Khauf
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| Khauf | |
|---|---|
 Promotional release poster | |
| Genre | Horror |
| Written by | Smita Singh |
| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Pankaj Kumar |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera |
| Running time | 43–50 minutes |
| Production company | Matchbox Shots |
| Original release | |
| Network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release | 18 April 2025 |
Khauf (transl. Fear) is an 2025 Indian psychological horror television series written by Smita Singh and directed by Pankaj Kumar and Surya Balakrishnan.[1][2] Produced under Matchbox Shots, starring Monika Panwar, Rajat Kapoor, Abhishek Chauhan, Geetanjali Kulkarni and Shilpa Shukla.[3] The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 18 April 2025.[4]
Synopsis
[edit]The series begins with a woman named Madhu moving to Delhi from Gwalior. She has come to Delhi to be with her boyfriend and to get a fresh start after getting sexually assaulted at her college annual day by unknown masked men. She is helped by her friend Bella and her boyfriend Nakul. She moves to a run down working women's hostel where she is allotted the room 333 and is met with extreme hostility from the other girls in the same wing, who never leave the hostel to go out. They warn her to not move and leave while she can, she feels the presence of something supernatural and brushes it off while suspecting Nakul of being one of the men who assaulted her. Madhu starts to doubt her own sanity.[AI-generated?]
Cast
[edit]- Monika Panwar as Madhu
- Rajat Kapoor as Hakim
- Abhishek Chauhan as Arun
- Geetanjali Kulkarni as Constable Ilu Mishra
- Shilpa Shukla as Dr. Shohini
- Chum Darang as Svetlana
- Asheema Vadaan as Anu/Preeti
- Rashmi Zurail Mann as Nikki
- Priyanka Setia as Rima
- Riya Shukla as Komal
- Gagan Arora as Nakul
- Shalini Vatsa as Warden Gracie Dungdung
- Arista Mehta as Kiara
- Talib Mehdi as Inspector Inder Bhatia
- Satyam Sharma as Jeeva
- Delzad Hiwale as Babban
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ladies Hostel" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 2 | "Stalker" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 3 | "Venom" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 4 | "Fever" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 5 | "Possessed" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 6 | "Trap" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 7 | "Happy New Year" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
| 8 | "The Reverie" | 18 April 2025 | TBA |
Production
[edit]On 19 March 2024, the series was announced by Amazon Prime Video.[5] The post-production was completed in 2024.[6]
Release
[edit]The teaser was released on 20 March 2024[7] and the trailer was released on 11 April 2025.[8]
The series was made available to stream on Amazon Prime Video on 18 April 2025.[9]
Reception
[edit]Abhimanyu Mathur writing for Hindustan Times gave the series 3 out of 5 stars and observed that "regardless of its faults, Khauf holds up well. It is an important show, and more importantly, a well-made one, which expertly introduces real-world issues in the world of horror, without sermonising or preaching, or compromising on the spooks and thrills."[10] Shubhra Gupta from The Indian Express rated the series 3/5 stars and said that "The series works best when its women, with all their pain and their messy back stories, are on screen, doing their thing."[11] Archika Khurana of The Times of India gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and writes in her review that "For fans of psychological horror with a social conscience, Khauf offers plenty to think about — even if it doesn't always chill to the bone."[12]
Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India praised the series and said "Khauf is the kind of show that Indian streaming was always supposed to champion — it's ambitious, original, inventive, messy and an eerily layered reminder of how supernatural stories are rooted in the fear of natural living."[13] Udita Jhunjhunwala of Scroll.in said that "its incessant and bloody violence, the misogyny and denigration of women, and the sheer hopelessness it conveys, Khauf is unsettling and exhausting."[14] Shubham Kulkarni of OTT Play gave 4 stars out of 5 and said that "What happens when a properly cooked script meets a bunch of supremely seasoned actors? Shows like Khauf are born and they teach how 'content' is done without an algorithm".[15]
Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost rated 3/5 stars and said "Khauf isn't just a run of the mill horror drama. It flirts with the idea of what it feels and takes to be a woman in 2025, the perverted world filled with promiscuous men, and battling loneliness in an unknown city with strangers all around. The title has more meanings than one."[16] Shreyas Pande of Cinema Express rated 3/5 stars and said that " In Khauf, there is an ambition to do better, the dread is real, the atmosphere thick—but just when it should have all come together, it fades into fog. What begins with a promise of chills ends with barely a shiver."[17] Rishil Jogani of Pinkvilla also rated 3/5 stars and commented that "Khauf is a compelling addition to the horror-thriller genre, distinguished by its psychological depth and emotional resonance. While it falters slightly with pacing and occasional clichés, its strong performances, atmospheric dread, and focus on personal trauma make it a standout."[18]
Troy Ribeiro of Free Press Journal writes that "Khauf is a gripping horror series where haunted hostels, buried trauma and emotional scars collide—delivering a chilling exploration of fear, silence and survival through a richly atmospheric and psychologically intense narrative".[19] Shachi Chaturvedi of Mid Day said in her review that "Khauf isn't just about a haunted room, it's about what haunts women every single day—the fear of existing. If a show like Khauf goes unnoticed, meaningful storytelling will be lost. With the weekend approaching, grab your popcorn, grab the tissues (you'll need them), and get ready for a show worth your time."[20]
References
[edit]- ^ ""Monika Panwar – A Perfect Fit for the Chilling Role in Khauf!", Says acclaimed cinematographer turned director, Pankaj Kumar". Deccan Chronicle. 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Khauf Promises a Gripping, Suspense-Filled Experience Like No Other! Writer and Creator Smita Singh Describes the Show as 'Raw and Real'". Deccan Chronicle. 15 April 2025.
