Tumbbad

Vinayak Rao tells his son Pandurang about the Goddess of Prosperity, the symbol of endless gold and grain, and the mother of all the Gods. Her first offspring Hastar, full of greed, acquired all her gold, but the other gods destroyed him when he went for the grain. The Goddess saved his life by sheltering him in her womb, on the condition that he would be forgotten. However, the residents of Tumbbad built a temple for Hastar's worship, provoking the Gods who cursed the village with incessant rain.

In 1918, Vinayak's mother is the mistress of the local lord Sarkar and hopes to get a share of his mysterious treasure. Vinayak and his brother Sadashiv stay home with an old woman chained in a separate room. When Sadashiv is injured after falling from a tree, their mother takes him away to get help. Vinayak then tries to feed the woman, who escapes and tries to eat him instead. He invokes the name of Hastar, making her fall into a slumber. Sarkar and Sadashiv both die, and Vinayak and his mother leave for Pune. On the boat, his mother makes him vow to never return to Tumbbad again.

Fifteen years later, Vinayak returns to Tumbbad, desperate to escape a life of poverty. The old woman still lives, with a tree growing out of her body, and offers to tell him the secret of Sarkar's treasure if he ends her suffering. She leads him to the goddess’ womb, located inside Sarkar's mansion, and teaches him to retrieve the treasure. Inside the womb, Hastar dwells, hungry for eons as he was denied the Goddess’ grain. Vinayak descends into the womb with a rope and draws a circle of flour to protect himself. He then lures Hastar with a flour dough doll, and when he is distracted, Vinayak steals gold coins from Hastar's loincloth and quickly flees the womb. Vinayak then burns the woman, and keeps traveling from Pune to Tumbbad to retrieve more coins, selling them to his friend and moneylender Raghav, who wonders about the source of Vinayak's newfound wealth. He tries to find Vinayak's secret by encouraging Vinayak to drink and using Vinayak's mistress to spy on him. He follows Vinayak to Tumbbad, who tricks him into entering the goddess' womb with a dough doll. Hastar attacks Raghav, and Vinayak burns him to end his suffering.

In 1947, Vinayak is consumed by greed and decadence, and faces a deteriorating family life. He trains his son Pandurang in retrieving Hastar's coins and takes him to Tumbbad, warning him not to bring a dough doll for the practice. Pandurang brings it anyway, prompting Hastar to attack them, but they both narrowly manage to escape. Vinayak later learns that Sarkar's mansion was appropriated by the newly formed government of independent India. Hoping to secure as much gold as possible before they lose the mansion, Pandurang suggests stealing Hastar's entire loincloth by luring him with multiple dough dolls. However, the plan fails when Hastar multiplies into many clones inside the womb, trapping them. As a last resort, Vinayak ties the dolls around him and faces the attack of Hastar and his clones, allowing Pandurang to escape. Once outside the womb, Pandurang encounters Vinayak, now cursed, who offers him Hastar's loincloth. Pandurang refuses, and after putting him to sleep by invoking Hastar's name, burns him and leaves Tumbbad, thus ending the cycle of greed.

{{cast listing|

• Sohum Shah as Vinayak Rao
• Dhundiraj Prabhakar Jogalekar as young Vinayak
• Jyoti Malshe as Vinayak's mother
• Anita Date-Kelkar as Vaidehi Rao, Vinayak's wife and Pandurang's mother
• Ronjini Chakraborty as Vinayak's mistress
• Deepak Damle as Raghav
• Mohammad Samad as Pandurang, Vinayak's son
• Harsh K as Hastar
• Rudra Soni as Sadashiv
• Madhav Hari Joshi as Sarkar
• Cameron Anderson as Sergeant Cooper
• Piyush Kaushik as Vinayak's Great-Great-Grandmother

}}

Director {{Ill|Rahi Barve|lt=Rahi Anil Barve|mr|राही अनिल बर्वे}} said the title is derived from Shripad Narayan Pendse's Marathi novel Tumbadche Khot.{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/touching-indifference/|title=Touching Indifference|last=Hebbar|first=Prajakta|work=The Indian Express|date=24 December 2014|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709153748/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/touching-indifference/|archive-date=9 July 2018|url-status=live}} He wrote the first draft in 1997, when he was 18 years old. From 2009 to 2010, he created a 700-page storyboard within eight months, which he said was the "anchor on which everything was based."{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-sohum-shah-making-video-5386609/|title=Tumbbad's first draft was written in 1997: Director|work=The Indian Express|date=4 October 2018|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005040755/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-sohum-shah-making-video-5386609/|archive-date=5 October 2018|url-status=live}} Barve wrote the script based on a story his friend had told when they were in the Nagzira wildlife sanctuary in 1993 "which made him crap his pants."{{cite news|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/hollywood-features/subversive-artistic-and-rooted-the-new-hindi-horror-film/|title=Subversive, Artistic and Rooted: The New Hindi Horror Film|last1=Sequeira|first1=Gayle|last2=Ghosh|first2=Sankhayan|publisher=Film Companion|date=24 August 2018|access-date=24 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808000254/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/hollywood-features/subversive-artistic-and-rooted-the-new-hindi-horror-film/|archive-date=8 August 2020|url-status=live}} It was a story, "Aaji", by Marathi writer Narayan Dharap - Dharap, a translator of Stephen King and writer of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, had based "Aaji" on King's short story Gramma which also featured Hastur from the Cthulhu Mythos in it (the film also partially derives from "Bali", another Dharap short story).{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Omar |date=2022-11-23 |title=TUMBBAD: The Indian Horror Film Comes of Age |url=https://homemcr.org/article/tumbbad-review-dr-omar-ahmed/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=HOME (Manchester) |language=en-GB}} Years later, when he revisited Dharap's story, he found it "utterly bland, mundane and forgettable." He realised "it was my friend's narration... that left an indelible print- no, scar on my psyche" which "kept the story alive." Barve took the story's basic premise about a scheming moneylender and another of his works, about a girl left alone with her grandmother who is possessed by a demon, and began writing a screenplay.{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/tumbbad-review-bollywood-making-aanand-l-rai-sohum-shah-rahi-anil-barve/|title=The Haunting, Genre-Bending Visions of Tumbbad, And How It Came To Fruition|last=Ghosh|first=Sankhayan|publisher=Film Companion|date=9 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018152037/https://www.filmcompanion.in/tumbbad-review-bollywood-making-aanand-l-rai-sohum-shah-rahi-anil-barve/|archive-date=18 October 2018|url-status=dead}} He managed to find a producer, but they backed out in 2008. He obtained financing and principal photography began in the monsoon of 2012.

