Durgamati: The Myth

Synopsis

Durgamati: The Myth (2020) is a Hindi-language supernatural thriller starring Bhumi Pednekar as Chanchal, an official who finds herself caught in a web of political intrigue and paranormal forces. Framed and held in a supposedly haunted government guesthouse as part of a larger conspiracy, Chanchal must confront inexplicable phenomena while those around her try to manipulate events for personal gain. The film blends courtroom and investigative drama with possession-horror beats, using its period-setting interiors, atmospheric sound design and visual effects to create a tense, eerie mood. Bhumi’s central turn anchors the story as the narrative alternates between procedural investigation and supernatural occurrences, raising questions about truth, belief and power. Durgamati aims to combine social commentary with genre thrills, delivering suspenseful set pieces, jump scares and an escalating mystery that drives the film toward a confrontational climax — all while exploring how myths and political machinations can intertwine.

Cast

• 

  Bhumi Pednekar

  IAS Chanchal Chauhan

• 

  Arshad Warsi

  Eeshwar Prasad

• 

  Mahie Gill

• 

  Karan Kapadia

• 

  Jisshu Sengupta

• 

  Ananth Narayan Mahadevan

Reviews

Durgamati: The Myth received predominantly negative reviews from critics and mixed-to-poor audience responses. On aggregate sites the film’s reception was stark: IMDb lists a user rating of 4.0/10, and Rotten Tomatoes shows a 0% critics’ score, reflecting broadly unfavorable reviews. Many reviewers praised Bhumi Pednekar’s committed performance, noting that she “gives it her all” in a demanding central role and carries much of the film’s emotional weight. However, the most common criticisms targeted the screenplay, logic and tonal inconsistency. Critics described the narrative as muddled and cluttered with plot contrivances; several reviews summarized the film as more interested in spectacle than coherent storytelling, with an overreliance on familiar jump scares and loud sound-design rather than sustained dread or genuine narrative tension.

Indian critics in particular pointed to weak writing and underdeveloped supporting characters that made key plot developments feel unearned. Production design and certain visual sequences were often acknowledged as atmospheric, but many reviewers felt these strengths could not compensate for a script that was uneven and sometimes implausible. A recurrent line in reviews was that the movie oscillates awkwardly between political thriller and supernatural horror, resulting in an uneven tone that undercuts suspense. While a subset of viewers appreciated the film for its entertainment value and Bhumi’s screen presence, the dominant consensus across major outlets and user platforms was disappointment: strong lead acting and technical flourishes were not enough to save a story that critics labeled confused and unsatisfying.