Aval

Story:

“Aval” in Tamil and “The House Next Door” in Hindi is a 2017 Indian horror film co-written and directed by Milind Rau. The movie, shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi, features Siddharth and Andrea Jeremiah, with Siddharth serving as its co-producer and co-writer. The film, released on November 3, 2017, was later dubbed in Telugu as “Gruham” and released on November 17.

The storyline unfolds with glimpses of a joyous mother-daughter life in 1934, setting the stage for present-day events in 2016. Dr. Krishnakanth Acharya, also known as Krish (Siddharth), a successful neurosurgeon, and his wife Lakshmi (Andrea Jeremiah), live contentedly in their idyllic home nestled beneath the mountains in Rosina Valley. However, their serene existence is disrupted when a family moves into the house next door, once inhabited by a mother and daughter in 1934.

Enter Jennifer D’Costa, or Jenny (Anisha Angelina Victor), a troubled teenager and neighbor of Krish and Lakshmi. Orphaned at a young age, Jenny has become a rebellious soul. While she harbors no resentment towards her caring stepmother, she doesn’t shy away from throwing tantrums. Her love for her half-sister Sarah is undeniable. After moving to the new house, Jenny befriends Lakshmi and is drawn to Krish’s charismatic demeanor. A night of exploration leads Krish to save Jenny after she jumps into a well.

Jenny’s rebellious behavior, marked by actions like smoking, takes a darker turn when she starts exhibiting peculiar activities after her family moves into the haunted house. Concerned, Jenny’s grandfather seeks the help of Dr. Prasad (Suresh) following Krish’s recommendation. Jenny, haunted by auditory and visual hallucinations, claims a mysterious presence is compelling her to leave the house. Hypnotherapy sessions reveal that it is not Jenny but Li-Jing urging them to vacate the premises.

A series of paranormal incidents ensue, revealing that the new house is haunted by three ancient Chinese spirits. One spirit is bloodthirsty, while the others, a mother-daughter duo, attempt to guide the family to safety. Despite warnings, the occupants refuse to leave. Desperate, Paul calls a pastor for an exorcism, resulting in catastrophic consequences. Laxmi becomes pregnant, the maid disappears, and Paul decides to consult a nomad who reveals the spirits’ demand to vacate.

The plot takes a historical turn when Krish accompanies Dr. Prasad to investigate the events that transpired in Paul’s house 80 years ago. They discover a chilling truth about Lu Wei, the man of the house, who killed his own daughter in a quest for a male heir. The narrative takes a surprising twist when Dr. Prasad, understanding the possession dynamics, is killed. It is revealed that not only is Jenny possessed by the woman’s spirit, but Lu Wei has also possessed Krish to complete his unfinished business from 80 years ago.

“Aval” transcends the conventional humans-versus-devil narrative by introducing an element of good spirits versus bad spirits. The living find themselves caught in a supernatural tug-of-war, resulting in a haunting and thought-provoking cinematic experience.