Before Labubu, India Had Tatya Vinchu ‘The OG Horror Doll'

Last Updated:
Tatya Vinchu made its first appearance in the 1993 horror comedy film Zapatlela.
The much-trending Labubu doll has kept social media buzzing. A quirky, toothy doll, created by Hong Kong's Kasing Lung and produced by Pop Mart International Group, Labubu's origin is said to be inspired by Lung's The Monster Trilogy, with its roots in Nordic mythology. Despite the dolls becoming a global sensation, we Indians might have already gotten our very own creepy doll. Remember Tatya Vinchu from the 1993 horror comedy Zapatlela? The one who managed to send chills down our spines every time it uttered, 'Om Phat Swaha."
Way before the Labubu dolls turned into an internet obsession, Tatya Vinchu first appeared in the 1993 Marathi film, Zapatlela, terrifying and captivating an entire generation. Over the years, it has emerged as India's OG horror doll. For those who don't know, Tatya Vinchu wasn't just a gimmick prop but a devilish possessed puppet whose menacing eyes and shrill laugh etched him into the minds of the Indian audience for a very long time.
The Arrival Of Tatya Vinchu
Mahesh Kothare-directed Zapatlela saw the first-ever appearance of the menacing puppet, combining horror and humour in an interesting manner. The film's story follows a police inspector who finds a criminal's soul taking refuge in a doll.
The doll—namely, Tatya Vinchu—was operated by renowned ventriloquist Ramdas Padhye and voiced by veteran actor Dilip Prabhavalkar. With a lot of practical effects and a crisp narrative, Zapatlela became a cult classic, and Tatya Vinchu got fixated in the collective memory of Marathi-speaking households. In today's time, Ramdas's son, Satyajit Padhye, carries the legacy forward from films to stages and even social media.
那位大逼
top videos
View all
However, a major shift came in 2019 when Lung partnered with Pop Mart and started mass-producing blind-box collectibles, boosting worldwide demand. The true frenzy started in April 2024 after Blackpink's Lisa showcased a Labubu keychain, triggering viral demand. With this, the dolls even reached the likes of global stars like Rihanna, Madonna, Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, and more.
Today, there are over 300 variants of Labubu in both plush dolls and keychains.
About the Author
Buzz Staff
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
First Published:

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

5 hours ago

• Time of India

Madhurima Tuli Calls Yoga ‘India's Best Gift to the World' on International Yoga Day

Actress Madhurima Tuli , known for her dedication to fitness and wellness, marked International Yoga Day by sharing an inspiring message on social media. The actress, who blends yoga, outdoor activities, and cardio in her regular fitness regime, took a moment to reflect on the power of yoga and its deep-rooted Indian origins. In a heartfelt post, she shared a video capturing her essence as a proud 'Young Fit India Icon', accompanied by a meaningful message: 'As a Young Fit India Icon, I truly believe Yoga is one of Bharat's greatest gifts to the world, a gift that brings balance to the body, peace to the mind, and unity to the spirit. This International Yoga Day, I invite each and every Indian to be a part of something extraordinary, the Fit India Cult Yogathon. Come, let's celebrate our tradition, health & unity.' Madhurima emphasized how yoga has personally helped her maintain physical balance, mental peace, and spiritual harmony, and called upon all fellow Indians to take pride in this ancient tradition that continues to gain global recognition. Alongside her fitness journey, Madhurima has carved a strong presence on Indian television. She rose to fame with her powerful roles in shows like Kumkum Bhagya and Chandrakanta – Ek Mayavi Prem Gaatha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo Her stint on reality shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi and Bigg Boss further showcased her fierce personality and resilience. As for her professional front, Madhurima hinted at exciting developments in the pipeline, with announcements expected soon. Whether it's her on-screen presence or her off-screen advocacy for fitness, she continues to inspire her audience with her grace, determination, and authenticity.

