Aval (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Aval is set in Rosina Valley, a quiet mountainous region where the D'Costa family moves in next to Krish and Lakshmi. The D'Costa House becomes the central location of the haunting, with the well and a nearby cliff serving as key sites connected to the tragedy that occurred 80 years earlier. The setting contrasts serene domestic life with supernatural disturbances.

• rosina valley
• d'costa house
• setting
• haunted house
• location

Aval unfolds across two time periods: 1934 when a tragic incident set the house's dark history in motion, and 2016 in the present day where a successful neurosurgeon and his family become entangled in the supernatural events. The two eras form a cycle where past choices directly consequences the present.

• 1934
• 2016
• time period
• historical backstory
• dual timeline

Aval explores three core themes: Haunting, where three ancient Chinese spirits inhabit the house and possess its residents; Secrets, as long-buried truths about Lu Wei and a failed sacrificial ritual resurface; and Possession, which threads through multiple characters as Lu Wei's spirit inhabits them, blurring the line between healer and vessel.

• haunting
• secrets
• possession
• themes
• supernatural
• chinese spirits

Jenny (played by Anisha Victor) is a troubled teenage girl whose rebellious behavior masks deeper vulnerability. She experiences sleepwalking and possession that reveals the house's dark legacy. Her connection with Lakshmi and Krish makes her central to the family's fight against the spirits, highlighting how the past affects the present generation.

• jenny
• anisha victor
• possessed teen
• character
• rebellion

Dr. Krishna (played by Siddharth) is a successful neurosurgeon who becomes entangled in the haunting when Lu Wei's spirit inhabits him. His medical mind collides with the supernatural, making him an ambiguous figure between science and superstition. His struggle to distinguish healing from possession drives the film toward its dramatic conclusion.

• dr krishna
• siddharth
• neurosurgeon
• possession
• doctor

The D'Costa House is an old estate in Rosina Valley that serves as the epicenter of the supernatural events. It holds long-buried secrets from 80 years ago, including a well and nearby cliff connected to historical tragedy. The house becomes the battleground where the living confront the spirits seeking vengeance.

• d'costa house
• haunted house
• well
• cliff
• estate

Lakshmi (played by Andrea Jeremiah) is Krish's wife and a pregnant, stabilizing presence in the family. She navigates growing disturbances while supporting Krish and Jenny. Her role becomes pivotal when she uncovers the truth about the house and the danger facing her unborn child, which is threatened by the curse.

• lakshmi
• andrea jeremiah
• pregnant wife
• character
• family

The movie features three ancient Chinese spirits that haunt the D'Costa House and surrounding locations. These spirits manifest through Jenny's behavior, violent disturbances, and an exorcism ritual. Their presence forces characters to confront a hidden past that refuses to stay buried, driving the plot toward a climactic confrontation.

• chinese spirits
• ghosts
• haunting
• exorcism
• supernatural entities

Joshua (played by Prakash Belawadi) is a seasoned exorcist called to assist with Jenny's symptoms. He embodies moral ambivalence during the ritual, suffers injuries, and slips into a coma. His awakening becomes tied to uncovering Lu Wei's long-ago crimes and the spirits' influence on the living, serving as a catalyst for revelations.

• joshua
• prakash belawadi
• exorcist
• priest
• ritual

Possession in Aval represents the blurring of boundaries between the living and the dead, and between healer and vessel. The theme threads through Jenny, Krish, and ultimately Krish's peril as Lu Wei's spirit inhabits them. The possibility that a child could be born under such dark influence hints at genes and fate interwoven with supernatural forces.

• possession
• lu wei
• spirit
• control
• body
• theme

The 1934 incident was a tragic event that set the house's dark history in motion. It involved Lu Wei and a failed sacrificial ritual, with investigations later revealing the truth behind the bones, the well, and the eclipse that marked the tragedy. This historical event binds the present to a violent, fated history that resurfaces when the family moves in.

• 1934
• lu wei
• sacrifice
• tragedy
• eclipse
• past
• bones

Paul (played by Atul Kulkarni) is a protective father who initially resists outside help but becomes a driver of the family's fight against the haunting. He uncovers disturbing evidence in the house and pushes for answers as the danger escalates, anchoring the community's response to the supernatural threat.

• paul
• atul kulkarni
• father
• protective
• character
• family