Sohum Shah was cast in the role of Vinayak Rao, for which he gained {{convert|8|kg|spell=on}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/ship-of-theseus-actor-sohum-shah-puts-on-8-kgs-for-his-next/241267|title='Ship of Theseus' Actor Sohum Shah Puts on 8 Kgs For His Next|last=Pitale|first=Sonali Joshi|work=Mid-Day|date=21 November 2013|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821223212/https://www.mid-day.com/articles/ship-of-theseus-actor-sohum-shah-puts-on-8-kgs-for-his-next/241267|archive-date=21 August 2018|url-status=live}} Since the production took six years, he maintained his character's look for the entire period.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sohum-shah-maintained-his-tumbbad-look-for-6-years/articleshow/65905227.cms|title=Sohum Shah maintained his 'Tumbbad' look for 6 years|work=The Times of India|date=21 September 2018|access-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921233920/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sohum-shah-maintained-his-tumbbad-look-for-6-years/articleshow/65905227.cms|archive-date=21 September 2018|url-status=live}} Shah said that he was surprised after hearing the story for the time because he "hadn't seen anything like this in Indian cinema."{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sohum-shah-tumbbad-took-six-years-5404296/|title=Sohum Shah on Tumbbad: We took six years but we made the film we wanted to make|work=The Indian Express|date=16 October 2018|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201613/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sohum-shah-tumbbad-took-six-years-5404296/|archive-date=5 January 2019|url-status=live}} He found it similar to Vikram Baital and Panchatantra.{{cite AV media|title=Tumbbad Mein Kya Hai?: The Making of the mysteries of Tumbbad: Sohum Shah : Aanand L Rai|publisher=Eros Now|work=YouTube|date=3 October 2016|location=India|time=00:12-00:15}} Barve said the story's main theme was greed, and that the first half hour of the film is in the "universe of Dharap's stories."{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/tumbbad-run-hide-but-you-cant-escape-5409541/|title=Run, Hide, But You Can't Escape|last=Malik|first=Ektaa|work=The Indian Express|date=21 October 2018|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201132/https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/tumbbad-run-hide-but-you-cant-escape-5409541/|archive-date=5 January 2019|url-status=live}} The film shows Hastar who, according to mythology stated in the movie, was banished to the womb of the mother goddess for being greedy for food and gold. The film is divided in three chapters which Barve said was also a metaphor for the "journey of India, as we see it today." It had gone on the floor three times and was optioned by seven production companies who backed out. Barve feels this was because he had "no frame of reference for them, nothing like Tumbbad had even been tried before." Shah worked on his Marathi diction and accent since the character of Vinayak was a Maharashtrian.{{cite AV media|title=Tumbbad: Vinayak's Journey: Sohum Shah: In Cinemas 12th October|publisher=Eros Now|work=YouTube|date=11 October 2018|location=India}} Anand Gandhi served as the co-writer, creative director and executive producer.{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/anand-gandhi-on-directing-a-biological-science-drama-and-working-on-helicopter-eela-tumbbad-5356801.html|title=Anand Gandhi talks about working on Helicopter Eela, Tumbbad and directing a biological sci-fi drama next|last=Sharma|first=Devansh|publisher=Firstpost|date=12 October 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208134403/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/anand-gandhi-on-directing-a-biological-science-drama-and-working-on-helicopter-eela-tumbbad-5356801.html|archive-date=8 December 2018|url-status=live}} Barve's initial idea was to tell three different stories of Tumbbad village in the film; Gandhi and Mitesh turned it into one person's story.{{cite AV media|title=Tumbbad: The Writing Process: Sohum Shah: Adesh Prasad: Mitesh Shah: Rahi Anil Barve|publisher=Sohum Shah Films|work=YouTube|date=27 January 2019|location=India}} The myth of Hastar was the last addition to the story to serve as a backstory. The screenplay was written by Barve, Prasad, Gandhi and Mitesh Shah.{{cite news|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/tumbbad/cast/|title=Tumbbad|website=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108125417/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/tumbbad/cast/|archive-date=8 January 2019|url-status=live}}

