Khatarnaak Films

Sitting on a mat in a completely abandoned café with a bunch of strangers and watching a horror movie sounds almost like the plot of a horror flick itself. That’s precisely why it’s so satisfying that Khatarnaak Films has become one of Delhi’s most exciting grassroots film communities.

Founded by Tara and Karma, two horror screenwriters for whom the genre has always been the easiest way to connect with people, Khatarnaak Films started as a simple thought: wouldn’t it be nicer to watch horror films with more folks? The result is a steady stream of bi-weekly screenings.

You book your ticket in advance, arrive, grab some drinks and snacks, take your shoes off, and find yourself a nice spot on the floor to watch the film. At one screening of Helter Skelter, the room was split straight down the middle by the time the credits rolled – half loving it, half hating it. But nobody could stop talking about how beautiful every frame looked. This, really, is the point of a club in the first place.

The film club is deliberate about what they programme. Obviously, horror is the heartland, but anything that feels a little dangerous has a home here. The long-term vision is a proper theatre, a sustainable model, and free screenings, but the founders say it’ll always retain its heart: dissecting what just happened on the screen at length. As Tara puts it, what else would you be doing in the 2020s?

Go while it still feels like a secret.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Screening schedule: Check their Instagram page @khatarnaakfilms, or the Whatsapp group linked in their bio. Tickets can be booked via both.