Dies Irae Ending Explained: The Ghost Twist, Kani’s Return & Rahul Sadasivan’s Expanding Horror Universe

Rahul Sadasivan’s Dies Irae (2025) isn’t just another Malayalam horror film; it’s the spine-tingling bridge connecting India’s first true horror cinematic universe. Starring Pranav Mohanlal as Rohan, the film’s eerie layers of love, guilt, and supernatural obsession leave audiences both terrified and deeply moved. And that shocking final scene? It changes everything.

The Real Ghost: Manu’s Disturbing Obsession

For most of the film, we assume the haunting is Kani — Rohan’s ex who died by suicide.But the midpoint twist flips everything. The ghost is actually Manu (Phillip) — the terminally ill son of Kani’s maid, Elsamma. Manu’s morbid obsession with Kani runs so deep that he steals her belongings and wears her anklets until death. Elsamma, unable to let go, preserves his corpse, keeping his spirit earthbound. Only when Rohan burns the anklets and body does Manu’s tormented ghost depart.

The Final Scene: Kani’s Spirit Returns

Just when Rohan believes he’s free, Dies Irae delivers its most chilling moment.Back in his room, he finds Kani’s hairpin — and the impression of someone sitting on his bed.A woman’s voice whispers his name. Though unseen, everything points to one truth: Kani’s ghost has followed him home.The haunting wasn’t just about revenge — it was about unfinished emotional ties that neither life nor death could sever.

The Central Theme: Attachment as Salvation and Doom

Rahul Sadasivan transforms horror into a study of emotional truth:

• Rohan represents detachment — cold, distant, and emotionally barren.

• Manu embodies toxic attachment — love warped into control.

• Elsamma personifies maternal obsession — love so powerful it denies peace.

By the end, Rohan evolves — rescuing Elsamma from a fire and finally rediscovering empathy.The film warns that love without detachment becomes obsession, and detachment without love becomes emptiness.

The Shared Horror Universe: Bhoothakaalam, Bramayugam, and Now Dies Irae

Sadasivan doesn’t just make horror films — he’s building a Malayalam Horror Universe.

• In the Dies Irae epilogue, Saiju Kurup reprises his role as George, linking directly to Bhoothakaalam (2022), which dealt with a haunted mother-son pair.

• Madhusudan’s surname — Potty — ties him to Bramayugam (2024)’s Kodumon Potty, played by Mammootty.

• The framed photo of Kodumon Potty in Madhusudan’s house confirms the shared bloodline of exorcists and cursed men.

Sadasivan is crafting a horror lineage as intricate as The Conjuring Universe, but with a uniquely Malayali soul steeped in folklore, faith, and ancestral guilt.

Final Thoughts

The brilliance of Dies Irae lies in how it blends psychological realism with supernatural terror. It’s not about jump scares — it’s about the horror of love that refuses to die.And in doing so, it marks the rise of a visionary Indian horror mythos — one that could soon rival global franchises.

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab (FAQs)

1. Is Dies Irae connected to Bhoothakaalam and Bramayugam?

Yes! The ending confirms all three are part of the same cinematic universe through recurring characters, bloodlines, and supernatural lore.

2. Who is the ghost haunting Rohan in Dies Irae?

It’s Manu (Phillip), the obsessive son of Elsamma, not Kani. His spirit is bound to her anklets, which he wore until his death.

3. What does the final scene of Dies Irae mean?

The return of Kani’s ghost suggests unfinished emotional attachment — her spirit remains tethered to Rohan, symbolizing love that transcends death.

4. What is the main theme of Dies Irae (2025)?

Attachment — its beauty and danger. The film explores how love, when unbalanced, becomes a haunting force.

5. Will there be a sequel or continuation?

While not confirmed, the shared universe hints that future films may explore the Potty family’s supernatural lineage, possibly merging Bramayugam and Dies Irae storylines.