Mutelu was the buzzword at the inaugural Thai film festival at Cinepolis. Organised by the Royal Consulate General of Thailand, ‘Frightening the Soul: Thailand’s Mutelu Supernatural Film Festival’ screened three horror films for the Calcutta audience.
“It is a Thai term that refers to the belief in supernatural powers and practices that people believe can improve their luck, prosperity, health, and relationships. Even worshipping Kali can be called mutelu,” explained deputy consul general Piyapan Atipatya. Indeed, mutelu is a growing trend in Thailand, encompassing rituals, good luck charms, and belief-related products and services.
Thai consul general Siriporn Tantipanyathep welcomes her Chinese counterpart Xu Wei
The foyer of Cinepolis was decorated with ghostly décor: anaemic babies hanging from branches, ghoulish creatures with blood-shot eyes, and claw-like palms trying to rise from the ground amid other segregated body parts…
“Thai horror is unlike any other. It doesn’t shout, it whispers. It speaks in the language of dreams, of centuries of folklore and ancient beliefs. These are stories of longing and rebirth, they awaken emotions we often forget. They remind us of the invisible and spiritual that connects across borders,” said Thai consul general Siriporn Tantipanyathep, welcoming the audience to the festival.
She described the opening film, Shutter, as “a masterpiece that terrified audiences across Asia and inspired a remake in India”. The film was adapted into Hindi as Click in 2010, following the Telugu film Photo in 2006 and the Tamil film Sivi in 2007.
The film’s narrative centres on a photographer, Avi, and his girlfriend, Sonia, who are involved in a hit-and-run accident and subsequently begin to experience disturbing paranormal activity. “It’s a classic made 20 years ago. Last year, it was remastered in 4K for a 20th anniversary celebration,” informed consul Napacharapat Kulrakampusiri. The other films shown were The Undertaker, a horror comedy, and Home for Rent, on the eerie occurrences in a family home.
Actor Rituparna Sengupta dropped by at the inauguration. “Thailand is my favourite holiday destination. Recently, we went to Koh Samui. We have been earlier to Krabbi, Phuket and Pattaya,” said the Puratawn actor, whose family is based in Singapore.