New Delhi, May 15 -- Hindi filmmakers are increasingly turning to folk tales and spinning stories based on these legends passed down over generations to widen their audience base. Karan Johar's upcoming Kartik Aaryan-starrerNaagzilla: Naag Lok Ka Pehla Kaandand Maddock Films' horror moviesChamunda andThama, besides its big hitStree 2, are all based on local, cultural stories and folk tales popular among specific communities and regions.

Experts said the need of the hour for the theatrical business to flourish is to reach out to small-town audiences. And while many of these stories may not seem nuanced on paper, they make for compelling storytelling for mass-market viewers. The plot ofStree was based onNaale Baa, a folk legend popular in ...