Hawa(2003)
'Hawa' (transl. Wind) is a 2003 Indian Hindi-language supernatural horror film directed by Guddu Dhanoa. The film stars Tabu in the lead role alongside Shahbaz Khan, Mukesh Tiwari, and Hansika Motwani in her debut as a child artist. The story follows Sanjana, a divorced mother who moves to a hillside house in Manali with her two daughters, where an invisible demon begins to sexually assault her and terrorize her family. It is an unofficial remake of the 1983 American film 'The Entity' and was filmed in Manali after Dhanoa was inspired by the location during a previous shoot. The film received mixed critical reviews, with Tabu's performance being widely praised while the explicit content and pacing drew criticism. It was released on 4 July 2003 and later dubbed into Telugu as 'Naa Intlo Oka Roju' and Tamil as 'Raja Leelai'.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Plex, Prime Video, SonyLIV, ShemarooMe, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2003
- Director
- Guddu Dhanoa
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Rating
- 5.5/10
Storyline
A divorced mother moves to a cheap hillside house in Manali with her two young daughters. Soon, an invisible demon begins to rape and terrorize her. Nobody believes her story, not even her psychiatrist. She must find a way to protect her children and defeat the evil spirit before it destroys her family completely.
“The wind carries more than whispers.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Hawa
Cast reunions in this film: Tabu & Guddu Dhanoa (2 films together), and Avtar Gill & Shahbaz Khan (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Hawa' means 'wind' in Hindi, referring to the invisible force haunting the family.
- Director Guddu Dhanoa is better known for action films like 'Ziddi' but tried horror with this movie.
- It was shot partly in Mauritius, using its lush forests to create an isolated, eerie setting.
- The movie features Tabu's brother, Makarand Deshpande, in a supporting role as the family's helper.
- Despite its horror theme, the film includes a song sequence with actress Raveena Tandon in a special appearance.
- The special effects for the invisible attacks were done using basic wire work and camera tricks, common for early 2000s Bollywood.
- It underperformed at the box office, leading to fewer horror attempts from the director afterward.