Tumbbad first went into production in 2008 with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role but was quickly shelved as the producer backed out. It was then shot in 2012 after Shah and Gandhi came on board. The film has minimal dialogue and was shot with constant physical movement with few cuts. Barve said, "we shot in the rain at age-old locations, where no human had ventured for at least a hundred years. For me, Tumbbad{{'}}s locations, the feel of its stuffy air, and the lonely rainy atmosphere that defies the feeling of time's passage is as central as its characters." After the editing, Barve and Shah realised the film was "not able to achieve what it set out to do."{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/dark-fantasy-tumbbad-opens-venice-critics-week-1202921510/|title=Dark Indian Fantasy 'Tumbbad' Opens Venice Critics Week (EXCLUSIVE CLIP)|last=Frater|first=Patrick|work=Variety|date=29 August 2018|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830075132/https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/dark-fantasy-tumbbad-opens-venice-critics-week-1202921510/|archive-date=30 August 2018|url-status=live}} It was then re-written and re-shot and the filming completed in May 2015.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sohum-shah-director-rahi-anil-barve-and-adesh-prasad-narrate-the-journey-of-tumbbad/articleshow/66071103.cms|title=Sohum Shah, director Rahi Anil Barve and Adesh Prasad narrate the journey of 'Tumbbad'|last=Gupta|first=Rachit|work=The Times of India|date=4 October 2018|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004124636/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sohum-shah-director-rahi-anil-barve-and-adesh-prasad-narrate-the-journey-of-tumbbad/articleshow/66071103.cms|archive-date=4 October 2018|url-status=live}} The Mutha River in the Onkareshwar area was taken as a reference for the set creation. In three weeks, the set of the small town around the temple was recreated.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/tumbbad-makers-of-the-film-recreate-pre-independence-eras-pune/articleshow/66070391.cms|title='Tumbbad': Makers of the film recreate pre-independence era's Pune|work=The Times of India|date=4 October 2018|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004124638/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/tumbbad-makers-of-the-film-recreate-pre-independence-eras-pune/articleshow/66070391.cms|archive-date=4 October 2018|url-status=live}} A doppelganger set of an old Pune city was created for the film. Sohum Shah wore the typical attire worn by Konkanasth Brahmans in Maharashtra.{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-revealed-here-s-what-the-makers-of-tumbbad-did-to-recreate-the-vintage-era-for-the-film-2660930|title=Revealed: Here's what the makers of 'Tumbbad' did to recreate the vintage era for the film|work=Daily News and Analysis|date=9 September 2018|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911050043/https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-revealed-here-s-what-the-makers-of-tumbbad-did-to-recreate-the-vintage-era-for-the-film-2660930|archive-date=11 September 2018|url-status=live}} It was shot in natural light. Some scenes were also shot in Mahabaleshwar and the Tumbbad village.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-village-of-tumbbad-is-for-real-and-also-the-mystery-surrounding-it/as66194454.cms|title=The village of Tumbbad is for real and also the mystery surrounding it|last=Srivastava|first=Priya|work=The Times of India|date=16 October 2018|access-date=15 September 2019|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829213632/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-village-of-tumbbad-is-for-real-and-also-the-mystery-surrounding-it/as66194454.cms|url-status=live}} The visual effects were produced by Sean Wheelan's team at Filmgate Films, who were also the co-producers. Pankaj Kumar served as the director of photography and Sanyukta Kaza edited the film.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/tumbbad-1137591|title='Tumbbad': Film Review: Venice 2018|last=Young|first=Deborah|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=30 August 2018|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830214445/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/tumbbad-1137591|archive-date=30 August 2018|url-status=live}} Kumar had shot Barve's short film Manjha in 2006 and learned of Tumbbad{{'}}s story from Barve.{{cite news|url=https://scroll.in/reel/898196/everybody-loves-the-camerawork-in-tumbbad-pankaj-kumar-tells-us-how-the-film-was-shot|title=Everybody loves the camerawork in 'Tumbbad'. Pankaj Kumar tells us how the film was shot|last=Ramnath|first=Nandini|publisher=Scroll.in|date=14 October 2018|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103070909/https://scroll.in/reel/898196/everybody-loves-the-camerawork-in-tumbbad-pankaj-kumar-tells-us-how-the-film-was-shot|archive-date=3 November 2018|url-status=live}}

Barve created a story book for reference. Kumar called the filming process "long, strong and intense." It was decided the film's look would be "moody and gloomy"; the village had to look timeless "without a clear demarcation between day and night." The shooting was done without any sunlight on Red Camera in digital format. Kumar said that the film's entire shooting schedule revolved around lighting, noting the constant rain and grey tone gave a "constant sense of gloom and dread."{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tumbbad-horror-movie-man-of-many-shades-5443188/|title=Man of Many Shades|last=Malik|first=Ektaa|work=The Indian Express|date=13 November 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107232846/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tumbbad-horror-movie-man-of-many-shades-5443188/|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}} He wanted the film to be shot only during the monsoon with its constant rain as he wanted a feeling of "wetness at all times": "We wanted the audience to feel drenched when they came out of the theatres." However, due to a shortage of rainfall that year, Kumar did not get sufficient rain. The crew used artificial rain for the scenes and had to wait for hours for cloud cover. Tumbbad was shot in several locations across Maharashtra including Saswad and villages of the Satara district. Some scenes were shot on constructed sets in Mumbai, including the womb sequence. Kumar said that the team did extensive recce for a few years as they were looking for "large landscapes without modern infringements, without towers and structures." They also did not have the budget for the visual effects to erase the contemporary architectural elements.

The film had four colour schemes including blue, cold grey, red and gold. 50 lanterns and lamps were used for several scenes to avoid modern-day lighting techniques since it was a period film. The scenes inside the womb took 15 to 20 days to shoot without any visual effects. The character of Hastar was created with heavy prosthetic makeup by prosthetics makeup artist Gurpreet Singh Dhuri and that required six to seven hours to prepare.{{Cite web |title=Prosthetic artist Gurpreet Dhuri keeps experimenting to stay relevant |url=https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64047731/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=IMDb |language=en-US |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516175326/https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64047731/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Prosthetic Artist Gurpreet Dhuri Keeps Experimenting To Stay Relevant |url=https://glamsham.com/bollywood/news/prosthetic-artist-gurpreet-dhuri-keeps-experimenting-to-stay-relevant |access-date=2023-05-16 |language=en-GB |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516175327/https://glamsham.com/bollywood/news/prosthetic-artist-gurpreet-dhuri-keeps-experimenting-to-stay-relevant |url-status=live }} Shah wore contact lenses throughout the film for the grey eyes. The entire film was shot over 100 to 120 days with four shooting schedules in 2012 and 2015. After the shoot, the team felt that the film was "halfway there" to becoming something that "audiences hadn't seen before." After that the script went through re-writing, some scenes were added, and the story was "enhanced". The sets were rebuilt and the womb was added. The film's production designers were Nitin Zihani Choudhary and Rakesh Yadav. For their research, they used photograph's from the 18th and 19th century during the British Raj.{{cite AV media|title=The Creation of Tumbbad: Production Design: Sohum Shah|publisher=22 October 2018|work=YouTube|location=India}} The interiors of the cave were shot at the Purandare Wada near Pune. It was made to look old and "consumed by earth";{{cite AV media|title=The Creation of Tumbbad: Production Design: Sohum Shah|publisher=22 October 2018|work=YouTube|location=India|time=01:30-01:35}} the crew spread moss all over the site. An entire market was created at Satara that included several shops, but it was not used very often in the film.

