TKMD at 15:52, 14 March 2026

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{{Short description|Bollywood horror film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}
{{for|the 1958 film|12 O'Clock (film)}}
{{Infobox film
| name = 12 'O' Clock
| image = 12 'O' Clock.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ram Gopal Varma]]
| producer = Ram Gopal Varma
| writer =
| starring = [[Mithun Chakraborty]]<br />[[Makarand Deshpande]]<br/>[[Flora Saini]]<br />[[Manav Kaul]]<br/>Krishna Gautam
| music = [[M. M. Kreem]]
| cinematography = [[Amol Rathod]]
| studio= Company Production
| distributor = [[UFO Moviez]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2021|1|8|ref1=<ref name=rd />}}
| runtime = 135 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''12 'O' Clock''''' is a 2021 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[horror film]] directed by [[Ram Gopal Varma]] and starring [[Mithun Chakraborty]], [[Flora Saini]], [[Manav Kaul]], Krishna Gautam and [[Makarand Deshpande]].<ref name=mithun>{{cite news |last1=Lohana |first1=Avinash |title=Mithun Chakraborty to play a Psychiatrist in Ram Gopal Varma's next Geher |url=http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/mithun-chakraborty-to-play-a-psychiatrist-in-ram-gopal-varmas-next-geher/articleshow/58336934.cms |access-date=5 May 2017 |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |date=24 April 2017 |archive-date=26 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426063430/http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/mithun-chakraborty-to-play-a-psychiatrist-in-ram-gopal-varmas-next-geher/articleshow/58336934.cms |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mithun Chakraborty to feature in Ram Gopal Varma's horror film |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/mithun-chakraborty-feature-ram-gopal-varmas-horror-film/ |access-date=5 May 2017 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=10 April 2017 |archive-date=17 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517114917/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/mithun-chakraborty-feature-ram-gopal-varmas-horror-film/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ram Gopal Varma's next after Sarkar 3 to be a horror film starring Mithun Chakraborty? |url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ram-gopal-varmas-next-after-sarkar-3-to-be-a-horror-film-starring-mithun-chakraborty-3378634.html |access-date=5 May 2017 |work=First Post |date=11 April 2017 |archive-date=26 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426084617/http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ram-gopal-varmas-next-after-sarkar-3-to-be-a-horror-film-starring-mithun-chakraborty-3378634.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was first announced with the name ''Geher'', but the following trailer revealed it had been renamed ''12 'O' Clock'' on 3 July 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ram Gopal Varma @RGVzoomin |url=https://twitter.com/RGVzoomin/status/1278914459960872962/photo/1 |access-date=3 July 2020 |publisher=[[Twitter]] RGV Zoom |date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130073425/https://twitter.com/RGVzoomin/status/1278914459960872962 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=September 2024}}<ref>{{cite news |title=12 'o' Clock: Ram Gopal Varma announces a psychological horror film with music by Baahubali musician |url=https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/telugu-cinema/article/12-o-clock-ram-gopal-varma-announces-a-psychological-horror-film-with-music-by-baahubali-musician/615787 |access-date=3 July 2020 |publisher=[[Zoom (Indian TV channel)]] Digital |date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703183522/https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/telugu-cinema/article/12-o-clock-ram-gopal-varma-announces-a-psychological-horror-film-with-music-by-baahubali-musician/615787 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=RGV is back with a horror movie |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/rgv-is-back-with-a-horror-movie/articleshow/76770682.cms |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704203207/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/rgv-is-back-with-a-horror-movie/articleshow/76770682.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> It was released in India on 8 January 2021.<ref name="rd">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/ram-gopal-varmas-psychological-horror-12oclock-first-theatrical-release-2021/ |title=Ram Gopal Varma's psychological horror 12'o'clock to be first theatrical release of 2021 |date=22 December 2020 |access-date=22 December 2020 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |archive-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223191046/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/bollywood/ram-gopal-varmas-psychological-horror-12oclock-first-theatrical-release-2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
The film opens with the murder of a [[pedestrian]] by an old lady at night which remains unresolved. The plot then moves to Gauri's family, comprising her father Rao, mother, brother and grandmother. Gauri is shown to sleepwalk and act strangely at night time.

Unexplained murders continue to happen in the city. Two policemen also get murdered, leaving the police baffled. Gauri becomes quiet and withdrawn and often experiences hallucinations.
She is taken to a doctor who is not able to cure her, then to a tantrik who says she is possessed and tries to exorcise her by beating her to which her parents object.

Rao visits psychiatrist Dr Debashish, who says Gauri has dissociated personality disorder, and can be treated. One doctor who treats Gauri and his assistant nurse are murdered too. Gauri begins to talk in a manly voice and tells her parents that she is the one who committed the murders in the city. Rao sends his son and mother to their village for safety.

Rao then goes to the police, and inspector Francis, at first dismissive of his statement, then goes to visit Gauri himself. Gauri continues to speak in a manly voice and it is revealed that she is possessed by Babu, the spirit of a psycho killer who was killed in an [[Encounter killing|encounter]] by the police a year back. He possessed Gauri as she passed by a cemetery where he was interred. Francis was the policeman who killed Babu. A shocked Francis goes to his superior commissioner who assigns him leave and rubbishes the claims. Francis later kills his wife and shoots himself, apparently possessed by a spirit.

Debashish is called to visit Gauri but is also shocked when Babu speaks to him in the voice of his dying mother. Commissioner and Debashish meet Babu and are not able to deny the reality now. Babu says he will never leave Gauri's body and will continue to commit murders, with the help of other spirits who committed the other murders in the city on his behalf. The exorcist is approached again and he tells them that there is darkness beyond the light and educated people see only the light, before he too apparently becomes possessed by a spirit and gets killed.

Left with no choice, and the concern that the media will never believe claims of supernatural powers, everyone decides that Gauri must be killed for Babu's spirit to be eliminated before more murders occur. Rao and his wife enter the house, distract Babu and [[Death by burning|immolate]] Gauri, with Debashish and commissioner watching.

The film ends with Debashish writing to his daughter, describing this paranormal incident, saying that there is more to what is unexplainable than rational thinking and the supernatural does exist.

==Cast==

*[[Mithun Chakraborty]] as Debu<ref name=mithun/>
*[[Krishna Gautam]] as Gauri
*[[Flora Saini]] as Maya D'Souza, D'Souza's wife <ref name=dnaindia/>
*[[Manav Kaul]]<ref name=dnaindia/> as Encounter Specialist Francis D'Souza
*[[Makarand Deshpande]]<ref name=dnaindia/> as Rao
*[[Divya Jagdale]] as Gauri's mother
*[[Ashish Vidyarthi]]<ref name=topleadindia>{{cite web |url=https://topleadindia.com/2020/07/03/ram-gopal-varmas-horror-film-12-o-clock-trailer-out/ |title=Ram Gopal Varma's horror film 12 'o' Clock stars Mithun Chakraborty, Makrand Deshpande. Trailer out |work=Top Lead India |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=10 July 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713032731/https://topleadindia.com/2020/07/03/ram-gopal-varmas-horror-film-12-o-clock-trailer-out/ |url-status=live}}</ref> as Baba
*[[Ali Asgar (actor)|Ali Asgar]] as Doctor<ref name=topleadindia/>
*Jasbir Thandi as Clerk
*[[Dalip Tahil]] as Commissioner <ref>{{Cite web |last=Chittora |first=Piyush |date=7 January 2021 |title=12 'O' Clock Movie Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And More To Know About |url=https://www.moviespie.com/entertainment/films/12-o-clock-movie-release-date-cast-trailer-plot-and-more-to-know-about/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107054010/https://www.moviespie.com/entertainment/films/12-o-clock-movie-release-date-cast-trailer-plot-and-more-to-know-about/ |archive-date=7 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Moviespie}}</ref>

