Sidharth Malhotra in The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film launch

September 10, 2026

How ‘The Vvaan’ Rewrites Bollywood Horror Rules with Chhath Puja Devotion and Bihar Folklore

Indian commercial cinema has long relied on haunted mansions, Western exorcisms, and jump scares to build horror thrillers. The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest breaks that pattern entirely. By centering its story on sacred traditions and 16th-century Bihari mythology, The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film replaces familiar genre tropes with spiritual devotion (Pavitrata) and community faith. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and produced jointly by Balaji Motion Pictures and TVF, the upcoming film brings lead stars Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia into a mysterious forest where ancient rules dictate human survival.

Scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on September 25, 2026, The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film weaves real-world rituals—including the reverent Arghya offered to Surya Dev during Chhath Puja—into its central mystery. Rather than using regional culture as background decoration, the narrative establishes spiritual purity as the ultimate shield against ancient supernatural forces.

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Attribute Details

Attribute Parameter	Field Value
Film Title	The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest
Lead Cast	Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia
Director	Deepak Kumar Mishra
Screenplay Writer	Arunabh Kumar
Production Banners	Balaji Motion Pictures, The Viral Fever (TVF), 11:11 Productions
Producers	Ektaa R Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, Arunabh Kumar, Niraj Kothari
Key Cultural Focus	Chhath Puja Rituals & 16th-Century Van Devi Temple Legend
Setting / Location	Behta (Patna District, Bihar) & West Champaran Forests
Theatrical Release Date	September 25, 2026

Subverting Western Horror Tropes: Pavitrata and Devotion as Supernatural Armor

For decades, mainstream Hindi horror drawn from Western templates pitted isolated individuals against demonic entities in dark, enclosed spaces. In The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film, fear operates in broad daylight and open wilderness. The story introduces a forbidden forest outside Patna where entering after sunset is strictly prohibited: “Suryast ke baad, Vvaan mein pravesh karna varjit hai.”

Instead of relying on priests or occult tools, The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film positions collective festive faith as a protective force. As detailed in coverage by Cinetales, Sidharth Malhotra plays a rational city professional drawn into the woods by recurring, unexplained visions. His path crosses with Tamannaah Bhatia, who portrays a local believer intimately connected to the village traditions and the sacred rituals of Chhathi Maiya.

The pairing of Sidharth Malhotra Tamannaah Bhatia creates a strong contrast between urban skepticism and deep-rooted faith. While Malhotra’s character searches for logical explanations, Bhatia’s character understands that the forest responds to spiritual harmony and ancestral reverence.

Grounded Realism Meets Folk Myth: TVF’s Direction in Commercial Cinema

A major reason behind the film’s distinct tone is the creative leadership behind the camera. Bringing Deepak Kumar Mishra TVF direction to a big-budget theatrical feature marks an important transition for the director best known for creating Panchayat. Mishra applies the same commitment to rural authenticity that made his television work famous, avoiding exaggerated Bollywood glamour in favor of realistic Bihari dialects, unglamorized forest terrain, and authentic riverbank setups for The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film.

The collaboration between Ektaa R Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures and Arunabh Kumar’s TVF combines large-scale visual effects with grounded storytelling. Production reporting from Mamaraazzi confirms that the team shot extensively on location across Bihar and Jharkhand to capture the genuine atmosphere of the region.

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The Legend of Behta: Resurrecting 16th-Century Van Devi Folklore

At the heart of the narrative lies a real historical legend from Bihar’s heartland. The story behind The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film draws directly from the 16th century Van Devi legend of Behta, a small town situated 35 kilometers outside Patna. According to local oral history, an ancient priest named Baidyanath Mishra consecrated the Van Devi temple in the 1500s to protect villagers from mysterious forest occurrences, establishing a strict rule that no worshipper should remain in the woods after dusk.

The Ancient Temple of Behta and Forest Guardianship

Writer Arunabh Kumar shared during press interactions that he first learned about the Behta temple from his mother during Durga Puja visits. The screenplay expands this authentic folklore into a cinematic mystery where the forest itself acts as a living entity. Rather than portraying nature as inherently evil, The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film frames the wilderness as a sacred domain that demands respect and spiritual balance.

Tamannaah Bhatia’s Chhath Ritual Preparation

To portray her character accurately, Tamannaah Bhatia underwent extensive preparation to learn the exact customs of Chhath Puja, including the Nayeem-Khayeem, Kharna, and Arghya offerings on the riverbanks. In an interview with AltBollywood, Bhatia noted her deep personal connection to the festival’s spiritual discipline, emphasizing how the devotion to Chhathi Maiya forms the emotional foundation of the film’s climax in The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film.

Her devotional musical sequence, titled Chhathi Maiya and composed by Vishal Mishra under Zee Music, showcases women gathering at sunset and sunrise along the riverbanks. This visual sequence anchors the supernatural mystery in authentic cultural practice.

Industry Impact: How Indian Folk Horror Is Transforming Commercial Cinema

The upcoming Balaji Motion Pictures September release reflects a broader shift across Indian cinema. Following the success of folk-centered hits like Tumbbad, Kantara, Stree, and Munjya, audiences have shown a growing preference for homegrown mythology over imported horror tropes.

As highlighted in a genre breakdown by Storywaala, Indian horror in 2026 has matured into a space driven by atmosphere, psychological depth, and cultural roots. Positioning The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film right before the festive season allows the production to tap into both holiday moviegoing demand and regional pride across North India.

By combining modern visual effects, TVF’s grounded character writing, and genuine Bihari folklore, The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film shows how commercial Bollywood can honor sacred traditions while delivering compelling theatrical entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Chhath Puja feature in the storyline of The Vvaan?

Chhath Puja serves as both the central setting and the primary narrative key in the film. The sacred festival’s rituals and devotion to Chhathi Maiya provide the spiritual protection needed against the ancient forces residing within the forbidden forest in The Vvaan Chhath Puja horror film.

Is The Vvaan based on a true story or real Bihar folklore?

The film is inspired by real oral legends surrounding the 16th-century Van Devi temple located in Behta, near Patna in Bihar. The screenwriters adapted these local historical accounts into an original fantasy-thriller.

When is Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s The Vvaan releasing in theatres?

The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on September 25, 2026.

Who is directing The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest?

The film is directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, widely recognized for his work as the creator and director of TVF’s popular comedy-drama series Panchayat.

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