The film's post-production took two-and-a-half years to complete.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/rahi-anil-barve-filmed-tumbbad-only-during-the-monsoon/cid/1672670|title=Rahi Anil Barve filmed Tumbbad only during the monsoon|last=Roy|first=Priyanka|work=The Telegraph|date=26 October 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107181010/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/rahi-anil-barve-filmed-tumbbad-only-during-the-monsoon/cid/1672670|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}} Kaza had asked Prasad to write the dialogues again after she re-arranged the grandmother's tree scene while editing it. She used the "only usable stable shots and put them in a certain order and then called Adesh and asked him to re-write the dialogues according to the edit."{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-sanyukta-kaza-editor-vfx-sohum-shah-film-5531626/|title=Sanyukta Kaza reveals how Tumbbad was made on the editing table|last=Shekhar|first=Mimansa|work=The Indian Express|date=31 January 2019|access-date=27 May 2019|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526204150/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-sanyukta-kaza-editor-vfx-sohum-shah-film-5531626/|url-status=live}} Its initial runtime was close to 200 minutes which was edited to 100 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/sohum-shah-on-tumbbad-difficult-to-categorise-it-under-one-genre-its-like-a-thali-where-every-dish-is-delicious-5366531.html|title=Sohum Shah on Tumbbad: Difficult to categorise it under one genre; It's like a thali where every dish is delicious|last=Srivastava|first=Abhishek|publisher=Firstpost|date=12 October 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208022517/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/sohum-shah-on-tumbbad-difficult-to-categorise-it-under-one-genre-its-like-a-thali-where-every-dish-is-delicious-5366531.html|archive-date=8 December 2018|url-status=live}} The film's climax inside the womb was shot with only one source of light—an oil lamp. The film was produced by Film i Väst and Filmgate Films along with Eros International and Aanand L. Rai's Colour Yellow Productions.{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/220818/anurag-kashyap-dhanush-r-madhavan-applauds-aanand-l-rai-tumbbad-teaser.html|title=Anurag Kashyap, Dhanush, R Madhavan, others applauds Aanand L Rai's Tumbbad teaser|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=22 August 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011123942/https://deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/220818/anurag-kashyap-dhanush-r-madhavan-applauds-aanand-l-rai-tumbbad-teaser.html|archive-date=11 October 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/bollywood-review-tumbbad-idINKCN1MM0T4|title=Movie Review: Tumbbad|date=Oct 12, 2018|via=in.reuters.com|access-date=28 May 2020|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414062546/https://in.reuters.com/article/bollywood-review-tumbbad-idINKCN1MM0T4|url-status=dead}}

{{Further|Tumbbad (soundtrack)}}

Tumbbad{{'}}s title track was composed, arranged and produced by Ajay–Atul; it was sung in Hindi with lyrics written by Raj Shekhar. It was released on 11 October 2018.{{cite news |date=12 October 2018 |title='Tumbbad': Makers unveil the title track of the film |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/tumbbad-makers-unveil-the-title-track-of-the-film/articleshow/66135941.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115220021/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/tumbbad-makers-unveil-the-title-track-of-the-film/articleshow/66135941.cms |archive-date=15 January 2019 |access-date=7 January 2019 |work=The Times of India}} The original score was composed by Jesper Kyd. Prasad was sampling music pieces from several composers when he heard the soundtrack "Apocalypse" from the 2006 video game Hitman: Blood Money composed by Kyd and decided to work with him.{{cite AV media|title=The Music of Tumbbad: Sohum Shah: Jesper Kyd: Aanand L Rai|publisher=Eros Now|work=YouTube|date=17 October 2018|location=India}} Kyd felt the Tumbbad team wanted the soundtrack to be between a western and an Indian sound.

Prasad sent Kyd a sample of Laxmikant–Pyarelal's track from Ram Lakhan (1989) for reference; Kyd also watched videos of street drummers and The Sinful Dwarf (1973).{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/the-sound-of-fear-how-composer-jesper-kyd-crafted-tumbbads-stunning-score|title=The Sound of Fear: How Composer Jesper Kyd Crafted Tumbbad's Stunning Score|last=Sequeira|first=Gayle|publisher=Film Companion|date=24 October 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212065839/https://www.filmcompanion.in/composer-jesper-kyd-tumbbad-score|archive-date=12 December 2018|url-status=live}} Kyd recorded the choir with Bulgarian music called "Descending" which was the first track he wrote for the film. Both Prasad and Kyd used to interact with each other through Skype. The score involved live recording with cello and violin as well as the real sound of crickets. Kyd made three different types of sound for the film's three parts. The album consists of 22 tracks and was released on 9 November 2018.{{cite web |date=9 November 2018 |title=Tumbbad (Original Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/tumbbad-original-soundtrack/1443591031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107232845/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tumbbad-original-soundtrack/1443591031 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |access-date=7 January 2019 |publisher=iTunes}}

