Top 5 Horror Movies In Telugu !exclusive! May 2026

It feels like it could happen to your next-door neighbor. 4. Rajugari Gadhi (2015) – The Trendsetter for Modern Horror While Arundhati was a grand spectacle, Rajugari Gadhi (and its franchise) popularized low-budget, high-impact horror for the multiplex generation. Directed by Ohmkar, this film mixes a reality TV show setup with a genuine haunted palace legend.

Since Telugu cinema (Tollywood) has historically been dominated by action, drama, and romance, pure horror is a relatively niche but growing genre. This list focuses on films that genuinely tried to scare, thrill, or unsettle the audience, rather than those relying solely on comedy or CGI spectacle. When you think of Telugu cinema, you likely imagine high-octane hero entries, larger-than-life fight sequences, and vibrant song-and-dance routines. Horror, however, has often been treated as a side dish—usually a comic track featuring a bumbling ghost.

The film cleverly blurs the line between reality, hallucination, and the supernatural. It doesn't hold your hand; it trusts you to be confused before delivering a gut-punch of a twist. top 5 horror movies in telugu

Telugu horror is finally finding its voice—one that whispers from dark corners rather than shouting from a pulpit. Lights off?

It isn't afraid to use modern VFX and loud sound design for jump scares, but it grounds the story in a tragic love story. The sequel, Rajugari Gadhi 2 , starring Nagarjuna, further expanded the universe, but the original remains the freshest. It feels like it could happen to your next-door neighbor

The suffocating feeling of being trapped in a nightmare you can’t wake up from. 3. Masooda (2022) – The Realistic Nightmare Forget glamorous ghosts. Masooda brought horror back to its gritty, realistic roots. Directed by Sai Kiran, this film is about a middle-class family in a Hyderabad colony whose mother falls prey to a vengeful, demonic entity ( Dayaam ).

The film pits her against the terrifying Pasupathi (Sonu Sood), a sadistic feudal lord who returns as a vengeful spirit. With its grand sets, haunting background score, and a climax involving a Yantra (mystical diagram), Arundhati set the gold standard for Telugu horror. It is terrifying, majestic, and unforgettable. Directed by Ohmkar, this film mixes a reality

The "found footage" style segments and the eerie depiction of the ghost Chandramukhi . 5. Prema Katha Chitram (2013) – Horror Comedy Done Right It is impossible to ignore the South Indian horror comedy genre, and this film is the best of the lot. Directed by J. Prabhakar, this is an official adaptation of the Tamil hit Yaamirukka Bayamey .