- ^ "'Khauf': Prime Video announces release date of upcoming suspense horror series". The Hindu. 8 April 2025.
- ^ Niyogi, Agnivo (16 April 2025). "'Khauf' on Prime Video to 'Logout' on ZEE5: Films and shows hitting OTT this weekend". Telegraph India.
- ^ "'Citadel: Honey Bunny' to 'Mirzapur 3', all titles in Prime Video's 2024 slate". The Hindu. 19 March 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (25 November 2024). "'Tumbbad,' 'Ship of Theseus' Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar Makes Feature Directorial Debut With Film Bazaar-Selected Tribal Epic 'Konyak' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ Mall, Saurabh (20 March 2024). "OTT Release Khauf: B. A. Pass फिल्म की हीरोइन ने किया कमबैक, इस वेब सीरीज में दिखेगा…". Patrika News (in Hindi).
- ^ "'Khauf' trailer: Monika Panwar's search for freedom turns into a nightmare". Telegraph India. 11 April 2025.
- ^ "Original series Khauf releases on Prime Video on April 18". The Tribune. 13 April 2025.
- ^ Mathur, Abhimanyu (18 April 2025). "Khauf review: Monika Panwar steals the show in slow-burn horror where patriarchy haunts, men are scarier than monsters". Hindustan Times.
- ^ Gupta, Shubhra (18 April 2025). "Khauf review: Psychological horror show digs deep, builds dread". The Indian Express.
- ^ Khurana, Archika (18 April 2025). "Khauf Season 1 Review : A psychological horror that doesn't quite haunt all the way". The Times of India.
- ^ Desai, Rahul (18 April 2025). "'Khauf' Series Review: A Masterful Blend of Natural and Supernatural Horrorser1". The Hollywood Reporter India.
- ^ Jhunjhunwala, Udita (18 April 2025). "'Khauf' review: A relentlessly dark tale of human and demonic possession". Scroll.in.
- ^ Kulkarni, Shubham (18 April 2025). "Khauf Review: Patriarchy haunts more than a ghost in this meticulous horror drama". OTT Play.
- ^ Mathur, Vinamra (18 April 2025). "'Khauf' web-series review: Rajat Kapoor and Monika Panwar's horror-thriller digs deeper and keeps you engaged". Firstpost.
- ^ Pande, Shreyas (18 April 2025). "Khauf Series Review: An inventive horror-drama which loses steam in the finale". Cinema Express.
- ^ Jogani, Rishil (18 April 2025). "Khauf Review: Monika Panwar and Rajat Kapoor led psychological horror-drama masterfully blends supernaturalism with personal fears". Pinkvilla.
- ^ Ribeiro, Troy (18 April 2025). "Khauf Review: Monika Panwar Anchors Khauf, A Haunting Tapestry Of Trauma, Terror And Ghosts That Never Leave". Free Press Journal.
- ^ Chaturvedi, Shachi (18 April 2025). "Khauf series review: A spine-chilling drama where men haunt more than ghosts". Mid Day.
External links
[edit]- Khauf at IMDb
- Khauf on Amazon Prime Video
