the lessons we can learn from “tumbbad”
Tumbbad (2018), directed by Rahi Anil Barve and Adesh Prasad, is an Indian horror-fantasy film that masterfully combines mythology with a cautionary tale about greed, ambition, and the consequences of human desires. The narrative is steeped in folklore, centering on the cursed village of Tumbbad and the search for a hidden treasure linked to the ancient, forgotten god Hastar. Beyond its captivating visuals and eerie atmosphere, Tumbbad offers profound philosophical insights, particularly about greed, contentment, and the cyclical nature of desire. By analyzing its characters, themes, and storytelling, we can extract several key lessons relevant to our own lives.
1. The Insatiable Nature of Greed
At the core of Tumbbad is the idea that greed is a bottomless pit. The protagonist, Vinayak Rao, becomes obsessed with the treasure guarded by Hastar, a fallen god cursed by the other deities for his insatiable desire. Hastar represents the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition. Despite his monstrous fate, Vinayak chooses to follow in his footsteps, risking everything—his relationships, humanity, and even his legacy.
The treasure in Tumbbad symbolizes the lure of material wealth and power, which, while attractive, comes with the curse of never-ending desire. No matter how much gold Vinayak collects, it is never enough. The lesson here is universal: greed blinds us to the beauty of what we already possess. Like the mythological Hastar, who wanted both food and gold, we risk losing everything when we allow our desires to spiral out of control.
The film illustrates how unchecked greed leads to self-destruction. Vinayak’s obsession not only endangers his life but also corrupts his son, Pandurang, dragging him into the same vicious cycle of endless craving. This reflects the generational impact of unchecked materialism—a father passes on his insatiable hunger for wealth to his children, perpetuating the destructive cycle.
2. Contentment as a Path to Freedom
Tumbbad's treasure and Hastar’s curse represent the pursuit of endless pleasure and riches. In contrast, the film indirectly extols the virtues of contentment and moderation. Vinayak’s mother, who initially warns him against greed, symbolizes the voice of restraint. Though life offers fleeting chances for happiness, true freedom comes from contentment, not from accumulation.
Stoic philosophy resonates with this theme. The Stoics believed that true wealth is found not in external possessions but in controlling one's desires. The more Vinayak accumulates, the more he loses his grip on his own humanity. By refusing to stop his pursuit, he traps himself in a psychological prison of endless want, always needing more and never satisfied.
In modern times, this lesson is deeply relevant. Consumerism feeds on our desires, urging us to buy more, own more, and achieve more. But as Tumbbad reminds us, the pursuit of material wealth and status can become a form of self-imposed slavery. True freedom comes when we learn to control our desires and find contentment with less.
3. The Perils of Shortcuts to Success
The story of Tumbbad demonstrates the dangers of shortcuts and unethical paths to success. Vinayak's path to wealth is through deceit, violence, and danger—he risks his life and the lives of those around him to steal from a cursed god. While he temporarily achieves success, the cost is ultimately too high. He sacrifices his morality and his relationships in pursuit of wealth.
The lesson here is that shortcuts to success, especially those that involve compromising one's ethics, come with significant risks. Vinayak may gain wealth, but he loses everything else—his peace, his family, and his soul. This is a timeless moral lesson: those who seek quick and easy rewards often find themselves paying a far greater price than anticipated. The film, in its dark and allegorical manner, reminds us that the road to success should be built on patience, hard work, and integrity.
4. The Consequences of Ambition Without Limits
While ambition is often celebrated as a virtue, Tumbbad teaches that ambition without limits can lead to ruin. Vinayak’s ambition is not tempered by any sense of moral responsibility or self-awareness. He continues to exploit Hastar’s treasure even after seeing the horrific consequences of doing so. His ambition becomes an all-consuming force, driving him to take greater risks, compromise his ethics, and endanger his family.
Ambition must be balanced with wisdom and a sense of purpose. In Vinayak’s case, his ambition is purposeless—it is driven only by greed, not by a desire to create or contribute something meaningful to the world. The lesson for us is that ambition, while valuable, must be grounded in something greater than just the accumulation of wealth or power. Without such grounding, it can become destructive, both to the individual and to those around them.
5. The Inevitability of Death and Decay
The film's setting—an ever-raining, decaying village—is a constant reminder of the inevitability of death and decay. Tumbbad itself is slowly falling apart, symbolizing the transience of life and the futility of holding on to material possessions. No matter how much Vinayak accumulates, he cannot escape the forces of time and decay. His body, too, begins to deteriorate as he continues his dangerous pursuit.
In this sense, Tumbbad reflects the Stoic understanding of life as fleeting and impermanent. The Stoics remind us that death is inevitable, and that our focus should be on living virtuously rather than on the pursuit of material goods. The decaying village and Vinayak’s eventual demise are stark reminders that, in the end, all material wealth is meaningless in the face of death. What matters is how we live, not what we accumulate.
Summary
Tumbbad is more than just a horror film; it is a philosophical meditation on greed, ambition, and the human condition. Its dark, cautionary tale serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked desires and the emptiness of material wealth. The lessons from Tumbbad are timeless and resonate across cultures and philosophies: true freedom lies in contentment, shortcuts to success come at great cost, and ambition must be tempered by wisdom. In the end, the pursuit of material wealth without regard for virtue leads only to destruction and decay. The film’s message is clear: those who fail to heed these warnings are doomed to suffer the same fate as Vinayak and Hastar—enslaved by their desires and consumed by their greed.