News18

7 hours ago

• News18

BTS Tops June's Brand Reputation Rankings; Leaves SEVENTEEN, BLACKPINK Behind

Last Updated: With a score of 6,968,708, BTS have shown a strong growth of 4.22 per cent from May. After a wait of nearly three years, BTS is back as the full group, and fans all around the world could not be happier. With no new album or world tour, just their reunion shot them to the top of the K-Pop Idol group brand reputation rankings for June 2025, proving their global dominance once again. Following BTS is the 13-membered boy band SEVENTEEN, who released Happy Burstday to celebrate their 10th debut anniversary, and girl group BLACKPINK, who is making a comeback next month with new music. The latest data released by the Korean Business Research Institute analysed consumer participation, media coverage, interaction and community awareness indexes of various idol groups from May 19 to June 19, revealing the names that made it in the popularity chart. For three consecutive months, BTS has held onto their number one spot on the brand reputation ranking list. With a score of 6,968,708, they have shown a strong growth of 4.22 per cent from May. This big moment came just in time for BTS' FESTA 2025, which celebrated their 12th debut anniversary. Although the septet is still on a group hiatus following the completion of their military services, some of them have been keeping the ARMYs happy with solo releases and special surprises. Right behind BTS is SEVENTEEN. They climbed back to the second place on the list with a brand reputation index of 5,993,949. This marks a huge 39.05 per cent growth from their last month's score, which was 4,310,647. All thanks to their group concerts and variety show appearances, which made such a jump possible in just a month. In third place is K-pop girl group BLACKPINK with a brand index score of 4,152,491. The girl group, after a break of almost two years, is all set to hit the road for their upcoming Deadline World Tour, which begins on July 5 in South Korea. BLINKs also have been anticipating new music from the group, and it looks like it might finally be happening. Following the top three, IVE and BIGBANG secured fourth and fifth place, with brand reputation indexes of 3,629,408 and 2,730,536, respectively. The rest of the five names on June's list are aespa, i-dle, Oh My Girl, TWICE, and Red Velvet. Notably, female groups are dominating this month's chart with only three male groups in the top 10. First Published:

India.com

9 hours ago

• India.com

Dilip Kumar's sister-in-law, did India's first BOLD shoot, moved to Pakistan after..., name was..., Sonam Kapoor was her...

Dilip Kumar's sister-in-law, did India's first BOLD shoot, moved to Pakistan after..., name was..., Sonam Kapoor was her... Today, we will highlight the journey of this actress who became Bollywood's original sex symbol. In 1950s, she became a popular name due to her bold scenes and sizzling photoshoots, hence, breaking the norms and shifting the mindset of conservative Indians. She is none other Begum Para, the actress who started her career at 17, and was a huge name after acting in films like Neel Kamal, Jharna, and Kar Bhala. Begum Para Became one of the Highest-Paid Actresses in 1950s Born in Zubaida ul Haq, Jhelum, Pakistan, Begum Para moved to Bombay after her brother's marriage with Bengali actress Protima Dasgupta. Fascinated by the city's allure, she often used to accompany her sister-in-law on shoots. Soon, she started receiving film offers. Her grand debut in Bollywood happened at the mere age of 17 with the film Chand. Her debut was a superhit, and shot her to overnight stardom. Initially, her salary was Rs 1500 per month, and soon became one of the highest-paid actresses of her time. For the unversed, In 2008, she portrayed Sonam Kapoor's grandmother in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. Begum Para did India's First-ever Bold Photoshoot In 1951, Begum Para created a stir in Bollywood with her bold photoshoot for Life Magazine, shot by then photographer James Burke. She became the first actress to do so and garnered massive attention with her surprising yet bold style. After establishing herself as a prominent name in the industry, Begum Para tied the knot with Nasir Khan, the younger brother of actor Dilip Kumar. The couple were blessed with three children, out of whom Ayub Khan entered films and became a well-known actor. Begum Para quit acting after her marriage but was still remembered for her impressive style and path-breaking choices. Following her husband's demise in 1974, Begum Para resided in Pakistan with her family for two years but moved back to India, where she spent the rest of her life. She passed away at the age of 82 in 2008.