Tumbbad premiered in the critics' week section of the 75th Venice International Film Festival, becoming the first Indian film to be screened there.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/tumbbad-starring-sohum-shah-to-be-the-first-indian-movie-to-open-venice-film-festivals-critics-week-4801611.html|title=Tumbbad, starring Sohum Shah, to be the first Indian movie to open Venice Film Festival's Critics' Week|work=Firstpost|date=23 July 2018|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821165053/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/tumbbad-starring-sohum-shah-to-be-the-first-indian-movie-to-open-venice-film-festivals-critics-week-4801611.html|archive-date=21 August 2018|url-status=live}} It was also screened at: the 2018 Fantastic Fest,{{cite news|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2018/08/fantastic-fest-2018-prepare-yourself-for-the-terror-of-tumbbad-with-this-new-teaser.html|title=Fantastic Fest 2018: Prepare Yourself for the Terror of TUMBBAD With This New Teaser|last=Hurtado|first=J|publisher=Screen Anarchy|access-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180014/https://screenanarchy.com/2018/08/fantastic-fest-2018-prepare-yourself-for-the-terror-of-tumbbad-with-this-new-teaser.html|archive-date=25 August 2018|url-status=live}} Sitges Film Festival, the Screamfest Horror Film Festival,{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3523578/screamfest-horror-film-festival-world-premiere-amityville-murders/|title=Screamfest Horror Film Festival to World Premiere 'The Amityville Murders'|last=Miska|first=Brad|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|date=25 September 2018|access-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116085509/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3523578/screamfest-horror-film-festival-world-premiere-amityville-murders/|archive-date=16 November 2018|url-status=live}} the El Gouna Film Festival,{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/at-el-gouna-film-festival-tumbbad-an-indian-fairytale-unfolds-on-screen-1889507.html|title=At El Gouna Film Festival, Tumbbad, an Indian fairytale, Unfolds on Screen|last=Bhaskaran|first=Gautaman|publisher=CNN-News18|date=26 September 2018|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927005451/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/at-el-gouna-film-festival-tumbbad-an-indian-fairytale-unfolds-on-screen-1889507.html|archive-date=27 September 2018|url-status=live}} 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala,{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/tumbbad-for-midnight-screening/article25644521.ece|title=Tumbbad for midnight screening|work=The Hindu|date=1 December 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108125417/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/tumbbad-for-midnight-screening/article25644521.ece|archive-date=8 January 2019|url-status=live}} Mórbido Fest,{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/oct/13/16257/tumbbads-pankaj-kumar-wins-best-cinematography-award-at-sitges-festival/|title=Tumbbad's Pankaj Kumar wins Best Cinematography award at Sitges festival|first=Sonal|last=Pandya|website=Cinestaan|date=13 October 2018|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015154837/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/oct/13/16257/tumbbads-pankaj-kumar-wins-best-cinematography-award-at-sitges-festival/|archive-date=15 October 2018|url-status=live}} Brooklyn Horror Film Festival{{cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2019/01/j-hurtados-13-favorite-indian-films-of-2018-gallery.html|title=J Hurtado's 14 Favorite Indian Films of 2018|last=Hurtado|first=J|publisher=Screen Anarchy|date=3 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104231153/https://screenanarchy.com/2019/01/j-hurtados-13-favorite-indian-films-of-2018-gallery.html|archive-date=4 January 2019|url-status=live}} and Nitte International Film Festival.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/nitte-international-film-festival-from-monday/article26751005.ece|title=Nitte International Film Festival from Monday|work=The Hindu|date=6 April 2019|access-date=28 May 2019|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421202054/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/nitte-international-film-festival-from-monday/article26751005.ece|url-status=live}} Before the film's release, a special screening was held by Aanand L. Rai which was attended by the film's team and several other filmmakers.{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/041018/aanand-l-rai-hosted-tumbbad-screening-for-acclaimed-bollywood-filmmake.html|title=Aanand L Rai hosted Tumbbad screening for acclaimed Bollywood filmmakers|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=4 October 2018|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004132147/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/041018/aanand-l-rai-hosted-tumbbad-screening-for-acclaimed-bollywood-filmmake.html|archive-date=4 October 2018|url-status=live}} Tumbbad was released in India on 12 October 2018 on 575 screens.{{cite web|url=https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/cinestaan-epaper-cinestan/sohum+shah+talks+about+a+sequel+to+tumbbad-newsid-103771349|title=Sohum Shah talks about a sequel to Tumbbad|publisher=Daily Hunt|date=12 December 2018|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107181128/https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/cinestaan-epaper-cinestan/sohum+shah+talks+about+a+sequel+to+tumbbad-newsid-103771349|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}}

Tumbbad opened to mostly positive critical reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 86% based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 7.67/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Tumbbad has everything you never knew you needed in a cliché horror romp that is very pleasing to the eye."{{cite web |title=Tumbbad (2018) - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tumbbad |website=Rotten Tomatoes.com |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=13 August 2019 |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108125416/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tumbbad/ |url-status=live }}

Rachit Gupta of The Times of India called the film "moody and atmospheric" and said that fans of Hollywood horror films will be reminded of Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Eraserhead (1977).{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/tumbbad/movie-review/66135343.cms|title=Tumbbad Movie Review|work=The Times of India|date=11 October 2018|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030223821/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/tumbbad/movie-review/66135343.cms|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}} Baradwaj Rangan wrote: "It’s been a while since something genre-based turned out so rich and mysterious, so defiantly its own thing."{{cite news|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/tumbbad-movie-review|title='Tumbbad': Movie Review|last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|work=Film Companion|date=31 August 2018|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902013224/https://www.filmcompanion.in/tumbbad-review-horror-film-rahi-anil-barve-baradwaj-rangan-venice-film-festival-2018|url-status=live}} Raja Sen called the film "an ambitious one, artistic and attentively made, reminding me of the trippy stylings of filmmaker Tarsem Singh."{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/tumbbad-movie-review-a-visually-rich-story-of-greed-and-gold/story-QmMJTucOEUQyFmcrdEJd9N.html|title=Tumbbad movie review: A visually rich story of greed and gold|last=Sen|first=Raja|work=Hindustan Times|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128155442/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/tumbbad-movie-review-a-visually-rich-story-of-greed-and-gold/story-QmMJTucOEUQyFmcrdEJd9N.html|archive-date=28 November 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The Indian Express{{'}}s Shubhra Gupta called it "highly unusual, visually stunning, a richly atmospheric concoction of genres and themes."{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/tumbbad-movie-review-sohum-shah-5397988/|title=Tumbbad movie review: A gorgeous looking, intriguing morality tale|last=Gupta|first=Shubhra|work=The Indian Express|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021112515/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/tumbbad-movie-review-sohum-shah-5397988/|archive-date=21 October 2018|url-status=live}}

