Posham Pa Review: A Chilling Hindi Psychological Thriller Recap

Welcome to The Movie Time, your premier destination for spoiler-filled recaps and reviews of cinematic gems! Today, we’re revisiting Posham Pa, a Hindi psychological thriller that premiered on ZEE5 on August 23, 2019. Directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay and starring Mahie Gill, Sayani Gupta, and Ragini Khanna, this true-crime drama dives into the dark minds of serial killers. Does it grip with its intensity or falter in execution? Stream it on ZEE5, join the buzz on X with #MovieTimePicks, and let’s unravel this unsettling tale!

The Rise of Bollywood True-Crime Thrillers

Bollywood’s true-crime genre has gained traction with films like Raman Raghav 2.0 and Talvar, blending real-life grit with cinematic drama. Posham Pa, directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay, draws from the shocking true story of Maharashtra’s serial killers Anjana Gavit and her daughters Seema Gavit and Renuka Shinde, who kidnapped over 40 children and murdered at least 12 between 1990 and 1996, per Wikipedia. Released on ZEE5, the 76-minute film earned positive reviews for its performances, per The Hindu, despite mixed critical takes on its depth, per Scroll.in. For global readers, the film’s 1990s Maharashtra setting reflects India’s socio-economic struggles, with urban slums and transient populations shaping the killers’ crimes, explained as a backdrop of poverty and desperation. Let’s dive into this chilling narrative

A Disturbing True-Crime Saga: Plot Recap

Posham Pa opens in 1996 Aurangabad, Maharashtra, with sisters Regha (Sayani Gupta) and Shikha (Ragini Khanna) in jail, awaiting trial for murdering five children. The story unfolds through interviews with a documentary filmmaker, Bajrang (Imaaduddin Shah), whose probing questions frame the narrative. Flashbacks reveal their mother, Prajakta (Mahie Gill), a psychologically disturbed matriarch who coerced her daughters into a life of crime—kidnapping street children for begging and theft, then killing them when they became liabilities, per Wikipedia. The film’s title, a children’s rhyme, chillingly mirrors their crimes, per Film Companion.

The first act sets a grim tone. In 1977, Prajakta, a single mother, trains young Regha and Shikha to steal in slums, normalizing violence. By the 1990s, their crimes escalate—kidnapping orphans, using them for petty theft, and disposing of them brutally. A chilling sequence shows Regha luring a child with sweets, only for Prajakta to drown them in a pond, set to an eerie Posham Pa rhyme. Bajrang’s interviews reveal Regha’s cold detachment and Shikha’s conflicted guilt, with flashbacks showing Prajakta’s abusive control—beatings, psychological manipulation—shaping their psyche, per The Hindu.

The second act deepens the horror. A key flashback depicts the 1996 murder of a toddler, the daughter of Anjana’s ex-husband, sparking police attention, per Scroll.in. Bajrang uncovers Prajakta’s childhood trauma—a vague hint of abuse—fueling her rage, though the film leaves details murky, per Film Companion. A subplot involves a cop, Inspector Deshmukh (Shivani Raghuvanshi), whose pursuit leads to the sisters’ arrest. The interviews grow tense—Regha’s defiance clashes with Shikha’s breakdowns, hinting at a rift. A twist reveals Shikha’s attempt to protect one child, only to be overruled by Prajakta.

The climax, set in the sisters’ jail cell, delivers a gut-punch. Bajrang’s final question—whether Shikha is truly innocent—triggers a shocking reveal: she’s acquitted, assumed innocent, but a flashback shows her complicity in a murder, leaving her guilt ambiguous, per IMDb user reviews. The 76-minute film ends with Regha facing the death penalty, Prajakta dead in prison (1997), and Shikha free but haunted. A post-credits tease hints at Shikha’s continued crimes, sparking sequel speculation on X. The gritty Maharashtra setting—slums, dusty streets—grounds the horror, per The News Minute.

The Good: Raw Performances and Disturbing Tone

Suman Mukhopadhyay’s direction crafts a chilling, if uneven, thriller, using stark visuals to evoke 1990s Maharashtra’s desperation, per Scroll.in. Mahie Gill’s Prajakta is terrifying—her volatile rage and cold manipulation haunt, per The Hindu. Sayani Gupta’s Regha is a standout, her icy detachment chilling, earning X praise for “lit af” acting. The non-linear storytelling, weaving interviews with flashbacks, keeps viewers hooked, per IMDb. Bickram Ghosh’s score, with eerie whispers and 1980s Hindi songs (Aap Jaisa Koi, Zooby Zooby), adds unsettling nostalgia, per IMDb.

