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Kaun? Movie Review: The horror movies released in 1999 remain Hindi cinema's unsettling experiences and Ram Gopal Varma's Kaun? is one of them. Starring Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpayee, it became a cult minimalist psychological suspense thriller that changed Bollywood's approach to the horror genre. In an era of horror films dominated by loud jump scares, gothic twists and over-explained endings, Kaun? set in one house, a stormy night, and just a few characters dominating the film. In 2026, the film feels more relevant and hits harder now than it did at the time of its release.

The film is entirely shot inside a house, where the protagonist, played by Urmila Matondkar, doesn't have a character name and is referred to as Ma'am throughout. Kaun? opens with her talking to her mother on the phone, asking when she will be back. Rain pours down in the backdrop, and news of a serial killer on the loose dominates the TV screen. Then, she encounters a stranger, Manoj Bajpayee, who rings the doorbell and searches for Mr Malhotra. At first, she denies that it's Malhotra's house; fear soon overwhelms her, and she seeks Bajpayee's help and lets him inside her home.

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Shortly after, another stranger, Sushant Singh's character, arrives, claiming to be a police officer. Manoj Bajpayee's character believes Sushant is a serial killer. The scene intensifies, Urmila once again calls her mother; meanwhile, Manoj hits Sushant, only to realise Urmila's phone is out of order. Later, he discovers Mr Malhotra's dead body hidden on the top floor of the house.

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Spoiler Alert

Throughout the film, Manoj's presence keeps us guessing whether he is the serial killer, while Urmila's portrayal as an innocent and vulnerable woman hints at a different twist. The shocking climax actually reveals that she herself is the serial killer, suffering from mental illness. In the chilling final scene, she talks to her mother on a disconnected phone, smiling unsettlingly at the audience, while welcoming another visitor, a potential new victim.

All three actors' performances deserve praise, but Urmila's portrayal of a serial killer stands out. She almost single-handedly leads the film. 

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Why Kaun? Movie Hits Harder In 2026?

Shot in just 15 days, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and written by Anurag Kashyap, the film has no songs or backstories. Just with tight framing and shadow-heavy visuals, it turns an ordinary house into a psychological trap. Unlike many horror thrillers, Kaun? doesn't rely on conventional supernatural elements, but it focuses more on human fears and the consequences of assumptions, with a psychologically charged narrative.


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