Sanjukta Sharma of Scroll.in felt the film subverts genres "astutely, without any gimmicks": "It has been a while since a horror film spoke so eloquently about something as primal as greed and remained true to its Indian setting."{{cite news|url=https://scroll.in/reel/897858/tumbbad-film-review-a-visually-stunning-parable-about-greed-and-ambition|title='Tumbbad' film review: A visually stunning parable about greed and ambition|last=Sharma|first=Sanjukta|publisher=Scroll.in|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107013039/https://scroll.in/reel/897858/tumbbad-film-review-a-visually-stunning-parable-about-greed-and-ambition|archive-date=7 January 2019|url-status=live}} Mint{{'}}s Udita Jhunjhunwala reviewed the film as being "eerie, imaginatively designed, stunningly filmed and well directed."{{cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/wxahnjgGbDl82XlvrhJH8I/Tumbbad-movie-review-A-visually-rich-blend-of-fear-and-folk.html|title=Tumbbad movie review: A visually rich blend of fear and folklore|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Udita|work=Mint|date=11 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012121421/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/wxahnjgGbDl82XlvrhJH8I/Tumbbad-movie-review-A-visually-rich-blend-of-fear-and-folk.html|archive-date=12 October 2018|url-status=live}} Anupama Chopra felt the film was nothing like "you have seen before in Hindi cinema", calling it "the most visually stunning film I've seen since Padmaavat".{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/bollywood-review/tumbbad-movie-review-2/|title=Tumbbad Movie Review: Like Nothing You've Seen Before In Hindi Cinema|last=Chopra|first=Anupama|publisher=Film Companion|date=10 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919150954/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/bollywood-review/tumbbad-movie-review-2/|archive-date=19 September 2020|url-status=live}} Subhash K. Jha praised the visuals and wrote: "If you think cinema is predominantly a visual medium then don't miss Tumbbad".{{cite news|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tumbbad-review-you-will-never-see-anything-like-this-again-review-bollywood-skmrndagehjce.html|title=Tumbbad review: You will never see anything like this again|last=Jha|first=Subhash K.|website=Sify|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031060133/http://www.sify.com/movies/tumbbad-review-you-will-never-see-anything-like-this-again-review-bollywood-skmrndagehjce.html|archive-date=31 October 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Rediff.com's Sreehari Nair observed that "our apprehensions are raised lazily and we wait like masochists for the manipulations to arrive, but what we get instead is a single-line moral."{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/tumbbad-review-a-fairytale-for-grown-ups/20181012.htm|title=Tumbbad Review: A fairytale for grown ups|last=Nair|first=Sreehari|work=Rediff.com|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015073551/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/tumbbad-review-a-fairytale-for-grown-ups/20181012.htm|archive-date=15 October 2018|url-status=live}} Namrata Joshi gave a positive review and wrote: "The atmosphere, landscape, and themes in Tumbbad are accentuated by a sense of Gothic dread and an eerie expectancy of the diabolical."{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tumbbadreview-the-demons-of-the-mind/article25192653.ece|title='Tumbbad' review: the demons of the mind|last=Joshi|first=Namrata|work=The Hindu|date=11 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108125417/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tumbbadreview-the-demons-of-the-mind/article25192653.ece|archive-date=8 January 2019|url-status=live}}

Suparna Sharma of the Deccan Chronicle noted that the film has "the beauty and horror of imagination, and it stalks you gently, long after you’ve left the theatre."{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/131018/tumbbad-movie-review-sohum-shah-aanand-l-rai-eros-beauty-horror-imagin.html|title=Tumbbad movie review: Beauty and horror of imagination that stalks you gently|last=Sharma|first=Suparna|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=13 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128180037/https://deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/131018/tumbbad-movie-review-sohum-shah-aanand-l-rai-eros-beauty-horror-imagin.html|archive-date=28 November 2018|url-status=live}} Reuters' Shilpa Jamkhandikar said that the "true star here is Barve, who takes what could have been a regular horror film and elevates it to another level."{{cite news|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/bollywood-review-tumbbad/movie-review-tumbbad-idINKCN1MM0T4|title=Movie Review: Tumbbad|last=Jamkhandikar|first=Shilpa|work=Reuters|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014054018/https://in.reuters.com/article/bollywood-review-tumbbad/movie-review-tumbbad-idINKCN1MM0T4|archive-date=14 October 2018|url-status=dead}} Stutee Ghosh of The Quint wrote: "It excels is in its ability to weave together a formidable canvas with fear, fantasy and folklore blending in seamlessly to give us an unrelenting ominous journey."{{cite news|title=Review: Strong Screenplay, Mood Elements Make 'Tumbbad' A Perfect Horror|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/tumbbad-movie-review|last=Ghosh|first=Stutee|publisher=The Quint|date=13 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013125230/https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/tumbbad-movie-review|archive-date=13 October 2018|url-status=live}} Anna M. M. Vetticad wrote: "The joy of watching Tumbbad comes from the fact that Barve and his co-writers offer no answers, making this a delightfully intriguing film."{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-movie-review-ship-of-theseus-team-redefines-horror-with-this-genre-defying-folksy-fantasy-flick-5360211.html|title=Tumbbad movie review: Ship of Theseus team redefines horror with this genre-defying folksy fantasy flick|last=Vetticad|first=Anna M.M|publisher=Firstpost|date=11 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206160017/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-movie-review-ship-of-theseus-team-redefines-horror-with-this-genre-defying-folksy-fantasy-flick-5360211.html|archive-date=6 December 2018|url-status=live}} Rajeev Masand called it "a wildly original film with a look and feel that is of the highest standard."{{cite web|url=https://www.rajeevmasand.com/reviews/our-films/horror-high/|title=Horror high!|last=Masand|first=Rajeev|publisher=RajeevMasand.com|date=12 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014121801/https://www.rajeevmasand.com/reviews/our-films/horror-high/|archive-date=14 October 2018|url-status=live}} Jai Arjun Singh called the film "spooky, majestic and affecting, and these qualities come from the set design, the use of music, and the evocation of a place that is like a breathing thing, corroding the thoughts and actions of the people in it."{{cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/sGroY9uJHco2bgtegLsHQK/When-Tumbbad-met-The-Terror.html|title=When 'Tumbbad' met 'The Terror'|last=Singh|first=Jai Arjun|work=Mint|date=27 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115223456/https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/sGroY9uJHco2bgtegLsHQK/When-Tumbbad-met-The-Terror.html|archive-date=15 November 2018|url-status=live}}

Lee Marshall of Screen International called it an "initially atmospheric yarn let down by weak stock characters and a long veer into fright-free period drama in its over-long middle section".{{cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/tumbbad-venice-review/5132132.article|title='Tumbbad': Venice Review|last=Marshall|first=Lee|work=Screen International|date=30 August 2018|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830195856/https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/tumbbad-venice-review/5132132.article|archive-date=30 August 2018|url-status=live}} The Hollywood Reporter{{'}}s Deborah Young called the film "atmospheric, heavy on mythology and scary as hell." J. Hurtado of Screen Anarchy had a positive response and wrote: "A slow burn whose finale is wonderfully unexpected and yet fitting, Tumbbad is a great film and hopefully the start of a new trend in India."{{cite news|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2018/08/venice-2018-review-tumbbad-is-a-complex-story-of-avarice-and-terror.html|title=Venice 2018 Review: TUMBBAD Is A Complex Story Of Avarice And Fear|last=Hurtado|first=J|publisher=Screen Anarchy|date=31 August 2018|access-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831112048/https://screenanarchy.com/2018/08/venice-2018-review-tumbbad-is-a-complex-story-of-avarice-and-terror.html|archive-date=31 August 2018|url-status=live}} He also included it on his list of 14 Favorite Indian Films of 2018.