The film’s 76-minute runtime is taut, avoiding bloat, per Film Companion. Cultural elements, like Maharashtra’s slums (poverty-stricken urban pockets), are explained as a breeding ground for crime, making the story accessible globally. The true-crime basis—Anjana, Seema, and Renuka’s real murders—adds weight, per Wikipedia. X fans call it a “psycho-thriller gem,” with Gupta’s “heartless” Regha trending. Its raw performances and grim tone make it a compelling ZEE5 watch, per JustWatch.

The Not-So-Good: Shallow Depth and VFX Flaws

Posham Pa falters in exploring the killers’ psyche, offering vague hints of Prajakta’s trauma without depth, per Scroll.in. The script, per Film Companion, prioritizes atmosphere over substance, leaving the “nature vs. nurture” debate underdeveloped. Some performances, like Ragini Khanna’s Shikha, feel inconsistent, per IMDb user reviews. The 1980s songs in a 1977 setting are anachronistic, jarring viewers, per IMDb. VFX, like a poorly lit drowning scene, feel cheap, drawing X nitpicks. A longer runtime or deeper character study could’ve elevated it, per The News Minute.

Performances: A Menacing Trio

Mahie Gill steals the show as Prajakta, her erratic menace chilling, especially in a pond murder scene, per The Hindu. Sayani Gupta’s Regha is riveting—her cold stares and defiant interviews grip, per IMDb. Ragini Khanna’s Shikha is uneven, her emotional breakdowns powerful but inconsistent, per Scroll.in. Shivani Raghuvanshi’s Inspector Deshmukh adds grit but is underused, per Film Companion. Imaaduddin Shah’s Bajrang is a solid anchor, though his role feels functional. The trio’s dynamic—Prajakta’s control, Regha’s cruelty, Shikha’s conflict—drives the drama.

Technical Aspects: Gritty but Flawed

Arvind Singh’s cinematography captures Aurangabad’s gritty slums and dusty streets, creating a stark, oppressive vibe, per Scroll.in. Bickram Ghosh’s score, blending eerie strings and retro songs, sets an unsettling tone, trending on X. Antara Lahiri’s editing is sharp in flashbacks but jarring in interview transitions, per Film Companion. Sound design—creaking doors, whispered rhymes—amps up dread, ideal for ZEE5 streaming. Production design, with rundown shacks and jail cells, feels authentic. VFX flaws, like murky night scenes, draw criticism, per IMDb, but the overall grit holds.

Audience Reaction: A Cult Thriller

X buzzed with Posham Pa love in 2019, with fans praising Gupta’s “killer vibe” and the twist ending, per IMDb. The pond murder and Shikha’s acquittal trended, spawning memes, per The News Minute. Some slammed the “shallow script,” per Scroll.in, but its 6.2/10 IMDb rating and positive reviews (8-9/10 from users) signal cult status. ZEE5 streams, per JustWatch, keep it alive, with 2025’s Posham Pa Pictures-YRF partnership fueling sequel talk. Critics laud performances but critique depth, per Film Companion.

What’s your favorite Posham Pa moment? Vote below!

• Pond murder scene

• Shikha’s acquittal twist

• Regha’s chilling interview

• Prajakta’s abusive control

Top 5 Moments in Posham Pa

For true-crime fans, here are the film’s most chilling scenes:

1. Pond Murder: Prajakta’s drowning of a child, set to the Posham Pa rhyme, haunts, trending on X.

2. Shikha’s Acquittal Twist: The shocking reveal of her complicity stuns, per IMDb.

3. Regha’s Interview: Gupta’s cold defiance grips, per India Today.

4. Prajakta’s Control: Mahie’s abusive manipulation chills, per The Hindu.

5. Post-Credits Tease: Shikha’s hinted crimes spark sequel buzz, per X.

Final Verdict: A Gritty but Flawed Thriller

Posham Pa is a chilling true-crime drama with Mahie Gill and Sayani Gupta’s raw performances and Suman Mukhopadhyay’s stark direction. Its grim tone and Maharashtra setting grip, but shallow character depth and VFX flaws dim its impact. A must-watch for psychological thriller fans, it’s a haunting ZEE5 gem.

Rating: 3.4/5 Stars

A gritty, unsettling thriller that’s big on performances but light on depth, perfect for a ZEE5 binge.

Why Watch (or Skip) Posham Pa

Watch if: You love true-crime thrillers, intense performances, or Bollywood’s dark side. Ideal for fans of Raman Raghav 2.0 or Mindhunter.
Skip if: You dislike shallow scripts or weak VFX.

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Tags: Posham Pa, Mahie Gill, Sayani Gupta, Hindi movie, 2019 movies, Suman Mukhopadhyay, ZEE5, movie review, movie recap, psychological thriller, true crime