror-thriller. The story follows a woman trapped in a bungalow with a mysterious little girl and a series of time-loops.
Since Telugu cinema (Tollywood) has historically been dominated by action, drama, and romance, pure horror is a relatively niche but growing genre. This list focuses on films that genuinely tried to scare, thrill, or unsettle the audience, rather than those relying solely on comedy or CGI spectacle. When you think of Telugu cinema, you likely imagine high-octane hero entries, larger-than-life fight sequences, and vibrant song-and-dance routines. Horror, however, has often been treated as a side dish—usually a comic track featuring a bumbling ghost.
But over the last decade, a new wave of filmmakers has proven that Tollywood can indeed deliver spine-chilling terror. Here are the top 5 Telugu horror movies that actually deliver on their promise of fear. No list begins without this cult classic. Directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, Arundhati is less a ghost story and more a gothic revenge epic. Anushka Shetty delivers a career-defining performance in a dual role—as a modern-day woman and her aristocratic ancestor.
The film pits her against the terrifying Pasupathi (Sonu Sood), a sadistic feudal lord who returns as a vengeful spirit. With its grand sets, haunting background score, and a climax involving a Yantra (mystical diagram), Arundhati set the gold standard for Telugu horror. It is terrifying, majestic, and unforgettable.
What makes Masooda terrifying is its relatability—the cramped apartment, the financial struggles, the helplessness of modern medicine failing against ancient evil. Sangeetha’s performance as the possessed mother is chillingly authentic.
