The Stranglers of Bombay

The Stranglers of Bombay is a 1959 adventurehorror film directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Films dealing with the British East India Companys investigation of the cult of Thuggee stranglers in the 1830s. The movie stars Guy Rolfe and Jan Holden and, some believe, influenced Steven Spielbergs 1984 film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It may also have influenced The Deceivers, a 1988 film with Pierce Brosnan as the officer determined to put an end to the practice of Thuggee. This film featured a thug named Gopal, whose name is very similar to that of Gopali, a thug in the 1959 version.

Lewis believes a gang is murdering both the men and animals of the caravans and then burying the bodies, and suspects that the culprits have secret informants among the merchants of the city. He presents ConnaughtSmith with his evidence and his theories, but is dismissed. He is also later caught by the Thugees and sentenced to die by the bite of a cobra, but is rescued by a pet mongoose, forcing the cults high priest to release him. However, ConnaughtSmith remains antagonistic and derisive towards Lewis, who eventually resigns his commission in frustration to investigate on his own.Meanwhile, the merchants decide to band together and create a supercaravan whose size, as they believe, will discourage the bandits. Ram Das, Lewis houseboy, believes he has seen his brother, Gopali, who disappeared some years ago, and receives permission to search for him. Lewis later learns that Ram Das has been captured by the Thugs when his severed hand is tossed through the window of his bungalow soon after, the Thugs compel Gopali Das, a new initiate of the cult, to kill his brother. The hidebound Captain ConnaughtSmith leads the caravan and foolishly allows the stranglers in the guise of travellers to join them. That night, the Thugs strike with their usual success ConnaughtSmith survives only until the Thugs start burying the bodies, whereupon he is killed too. ........

Source: Wikipedia