Namaslay – Movie Review (3/5)

NAMASLAY is a Horror Satire about yoga, political correctness in the name of capitalism, and body types. And yes, it’s a hoot because it’s full of dark comedy without getting too serious. I mean, the title alone should tell you that. Read our full Namaslay movie review here!

NAMASLAY is a Masala Horror Satire – and yes, the “Masala” part is also important, which will be explained as the movie begins. This genre hybrid has a story that begins with the commercialization of yoga and ends as a classic horror movie. Fans of practical effects should also enjoy this one.

You’ll need to stay sharp to catch on to all the little references and digs at trends, but it’s well worth it. For me, the only downfall of this movie is its runtime. The story could and should have been told with a tighter pace. There’s a lull around the end of act two, just before the final act really gets into gear. Still, it is a hoot!

Continue reading our Namaslay movie review below.

Commercialization and appropriation satire

We meet Gayatri soon after she has lost her beloved grandmother, who taught her yoga in its original and pure form. Connecting to nature and feeling your body. Now, in Los Angeles, Gayatri reluctantly agrees to go with her (white) friend Judy to an upscale yoga studio.

At this studio, the owner, Reyna, is thrilled to see someone who isn’t white. She offers Gayatri the chance to become an instructor immediately. In fact, she’s even honest about needing faces that aren’t white, so she can achieve more diversity and, just as important, authenticity for her brand.

I absolutely love how Namaslay bends and blends genres in this horror satire. You could also call it a horror-comedy, but that wouldn’t be as correct. With its delicious satire vibe, it can go hard at both the commercialization and appropriation of yoga.

I don’t think anyone will be surprised to learn that, in some places, yoga has almost turned into an MLM scheme. The kind of place where you have to buy one specific outfit, buy at least one book from the studio, and possibly even become an instructor, so you can help the yoga studio expand.

Then again, if it isn’t commercialization, then sometimes it’s been used to create an actual cult instead. In a strange turn of events, Namaslay almost manages to do both.

Watch Namaslay in theaters

Namaslay was written and directed by Rish and Kanish (Kanish Arhant-Sudhir & Rish Arhant-Sudhir), who manage to both open our eyes to what’s currently happening in the world of yoga and give us a solid horror-satire.

Kirunthuja Srikanth-Talim plays Gayatri in Namaslay and is the plot’s beating heart. Equally important is Angela Sant’Albano as Gayatri’s friend, Judy. The owner of the yoga studio, Reyna, is portrayed brilliantly by Christina Moore. In key roles are Alicia Mitchell-Mangual, Usha Krishnan, and Lauren Blumenfeld.

I won’t give any spoilers as to how this movie evolves, but it definitely belongs on Heaven of Horror, so you know it will evolve and escalate in wild ways beyond Sun Salutations. Also, you just may learn something along the way.

Officially, the genre is “Masala,” which won’t mean much (other than delicious food) to most genre fans, but you’ll understand when watching this movie. The 112-minute runtime is 15 minutes too much for this genre movie, but it is probably ideal for the Masala vibe.

Namaslay opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on August 6, 2026. It expands nationwide from August 13, 2026.

Details

Directors & Writers: Kanish Arhant-Sudhir & Rish Arhant-Sudhir
Cast: Kirunthuja Srikanth-Talim, Angela Sant’Albano, Alicia Mitchell-Mangual, Usha Krishnan, Christina Moore