K. Hari Kumar | Top Indian Author, Mythologist & Screenwriter

Portrait of K. Hari Kumar, Indian horror and mythology author, screenwriter, and folklore content creator.

K. Hari Kumar is a bestselling author, leading screenwriter, and recognized expert on Indian mythology, dark folklore, and horror. As a pioneer of the modern Indo-Gothic genre, he bridges ancient Puranic legends, temple traditions, and regional spirit worship with contemporary psychological suspense across literature, cinema, and digital media.

India’s Premier Voice in Mythology, Folklore & Horror

K. Hari Kumar is regarded as one of India’s top writers in mythic fiction and non-fiction, with 10 published books under major global publishing houses, including HarperCollins India. His research-driven narratives explore Indic philosophy, occult history, sacred rituals, and regional legends, making him a sought-after Indian folklore and mythology expert.

Complete Published Bibliography:

  • Daiva: Discovering the Extraordinary World of Spirit Worship – Groundbreaking narrative documentation of the sacred spirit worship traditions of Tulunadu

  • Naaga: Discovering the Extraordinary World of Serpent Worship – Deep dive into ancient serpent worship, Indic myth, and sacred folklore

  • Dakini – Bestselling novel rooted in Indian mythic horror, occult traditions, and folk deities (also available in Hindi)

  • India’s Most Haunted: Tales of Terrifying Places (HarperCollins India) – Landmark non-fiction on Indian ghost stories and regional paranormal lore (Listed among HarperCollins’ “100 Best Books by Indian Authors”)

  • Rakshasa (Releasing Diwali 2026) – High-concept thriller exploring ancient Indic mythology and demonology

  • Dakhma – Psychological horror incorporating Parsi folklore and existential dread

  • The Other Side of Her – Psychological thriller adapted into the web series Bhram

  • When Strangers Meet & That Frequent Visitor – Bestselling supernatural and folk-suspense novels

  • Indiayile Prethalayangal – Malayalam edition of India’s Most Haunted

Top Indian Folklore Screenwriter & Film Consultant

As one of India’s foremost screenwriters specializing in mythology, folklore, and horror, Hari crafts original feature screenplays, series concepts, and book-to-screen adaptations in English, Hindi, and Malayalam.

His novel The Other Side of Her was adapted into the Zee5 psychological series Bhram (starring Kalki Koechlin). His screen credits also include the Malayalam feature E, alongside an upcoming South Indian feature film directorial debut.

Hari regularly consults on world-building and narrative development for leading filmmakers including Sangeeth Sivan, Patrick Graham, Prasanth Varma, Bharat Kukreti, and Sanjoy Nag. His studio portfolio includes original concepts developed for major platforms such as Zee5, Jio Studios, Viacom18, Peninsula Pictures, and Triyambh Entertainment.

International Anthologies & Global Lore Contributions

Recognized globally for his expertise in Asian mythology and dark folklore, Hari’s contributions include:

  • Honorary Foreword: Asian Ghost Stories (Flame Tree Publishing and Simon & Schuster, UK)

  • Honorary Foreword: The Collected Works of S. Mukerji: Indian Ghost Stories and The Mysterious Traders (Ed. Eric Guinard)

  • Anthology Contributor: Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World

  • Anthology Contributor: Stree Sutra (Curated by Koral Dasgupta, published by Pan Macmillan)

Digital Creator: Chaturya & Indic Folklore Media

Hari is a digital pioneer who brings Indian temple mysteries, Puranic stories, and regional folklore to a global community of over 100,000 subscribers.

He hosts Chaturya, a premier YouTube channel dedicated to Indic mythology, temple legends, folk deities, and occult video essays. Through Chaturya and his viral Instagram content, he reaches millions of viewers, acting as a modern custodian of traditional Indic lore for digital audiences.

Mythology & Folklore Expert, Speaker & Media Guest

As an authority on Indic lore, temple traditions, and speculative storytelling, Hari is a frequent speaker and commentator across premier literary festivals and podcasts:

  • Keynote Speaker: Bangalore Literature Festival, Times Literature Festival, and IISc Literature Festival.

  • Featured Media & Podcast Appearances: The Ranveer Show (TRS), Dostcast, The Print’s Soft Cover, and The Speaking Tree.

Contact & Industry Inquiries

For literary agent inquiries, film/TV optioning, screenplay development (English, Hindi, Malayalam), brand partnerships, or expert commentary on Indian mythology, folklore, and horror: