An ancient curse born from a fatal ritual inside a royal household changes the fate of an entire village, then goes quiet for generations. In the present day, three friends arrive at a heritage property tied to that dark past, dismissing the local legend as superstition. A young girl starts hearing whispers and a warning that repeats, and the curse they disturbed slowly begins to breathe again.
Behrupiyo, whose title means a shape-shifter, is Gujarati cinema testing a genre it rarely commits to: rooted folk horror. Raja Sanjay Choksi builds the film on an old curse from a royal household and drops three sceptical friends into a haunted heritage property, letting dread grow through whispers and a repeated warning rather than cheap jump scares. The Gujarati soil, its rituals and its superstitions are the real engine here.
The atmosphere is the strength. Reviewers noted the eerie mood, the cultural specificity and a climax that actually pays off emotionally, with Tenvow settling on three and a half stars for an ambitious film that prioritises tone over convention. Kinjal Rajpriya, already a dependable face in the industry, carries the fear and confusion convincingly, while Jayesh More brings a quiet intensity that anchors the tension. Maulik Chauhan and Denisha Ghumra fill out a believable group dynamic, and Atharva Sanjay Joshi's background score keeps the unease simmering.
Where it slips is pacing. The first half sets the mood patiently and well, but at two and a half hours the second half sags, and a few turns arrive exactly where you expect them. It is not the scariest film of the year and it will not convert viewers hunting relentless jump scares. The recurring warning, do not drink the water, is a smart, low-key device that carries more menace than any sudden shock. Word of mouth in Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot built steadily rather than exploding, which suits a film pitched at single screens and family audiences over thirteen.
Taken as a sincere attempt to give Gujarati horror its own voice, though, Behrupiyo works. It earns its chills honestly, respects its folklore, and suggests the industry has more room to explore fear on its own terms.
Verdict
A sincere folk horror that trades jump scares for atmosphere. Proof Gujarati cinema can do fear in its own voice.
What works
- Genuinely eerie folk atmosphere
- Rooted Gujarati folklore
- Kinjal Rajpriya and Jayesh More anchor it
- A climax that pays off
What holds it back
- Long runtime drags
- Second half sags
- A few predictable turns
- Light on real jump scares
Cast & crew
Writers: Raja Sanjay Choksi, Kapil Sahetya
Music: Atharva Sanjay Joshi
Cast: Kinjal Rajpriya, Jayesh More, Maulik Chauhan, Denisha Ghumra, Aasheema Vardaan
Producers: Kaushik Patel, Hardik Patel
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore Horror Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Behrupiyo worth watching?
A sincere folk horror that trades jump scares for atmosphere. Proof Gujarati cinema can do fear in its own voice. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Behrupiyo about?
An ancient curse born from a fatal ritual inside a royal household changes the fate of an entire village, then goes quiet for generations. In the present day, three friends arrive at a heritage property tied to that dark past, dismissing the local legend as superstition. A young girl starts hearing whispers and a warning that repeats, and the curse they disturbed slowly begins to breathe again.