A cursed box holds a soul trapped by grief and black magic
In short: In the 2017 Malayalam film Ezra, an antique seller unearths a vessel for a restless spirit. This supernatural thriller explores how a tragic 1941 romance in Travancore–Cochin led to a ritual that bound a man's soul to a wooden box forever.
The film's narrative is anchored in a tragic historical flashback set in the erstwhile state of Travancore–Cochin. A wealthy Jewish boy named Abraham Ezra falls in love with a poor Christian girl, Rosy. Their relationship is thwarted by Ezra's father, Yakub Ezra, due to differences in status and belief. Following Rosy's suicide, a violent confrontation ensues, resulting in the death of Rosy's father and Ezra being declared brain-dead by doctors. The tragic romance between the two lovers remains a central theme. This historical subplot highlights how social discrimination and the caste system can destroy human connections.
Seeking revenge, Yakub turns to black magic. He euthanizes his son and performs a ritual to trap Ezra's soul inside a dybbuk box, replacing the body with a wooden mannequin and discarding the real remains into the Arabian Sea. This vessel eventually finds its way to Ranjan Mathew, a nuclear waste management specialist, and his wife Priya Raghuram, whose retail therapy leads to the purchase of the cursed object. The antique shop where the box was found is located in Fort Cochin. This discovery sets off a chain of paranormal events for the couple.
The plot weaves together elements of Jewish culture in Kerala and paranormal horror. Rabbi David Benyamin warns that a dybbuk typically targets children under three or those with mental instability—a vulnerability that Ranjan, an orphan with past mental health struggles, possesses. The film, directed by Jay K, was noted for its extensive paranormal research and its focus on a strong plot rather than mere jump scares. It grossed approximately ₹50 crore at the worldwide box-office and was later remade in Hindi as Dybbuk in 2021. The film's music was composed by Sushin Shyam. It explores the rich history of the Jewish community that once resided in Kerala.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ezra (2017 film)
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