Our Rating: 7/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| Movie | Aroopi |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 3 July 2026 |
| Genre | Supernatural Horror, Thriller |
| Director | Abhilash Warrier |
| Cast | Vysakh Ravi, Neha Chawla, Joy Mathew, Sakshi Bhadala, Kannan Sagar |
| Language | Malayalam |
Aroopi arrived in theatres today as one of the more interesting horror experiments in recent Malayalam cinema. Directed by Abhilash Warrier, it stars Vysakh Ravi and Neha Chawla in the main roles, with veteran Joy Mathew playing a crucial part.
The film mixes folklore with a present-day supernatural setup, and early audience reactions suggest it has managed to create a decent amount of fear for those who like this genre. The story moves between two timelines, one from over a century ago and another in the present.
At its core is a vengeful Yakshini spirit connected to an old doll and an ancestral estate. When that spirit gets unleashed, it pulls ordinary people into a terrifying situation. The film keeps things simple in its setup and focuses more on building dread than on heavy explanations.
From what people are saying after the first shows, many came out admitting they felt properly scared at several points. The way the film uses traditional Yakshini folklore has been praised by quite a few viewers for giving the horror a rooted, unsettling feel instead of relying only on jump scares. Joy Mathew’s presence and the overall atmosphere seem to have worked well for the audience.
Some also liked how the two timelines connect without becoming too confusing. That said, reactions are not entirely one-sided. A section of viewers felt the story leans on some familiar horror patterns after a point, and the tension dips in the middle.
A few mentioned that while the scares land, the emotional side or character depth could have been stronger. Overall, the early buzz is positive among horror fans but more average for those expecting something completely fresh.
If you enjoy supernatural horror with a folklore touch and don’t mind a slow build-up, Aroopi should work as a decent theatre watch. The big screen helps with the mood and sound design. However, if you’re not a big horror person or prefer tighter, more original scripts, this one might feel only okay and can wait for streaming.