Is Pranav Mohanlal’s Dies Irae made based on real life events? Here is what we know

The movie tries to make an effect by saying that it is based on "true events," although Rahul Sadasivan has said that Dies Irae is not based on only one event.

The well-known Rahul Sadasivan directed the upcoming horror thriller Dies Irae, which has made people ponder as well as afraid. The Malayalam movie, which stars Pranav Mohanlal as "Rohan," carries a disclaimer that says it is "based on true events," according to reports. But it's still hard to get the details of those occurrences right.

In the movie, Rohan is a wealthy architect. When a former classmate dies, strange things start happening in his home, turning his beautiful existence into a terrible nightmare. The director's typical minimalist approach, together with the creaking doors, whispered words, and hair clips from his past, keeps the horror continuing.

This time, it's not just one thing; it's folklore.

The movie tries to make an effect by saying that it is based on "true events," although Rahul Sadasivan has said that Dies Irae is not based on only one event. Instead, it is based on real-life supernatural occurrences and stories from Kerala's folklore. The director used these as starting principles to make a story with several levels instead of only following one.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1FGXOamA5I
This way, Sadasivan has creative flexibility while still preserving the terror based on real-life culture. In his earlier works (Bhoothakaalam and Brāmayugam), he blurred the lines between myth, memory, and dread. He is still dedicated to scaring people without utilizing too much gore.

#DiesIrae : Based on a real incident that happened in Kerala eight years ago in a family !!! 🔥🥵

IFYKYK 💀#Mollywood #Rahulsadasivan #PranavMohanlal pic.twitter.com/Tiz3U5aRPM

— vicky TWD ⌛️🔥 (@Moh_Afsin99) October 31, 2025

From Bhoothakaalam to Bramayugam and now Dies Irae Rahul Sadasivan isn’t just making horror, he’s crafting nightmares. Malayalam cinema needed this 🖤 pic.twitter.com/gyxM0zj4m8

Story continues below Advertisement

Remove Ad

— fleabag (@fleabagbee) October 31, 2025

What Uncertainty Does

The uncertainty—"if you know, you know" comments from followers on social media—makes it even more enticing. People are scared because they don't know what will happen. People who are intrigued by the premise will undoubtedly be scared by the horror on screen and by the issue of what is genuine behind it.

Dies Irae marks @impranavlal thunderous rise ..he’s haunting, magnetic, and here to stay. A diabolically poetic Malayalam horror drenched in theological dread, visually sacramental and intellectually vicious.#diesirae #Mohanlal𓃵 pic.twitter.com/RWhfGOvLNB

— G H O S T 🦉 (@imarjunn___) October 31, 2025

What It Means for People Who Watch

If you like horror movies but don't want only jump scares and clichés, Dies Irae promises to give you an atmosphere of dread that is founded on cultural resonance and existential disquiet. The "based on real events" designation doesn't really help with the facts; it's more of a stylistic choice aimed to make the terror deeper by claiming that it has real-world foundations.

The tale isn't genuine history, but you can expect a scary drama that is based on real events and will stick with you emotionally. If you're ready for one of the most exciting Indian horror movies to come out in the last few years, Dies Irae might be the next movie you see that shocks you.