Erotic thrillers are back in the genre scene and have been for the past few years. From documentaries to festivals doing retrospectives, to restorations of classic titles. But in the majority of all these lists and retrospectives, a large area of the world is being mostly neglected. Asia. In this second list of mine (check out my other list here), we are diving into what I personally call the ‘queens of spicy without going full frontal’, India.
Unlike in the South Korean list I wrote, sensual genre films hold a different standing in Indian society. It is more preachy and, unfortunately, still sometimes riddled with post-colonial biases. However, it is steamy and dreamy in ways that make you want more regardless. Hence, the large amount of ‘franchises’ once a movie like this takes off.
In today’s list, the majority will be from Bollywood. It is the Hindi-speaking industry originating in Bombay/Mumbai, but it only accounts for about 20% of the Indian film industry. The king of Bollywood’s erotic genre cinema is Emraan Hashmi. Somewhere in the early 2000s, there was a consensus that he was the one man who was allowed to be ever more sexual in mainstream cinema, and the censors would accept it. So they put him in almost everything in this subgenre ever since. And he does it so well.
In this subgenre in India, you can expect the following formula. Extremely gorgeous actors, a banger soundtrack that sells the movie, and a crazy plot with some preachy notes. “You shouldn’t cheat,” or “women should be chaste,” or “only pure women can cure a red flag man”. But as some of you might remember from my 8 Indian Horror Remakes list, even a bad Bollywood genre film is a good time. And a sexy good time is something I can promise you.
Paap
We start off soft with Paap and one of my faves, John Abraham. The soundtrack for this movie is gorgeous, even though the plot is quite simple. A gangster arrives wounded at a remote mountain Buddhist monastery run by a monk and his female apprentice. The female apprentice has lived a strict life away from any worldly influences, and her world is shaken. Upon meeting the wounded muscular man, sudden, unknown urges are awakened in her, rattling her in her faith and practices. This 2004 title predates mafia dark romance novels but could’ve easily been the basis for one.
Jism duology : Jism and Jism-2
Similar to 1981’s neo-erotic thriller Body Heat, the Indian Jism movies feature a femme fatale with an ulterior motive. Seduction, betrayal, and revenge make for a steamy story. Add in Bipasha Basu (who we know from the Raaz movies) and John Abraham (previously mentioned with Paap) for the first Jism (which is the hindi word for body).
Murder saga: Murder, Murder 2, Murder 3
The controversial (because of their topics) Murder movies are only loosely related by name, their erotic neo-noir elements, and that they’re each based somewhat on famous dark erotic stories. Murder (2004) is inspired very lightly by The Unfaithful Wife and stars sub-genre favourite Emraan Hashmi playing the womanizer Sunny. Murder 2, again with Emraan but now in a lead role, becomes more interesting with sex workers and a serial killer added to the plot. In Murder 3, based loosely on the Spanish The Hidden Face (2011), we have the beautiful Aditya Rao in the lead role in this three-way betrayal. And finally, Murder 4 is still TBA, but highly anticipated.
Hate Story saga: Hate Story, Hate Story 2, Hate Story 3, Hate Story 4
The Hate Story movies deliver erotic relations twisted by hate and revenge. The first movie sets the tone with a story of an investigator who falls for her target, only to discover that he has something cruel in mind for her. The movies deliver on the sentiment of hate and get increasingly more vicious, and the actors more beautiful with each number. If that is the flavour of thriller you enjoy, then these movies just might be right up your alley.
Raaz saga: Raaz, Raaz: The Mystery Continues, Raaz 3, Raaz Reboot
We have arrived at mine and Sharai’s (HMB’s Co-EIC) current favourite of the bunch, the Raaz movies. These were, at the time of their releases, breakout mainstream hits. Some even won (inter)national film awards. Originally, it started as a Bollywood What Lies Beneath, but sexier, and it set the modern standard for all the above-mentioned titles with its A-list cast, addictive OST, and all-over-unthinkable plot structure. If you choose to watch only one of the movies mentioned, let it be one of the Raaz titles. You’ll get either a Bipasha or Emraan, or even both. And it is guaranteed to serve you a good time.
If these titles tickle your senses, know that there are dozens more to choose from, even from other areas of India. The above selections are mostly mainstream blockbusters that were released internationally due to their appeal and inclusion of very famous names. Trying out things from cultures you’re less familiar with can be daunting, but if you are open to reading that one inch of subtitles, I assure you, I will open new worlds for you through genre. Starting with more sexy genre lists in Asia.
Check out Rabia’s full list of Spicy Indian thrillers/horror: https://boxd.it/QUxvC