Dread Central's Jonathan Barkan wrote that the film "is more focused on the horror of human behavior than it is on creaking doors and the terror of what lurks in the dark." He also felt that the film's second half was "overly drawn out".{{cite news|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/282905/fantastic-fest-2018-tumbbad-review-fantasy-folk-horror-that-drips-with-atmosphere/|title=Fantastic Fest 2018: TUMBBAD Review – Fantasy Folk Horror That Drips With Atmosphere|last=Barkan|first=Jonathan|publisher=Dread Central|date=21 September 2018|access-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922213305/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/282905/fantastic-fest-2018-tumbbad-review-fantasy-folk-horror-that-drips-with-atmosphere/|archive-date=22 September 2018|url-status=live}} Matt Donato of /Film wrote: "Mad creature-feature designs, Academy-worthy blends of color and pristine optical packaging, despicable character work meant to provoke heartlessness traded for materialistic grandiosity – Tumbbad is a full genre package seasoned with a pungent foreign kick."{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/tumbbad-review-fantastic-fest/|title='Tumbbad' Review: A Striking Artistic Display of the Catastrophic Temptations of Fate [Fantastic Fest]|last=Donato|first=Matt|publisher=/Film|date=22 September 2018|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925025321/https://www.slashfilm.com/tumbbad-review-fantastic-fest/|archive-date=25 September 2018|url-status=live}} Trace Thurman of Bloody Disgusting wrote in his review: "With a compelling story of greed that spans more than 30 years, a memorable monster and some truly beautiful cinematography, Tumbbad is not to be missed."{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3523125/fantastic-fest-review-tumbbad/|title=[Fantastic Fest Review] Greed is Not Good in the Gorgeous 'Tumbbad'|last=Thurman|first=Trace|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|date=25 September 2018|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004230008/https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3523125/fantastic-fest-review-tumbbad/|archive-date=4 October 2018|url-status=live}} Jacob Trussell of Film School Rejects called the film "Indian folk horror at its finest" that offers "an Indian film about Indian culture, removed of the trappings of the musical and replaced with stories of little known Indian theology."{{cite web|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/tumbbad-review/|title='Tumbbad' Review: Your New Favorite Dark Fable Has Arrived|last=Trussell|first=Jacob|publisher=Film School Rejects|date=29 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107124620/https://filmschoolrejects.com/tumbbad-review/|archive-date=7 November 2018|url-status=live}}

{{For|re-release collection|#Re-release}}

Tumbbad was made on a production budget of {{INRConvert|50|m}}. It collected {{INRConvert|6.5|m}} in its opening day at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/box-office-helicopter-eela-fryday-tumbbad-jalebi-look-turnaround-low-friday/|title=Box Office: Helicopter Eela, FryDay, Tumbbad and Jalebi look for a turnaround after a low Friday|website=Bollywood Hungama|date=13 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014121345/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/box-office-helicopter-eela-fryday-tumbbad-jalebi-look-turnaround-low-friday/|archive-date=14 October 2018|url-status=live}} The collection increased after positive word of mouth and the film earned {{INRConvert|11.5|m}} on its second and {{INRConvert|14.5|m}} on its third day, making a total of {{INRConvert|32.5|m}} during the first weekend.{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/box-office-collection/tumbbad-box-office-sohum-shah-film-5402825/|title=Tumbbad box office collection: Sohum Shah's film collects Rs 3.25 crore|work=The Indian Express|date=15 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103062550/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/box-office-collection/tumbbad-box-office-sohum-shah-film-5402825/|archive-date=3 November 2018|url-status=live}} At the end of its first week, the film earned a total of {{INRConvert|58.5|m}}, it was followed by {{INRConvert|89.9|m}} in its second week and {{INRConvert|101|m}} in its third week.{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/baazaar-badhaai-ho-tumbbad-box-office-collection-saif-ali-khans-film-collects-rs-11-93-cr-on-opening-weekend-5465721.html|title=Baazaar, Badhaai Ho, Tumbbad box office collection: Saif Ali Khan's film collects Rs 11.93 cr on opening weekend|publisher=Firstpost|date=29 October 2018|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220165856/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/baazaar-badhaai-ho-tumbbad-box-office-collection-saif-ali-khans-film-collects-rs-11-93-cr-on-opening-weekend-5465721.html|archive-date=20 December 2018|url-status=live}} At the end of its nine-week theatrical run, Tumbbad earned a total of {{INRConvert|154|m}} at the box office.

On 28 August 2024, Sohum Shah shared an intriguing image from the film with the caption "Chilling with Hastar", leading to speculation about a re-release.{{Cite news |date=2024-08-28 |title=Sohum Shah's recent Instagram post fuels rumours of re-release of 'Tumbbad'- See post |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sohum-shahs-recent-instagram-post-fuels-rumours-of-re-release-of-tumbbad-see-post/articleshow/112874952.cms |access-date=2024-09-15 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} On 31 August 2024, Shah officially confirmed the re-release with a poster revealing the date.{{Cite web |title=Sohum Shah and Aanand L Rai's Tumbbad set to re-release in theatres on September 13, makers unveil new poster |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/sohum-shah-aanand-l-rais-tumbbad-set-re-release-theatres-september-13-makers-unveil-new-poster/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=31 August 2024 |language=en}} The film was re-released in theaters on 13 September 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Will Sohum Shah's Tumbbad re-release be a box office success? Experts weigh in |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/sohum-shah-tumbbad-re-release-box-office-advance-2599288-2024-09-13 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=India Today |language=en}}

