Tumbbad (2018)

The goddess of prosperity had a greedy son, Hastar, who stole her gold. When he tried to take her grain too, the other gods attacked him. The goddess saved him by hiding him in her womb, on the condition that he be forgotten. But the villagers of Tumbbad built a temple to Hastar, and the angry gods cursed the village with never-ending rain.

In 1918, young Vinayak lives in Tumbbad with his mother, the mistress of the local lord, Sarkar, and his brother Sadashiv. They look after a disfigured old woman kept chained in a room. Vinayak tries to get her to reveal the treasure, but she tries to eat him. He says Hastar's name, which puts her to sleep. After Sadashiv dies, Vinayak and his mother leave for Pune.

Fifteen years later, Vinayak returns. The old woman, now with a tree growing out of her body, shows him the goddess's womb beneath the mansion in exchange for ending her suffering. Inside, the hungry Hastar lives. Vinayak draws a protective circle of flour, lures Hastar with a flour dough doll, and steals gold coins from his loincloth. He burns the old woman, then returns again and again for more gold. When his friend Raghav follows him and tries it himself, Hastar attacks and mutilates him, and Vinayak burns him.

In 1947, Vinayak trains his son Pandurang to steal from Hastar. Learning the mansion will be taken by the government, they try to take the entire loincloth, using many dough dolls. But Hastar multiplies into many copies. Vinayak ties the dolls to himself so his son can escape. Outside, Pandurang meets his cursed father, who offers him the loincloth. Pandurang refuses, puts him to sleep by saying Hastar's name, and burns him before leaving Tumbbad.

What happens to Vinayak? He sacrifices himself so Pandurang can escape, but becomes cursed like the old woman: immortal, mutilated and bound to Hastar.

Why does Pandurang burn his father? To end his suffering, as Vinayak once did for the old woman and Raghav.

Why does Pandurang refuse the loincloth? He rejects the greed that destroyed his father and his family. Refusing the gold breaks the cycle.

Who was the old woman? A relative cursed by Hastar after trying to take his treasure, kept alive in torment, exactly as Vinayak becomes.

What is the message? Greed passes down through generations and destroys whoever gives in to it. Only refusing it brings freedom.