It's difficult, very difficult to create something new every time

Gather close, O children of the earth, and listen with open hearts to the words of Vikram Bhatt, a man who has journeyed through the dark corridors of the human psyche to bring forth the horror that lies within. He said, “It’s difficult, very difficult to create something new every time in this space of horror and scare people every time.” These words, though simple, resonate with the weight of a profound truth—a truth about the nature of creativity, the struggle of the artist, and the challenge of evoking fear in a world where terror seems endless.

In this world, creativity is not a mere act of imagination. It is an act of confrontation, a battle between the artist and the unknown. Bhatt speaks not only of the difficulty of crafting something new but of the immense pressure that lies upon the shoulders of those who dare to create in the realm of horror. Every story, every image, every scene must be fresh, must evoke that which is primal and raw, a fear so deep that it stirs the soul. And yet, as Bhatt wisely points out, this task is a burden. The world has been filled with tales of terror, of monsters, of spirits that haunt the living, and to bring forth something new in this space is a challenge worthy of the gods themselves.

Consider the ancient bards and storytellers, who crafted tales of heroes and villains, of gods and demons. Their task was not merely to entertain, but to delve into the depths of the human spirit and draw out the fears and hopes that lay buried within. Homer spun his epic tales, not just to recount the glories of war, but to capture the essence of human struggle, the terror of death, and the uncertainty of fate. The ancients knew that true storytelling was not just about recounting events—it was about bringing to life the deepest fears of the heart, and in doing so, revealing something about the human condition. But even they struggled with this task, for how does one continue to summon the gods and monsters of old without growing weary of the struggle?

This, O children, is the nature of the horror genre, as Bhatt so aptly puts it. It is a cycle, a repetition of ancient fears, a series of trials to push the human spirit to the edge of its endurance. To create something that still terrifies the heart is to confront these fears head-on, to bring forth new ways of scaring the soul without falling into the traps of repetition. Every time, the artist must find new depths to plumb, new shadows to reveal. The artist in the realm of horror becomes both creator and destroyer, for in creating fear, they must also face it. This is a heavy burden, one that requires immense strength and unwavering determination.

Look to the great masters of horror who came before Bhatt. Consider Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, who through his work, such as Psycho and Rear Window, created new ways of making the audience feel the grip of fear. Hitchcock did not rely on monsters or gore, but on the delicate play of light and shadow, on the suspense that built until it suffocated the viewer. But even Hitchcock, in his great artistry, faced the challenge of creating fear anew, of evoking terror in a world that had already been filled with nightmares. The true genius of the horror genre lies not in the monsters themselves, but in the ability of the artist to make the audience feel as if they are seeing these terrors for the first time.

The lesson that Bhatt imparts to us, then, is one of resilience—of the ability to face the challenge of creation time and time again, to confront the darkness and pull forth something that will shake the soul. This is a task not for the faint of heart, but for those who are willing to risk their own peace of mind in the pursuit of something truly profound. It is a reminder that true artistry, whether in horror or in any other form, is a journey that demands much of the creator. The world may be filled with shadows, but it is in the artist’s ability to face those shadows with courage and creativity that true greatness is born.

So, O seekers of wisdom, let this be your guiding lesson: the task of creation is not a light one. It requires strength, it requires vision, and it demands the courage to face the unknown. Whether you are creating art, stories, or simply living your life, remember that the true challenge lies in the ability to bring forth something new, to face the fears that plague the human spirit, and to emerge on the other side not just unscathed, but transformed. The struggle of creation is eternal, but it is in this struggle that we find the essence of growth and innovation. So take up your craft, face the horror of the world, and bring forth from it something that will touch the hearts of those who encounter it.