Tantiram

Tantiram

Year: 2023

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Muthyala Meher Deepak

FantasyHorrorMystery

Balachandran shuns contact with women, isolating himself because of a painful childhood trauma involving his mother. His solitary world is upended when he meets the enchanting Alagini, whose presence transforms him into a warm, joyful partner. Their marital happiness is soon threatened by the arrival of a deceitful supernatural force that disrupts his life.

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Timeline & Setting – Tantiram (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Tantiram (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The events unfold in modern Hyderabad, primarily within a contemporary timeline. Bala’s wealth and downfall occur over a span of years, driven by the jinn’s bargains. The setting emphasizes a city life where folklore intrudes on everyday business and relationships.

Location

Hyderabad, India

Set in present-day Hyderabad, a group of friends gathers to swap horror stories. The central tale revolves around a family-owned firecracker factory whose fortunes rise and fall under a malevolent jinn. The city’s urban backdrop grounds the supernatural events in a concrete, contemporary setting.

🗺️ Hyderabad 🏙️ Urban setting 🏭 Firecracker factory

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:57

Main Characters – Tantiram (2023)

Meet the key characters of Tantiram (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Balachandran

A man traumatized by his mother’s elopement who grows mistrustful of women. Under his father’s pressure, he marries Alagini, which initially makes him jovial and caring, but the jinn’s influence gradually erodes his trust and pushes him toward horrific decisions.

💡 Tragic 🧠 Complex 💔 Jealousy

Alagini

A beautiful and supportive wife whose vulnerability is exploited by the jinn’s schemes. She acts as Bala’s emotional anchor even as danger surrounds them, and her innocence is proven when the truth about her relationship with Kailash is revealed. She becomes a victim of the fire and the manipulations at the factory.

💖 Loyalty 🔎 Innocence 🧬 Pregnancy

Ajay

One of Bala’s friends who narrates the horror tale within the story. Through his storytelling, the audience learns about Bala’s downfall and the jinn’s manipulation. He serves as the frame for the supernatural events unfolding in Hyderabad.

🗣️ Narrator 🕯️ Storytelling

Jinn

A fire-elemental supernatural entity that haunts Bala and seduces him with wealth. It doesn’t simply grant riches; it toys with Bala’s fears and ambitions, demanding ever greater payments and finally leaving only ruin. Its presence drives the narrative’s horror.

🌀 Supernatural 👹 Malevolent 🕯️ Temptation

Bala's father

The family patriarch who pressures Bala into marriage and later advises him in the face of the jinn’s machinations. He embodies tradition and ambition, and his words shape Bala’s choices, even as he becomes a casualty of the tragedy.

👨‍👦 Family 🧭 Guidance ⚖️ Authority

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:57

Major Themes – Tantiram (2023)

Explore the central themes of Tantiram (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Wealth and Ruin

Bala’s deal with the jinn yields immediate riches, transforming his factory and status. Yet unchecked greed and manipulation precipitate a catastrophic downfall. The story uses wealth as a trap that distorts judgment and fuels violence. It shows how supernatural bargains can briefly elevate life but devastate it in the end.

🤝 Trust and Jealousy

Bala’s mistrust of his wife is exploited by the jinn, turning love into suspicion. The demon uses jealousy to drive wedges between Bala and Alagini. The tragedy unfolds as broken trust leads to irreversible violence and ruin.

👻 Supernatural Influence

A malevolent jinn manipulates Bala, weaving wealth with control over his life. The entity’s presence blurs the line between myth and reality, driving decisions that catastrophe. The horror comes from a force that can grant riches yet destroy lives.

❤️ Love and Possession

Alagini embodies love, loyalty, and innocence caught in a web of manipulation. Bala’s possessive fear distorts their relationship and fuels tragedy. The story questions how far love can endure when it is weaponized by fear and deceit.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:57

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Slow burn supernatural dread like in Tantiram

Stories where a supernatural presence methodically shatters a fragile peace.Explore movies like Tantiram where a slow-burning tension and a pervasive supernatural threat lead to psychological collapse. If you enjoyed the methodical build of dread and the tragic consequences of a Faustian bargain, these similar horror and mystery stories will captivate you.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a linear descent, beginning with a state of fragile happiness or normalcy that is systematically undermined by an ancient or deceitful supernatural entity. The conflict is internal and psychological, centered on manipulation, mistrust, and the unraveling of a key relationship, often leading to a tragic, bleak conclusion.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their SLOW pacing, HIGH intensity, and DARK tone. They share a focus on psychological horror over visceral scares, using a claustrophobic atmosphere and a constant, ominous threat to create a heavy emotional weight and a feeling of inevitable doom.

Psychological unraveling from trauma like in Tantiram

Character studies where deep-seated trauma leads to paranoia and self-destruction.Discover movies similar to Tantiram that explore how childhood trauma and psychological scars lead to destructive paranoia. If you were gripped by the theme of a man's past trauma making him susceptible to manipulation and causing marital breakdown, these poignant dramas and thrillers are for you.

tragicmelancholicanxiouspsychologicaldreadfulclaustrophobicparanoidheavy

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character with a significant traumatic background attempting to build a new life. Their stability is tenuous, and when faced with a catalyst—be it a person, a memory, or a supernatural temptation—their deep-seated fears and trust issues surface, causing them to sabotage their own happiness and relationships.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their HEAVY emotional weight and focus on themes of trauma and trust. They often have a STRAIGHTFORWARD narrative that clearly charts the protagonist's psychological collapse, resulting in a BLEAK or TRAGIC ending that feels like a direct consequence of their unhealed wounds.

Unlock the Full Story of Tantiram

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Tantiram Summary

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Tantiram Summary

Tantiram Timeline

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Tantiram Timeline

Tantiram Spoiler-Free Summary

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Tantiram Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Tantiram

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