==Production==
As [[Mithun Chakraborty]] visited [[Ram Gopal Varma]] to wish him on his birthday,<ref>{{cite news |title=Photos: Poonam Pandey, Mithun and family at RGV's birthday bash |url=http://www.mid-day.com/photos/photos-poonam-pandey-mithun-and-family-at-rgvs-birthday-bash/12957/148667 |access-date=5 May 2017 |publisher=[[Mid-Day]] |archive-date=12 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512201004/http://www.mid-day.com/photos/photos-poonam-pandey-mithun-and-family-at-rgvs-birthday-bash/12957/148667 |url-status=live}}</ref> rumours surfaced that RGV is making a film with Chakraborty in the lead, but RGV rubbished the rumours saying he is making a film with [[Abhishek Bachchan]] after ''[[Sarkar 3]]'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Ram Gopal Varma refutes rumors of Mithun Chakraborty signing his next movie |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/exclusives/376140/ram-gopal-varma-refutes-rumors-mithun-chakraborty-signing-his-next |access-date=5 May 2017 |publisher=Pinkvilla |date=11 April 2017 |archive-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106002857/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/exclusives/376140/ram-gopal-varma-refutes-rumors-mithun-chakraborty-signing-his-next |url-status=live}}</ref> but weeks later he announced the project with Chakraborty, a horror film starring [[Flora Saini]], [[Manav Kaul]] and Makarand Deshpande as well.<ref name=dnaindia>{{cite news |title=Mithun Chakroborty's HORROR ACT in Ram Gopal Varma"s next |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mithun-chakroborty-s-horror-act-in-ram-gopal-varma-s-next-2391794 |access-date=5 May 2017 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=10 April 2017 |archive-date=12 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412200228/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mithun-chakroborty-s-horror-act-in-ram-gopal-varma-s-next-2391794 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lohana |first1=Avinash |title=Ram Gopal Varma to make a horror film with Mithun Chakraborty? |url=http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ram-gopal-varma-to-make-a-horror-film-with-mithun-chakraborty/articleshow/58118876.cms |access-date=5 May 2017 |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |date=11 April 2017 |archive-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505083926/http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ram-gopal-varma-to-make-a-horror-film-with-mithun-chakraborty/articleshow/58118876.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> Actor Amit Sadh was also in consideration for a role.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Team |first1=Hitlist |title=Amit Sadh to star in Ram Gopal Varma's new horror film |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/bollywood-news-amit-sadh-ram-gopal-varma-horror-film-sarkar-3/18170173 |access-date=6 May 2017 |publisher=[[Mid-Day]] |date=17 April 2017 |archive-date=30 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430213723/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/bollywood-news-amit-sadh-ram-gopal-varma-horror-film-sarkar-3/18170173 |url-status=live}}</ref> The principal photography of the film started in mid-April 2019.<ref name=mithun /> Actors [[Ashish Vidyarthi]] and [[Ali Asgar (actor)|Ali Asgar]] joined the project later.<ref name=topleadindia/>

== Reception ==

Archika Khurana of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave the film, a rating of 2 out of 5 and stated "If you get spooked easily, you may not mind this one. However, as a psychological thriller that's focussed on 'one's believes in supernatural activities only when they have faced themselves', '12 'o' Clock' fails to hold your attention for too long and ends up being a bit of a drag."<ref name=Khurana_2021>{{Cite news |last= Khurana|first= Archika |title=12 'O' Clock Movie Review : A bleak psychological thriller |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/12-o-clock/movie-review/80173506.cms |website=The Times of India |date= 8 January 2021|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|10040978}}

{{Ram Gopal Varma}}

[[Category:2021 films]]
[[Category:2021 horror films]]
[[Category:2021 Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian horror films]]
[[Category:2021 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ram Gopal Varma]]
[[Category:Hindi-language horror films]]

12 'O' Clock film - Revision history

TKMD at 15:52, 14 March 2026