Munjya, directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, is a horror-comedy film that attempts to combine various intriguing elements. The film is set in present-day Pune and revolves around the legends of a child demon-cum-monster named Munjya. Here’s a detailed review of the film:
Storyline
The film opens with a Marathi folklore from Maharashtra’s Konkan region, featuring a CGI ghost-like figure that lacks the necessary terror. The story commences in 1952 when a young Brahmin boy named Goya yearns to marry Munni, who is seven years older than him. Despite his family’s disapproval, he performs certain rituals in the jungle, resulting in his tragic demise. He is buried under a tree, and his spirit, Munjya, resides in the peepal trees in the deadly place called chetuk-baari.
Fast forward to present-day Pune, where a geeky college student named Bittu (Abhay Verma) works at a salon with his mother, Pammi (Mona Singh). He harbors feelings for his childhood friend, Bella (Sharvari), who is involved with an Englishman, Kuba. Bittu is plagued by nightmares and hears muffled voices from the haunted peepal tree. He and his family visit their ancestral village, where Bittu learns about his father’s past and the family’s history with Munjya. Bittu’s life takes an unexpected turn when he is trapped by Munjya, leading to a hilarious series of events.
Performances
The performances of the actors are noteworthy. Abhay Verma seamlessly fits into his character, displaying a perfect blend of fear and courage. There’s an eerie camaraderie between Bittu and Munjya, and while some scenes between them are disturbing, there’s something endearing about these two. Taran Singh as Bittu’s friend Diljit adds a heavy dose of laughter with his jokes. Sharvari delivers a decent performance in the beginning and shines only in the second half. Mona Singh is magical as a protective mother, displaying typical traits and excellent comic timing. Suhas Joshi, a veteran, has the most endearing screen presence, especially in her scenes with Abhay. S Sathyaraj enters as the savior, Elvis Karim Prabhakar, who claims to free people from evil spirits by chanting ‘hallelujah’. His character is a bit caricature-ish yet not insane like tantrik babas, adding to the comedic element without disappointing.
Direction and Screenplay
The direction by Aditya Sarpotdar is commendable, as he manages to balance the horror and comedy elements effectively. The screenplay by Niren Bhatt, backed by Yogesh Chandekar, delivers a fast-paced and engaging first half, while the second half maintains the same pace, bringing all the pieces together. Saurabh Goswami’s cinematography adds to the spooky settings, especially the aerial shots of the village, the peepal tree, and the stunning beach leading to it.
Conclusion
Munjya is a unique blend of love, obsession, possession, black magic, and horror. It may not be the perfect horror comedy, but it offers something new, something old, and something to laugh about. Be sure to stay till the end credits for the song and the surprise reveal that links Munjya to its cousins in the horror comedy franchise.
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