The film collected ₹1.65 crore on its opening day and saw an increase of ₹1 crore the next day, bringing its total to ₹2.65 crore on the second day. In just two days, the total gross reached ₹4.30 crore.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-14 |title=Tumbbad re-release box office collection: Sohum Shah's film earns Rs 1.65 crore on day 1 |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/entertainment/tumbbad-re-release-box-office-collection-sohum-shahs-film-earns-rs-1-65-crore-on-day-1/3610960/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-15 |title=Tumbbad's re-release continues to shatter records, know Buckingham Murders' day 2 collection here |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/tumbbad-s-re-release-continues-to-shatter-records-know-buckingham-murders-day-2-collection-here-2024-09-15-952234 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=India TV |language=en}} In its first weekend, the film earned ₹7.34–7.50 crore, surpassing the entire first-week earnings of ₹5.85 crore from its original 2018 release.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-16 |title=Tumbbad Box Office: Sohum Shah starrer has a good weekend in its re-release |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/tumbbad-box-office-sohum-shah-starrer-good-weekend-re-release/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Bollywood Hungama |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Box Office: Tumbbad Finally Gets Its Due |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/box-office-tumbbad-finally-gets-its-due/20240916.htm |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=Rediff |language=en}} The film crossed the ₹10 crore mark in five days, with a total collection of ₹10.69 crore.{{Cite web |title=Tumbbad Box Office Collection Day 5: Film Surpasses Rs 10 Cr Milestone Upon Re-Release |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/tumbbad-box-office-collection-day-5-film-surpasses-rs-10-cr-milestone-upon-re-release-2794973.html |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Zee News |language=en}} In the first week, the net collection was around ₹13.44 crore.{{Cite web |title=Tumbbad Re-Release Box Office Collections: Sohum Shah Film Earns Rs 30.4 Crore |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/tumbbad-re-release-box-office-collections-sohum-shah-film-earns-rs-30-4-crore-2802391.html |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Zee News |language=en}} In eight days, the film exceeded the ₹15 crore mark, collecting ₹16.48 crore and surpassing the collections during its original run.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-21 |title=Tumbbad Re-Release Box Office Collection Day 8: Sohum Shah Film Sees GROWTH, Crosses Rs 15 Crore Mark |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/box-office/tumbbad-re-release-box-office-collection-day-8-sohum-shah-film-sees-growth-crosses-rs-15-crore-mark-article-113545320 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Times Now |language=en}} The film earned ₹21.57–22 crore in the second weekend.{{Cite web |title=Tumbbad box office collection: Sohum Shah's film earns Rs 21.57 Crore in re-release, marking a super hit |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/tumbbad-box-office-collection-sohum-shahs-film-earns-rs-21-57-crore-in-re-release-marking-a-super-hit-article-12827760.html/amp |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Moneycontrol}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Tumbbad Re-Release Box Office Collection Day 10: Sohum Shah's Starrer Crosses Rs 20 Crore |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/box-office/bollywood/tumbbad-re-release-box-office-collection-day-10-sohum-shahs-starrer-crosses-rs-20-crore-article-113584235/amp |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Times Now |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kaushal |first=Sweta |title='Tumbbad' Shines At India Box Office |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/swetakaushal/2024/09/25/tumbbad-shines-at-india-box-office/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The film grossed ₹26.5–26.70 crore in ten days, surpassing Ghilli to become the highest-grossing re-release film in Indian cinema.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Highest Grossing Re-Releases In India Since 2000: Sohum Shah's Tumbbad surpasses Thalapathy Vijay's Ghilli to claim top spot |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/highest-grossing-re-releases-in-india-since-2000-sohum-shahs-tumbbad-surpasses-thalapathy-vijays-ghilli-to-claim-top-spot-1349668 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Pinkvilla |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=This film was flop in original run, has now become highest-grossing re-released movie, not Sholay, Laila Majnu, Ghilli |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-this-film-was-flop-original-run-now-becomes-grossing-re-released-movie-beats-sholay-laila-majnu-tumbbad-3109662/amp |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Daily News and Analysis}} The film earned ₹12.26 crore in its second week, and by the third week, its net collections at the Indian box office totaled ₹30.4 crore. The film grossed over ₹38 crore in its final theatrical run.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Tumbbad Re-Release Final Box Office Collections: Sohum Shah and Rahi Anil Barve's film sees a REVIVAL; Grosses Rs 38 crore worldwide |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/tumbbad-re-release-final-box-office-collections-sohum-shah-and-rahi-anil-barves-film-sees-a-revival-grosses-rs-38-crore-worldwide-1352848 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Pinkvilla |language=en}}

In November 2018, it was announced that Sohum Shah would be working on the film's sequel. It will continue from where the original left off and may potentially reintroduce Vinayak.{{cite news|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/sohum-shahs-tumbbad-up-for-a-sequel/articleshow/66596284.cms|title=Sohum Shah's Tumbbad up for a sequel|last=Lohana|first=Avinash|work=Mumbai Mirror|date=13 November 2018|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231145247/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/sohum-shahs-tumbbad-up-for-a-sequel/articleshow/66596284.cms|url-status=live}} Tumbbad 2 was officially confirmed during Tumbbad's theatrical re-release in September 2024.{{Cite news |date=2024-09-14 |title='Tumbbad 2' officially announced as 'Tumbbad' re-releases in cinemas - WATCH |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/tumbbad-2-officially-announced-as-tumbbad-rereleases-in-cinemas-watch/articleshow/113334130.cms |access-date=2024-09-14 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} The announcement teaser was released on social media on 14 September 2024.{{Cite web |title=Sohum Shah announces Tumbbad 2, drops teaser |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/sohum-shah-announces-tumbbad-2-drops-teaser/cid/2047992 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Telegraph}} The sequel will explore the concept of immortality, with Pandurang taking center stage.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-14 |title=Tumbbad 2 ANNOUNCED! Sohum Shah Teases Sequel With Special Video - 'Pralay Phir Aaayega' |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/tumbbad-2-announced-sohum-shah-teases-sequel-with-special-video-rerelease-pralay-phir-aaayega-article-113342045 |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Times Now |language=en}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Omar |date=2022-11-23 |title=TUMBBAD: The Indian Horror Film Comes of Age |url=https://homemcr.org/article/tumbbad-review-dr-omar-ahmed/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=HOME (Manchester) |language=en-GB}}

• {{IMDb title|id=tt8239946}}
• {{Rotten tomatoes|tumbbad}}

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