Jun 11, 2024 03:19 PM
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Horror and comedy are a rare blend in Indian cinema. If executed perfectly, the film becomes a hit amongst both critics and cinephiles. Munjya is a bold take, especially with new actors and an unusual storyline. However, the storytelling falls short at critical moments and the actors could not do much about it.
A horror-comedy with supernatural elements isn't a new concept. Despite Niren Bhatt's screenplay and dialogues and Aditya Sarpotdar's direction, the film fails to remain engaging until the end. As a true horror enthusiast, I would recommend this movie if you're looking for something experimental and moderately entertaining to watch in theaters.
The story takes us back to the 50s where Goya, a young Brahmin boy falls for Munni and wishes to marry her. After his parents disapprove of the marriage, he performs some rituals in the jungle but tragically dies there, and is buried under a tree.
Cut short today, Bittu(Abhay Verma) with his mother, Pammi(Mona Singh) visits his grandmother’s(Suhas Joshi) village in Konkan. There he starts to hear unnatural voices from a peepal tree which is supposedly haunted by a ghost named Munjya. Bittu is trapped with Munjya as he is the only one who can see the ghost.
The story evolves as Bittu discovers secrets about the village, his father, and their connection with ‘chetuk baari’ where Munjya lives. It is revealed that the ghost can only be seen by somebody who belongs to its bloodline. What follows is a hilarious and gripping story as we see where Bittu’s and Munjya’s chemistry takes them.
The story was well-paced and revealed just enough in parts to keep the film engaging. However, I felt the actors’ performances deserved a better story. Munjya was a good work by CGI artists and the screeching voice made him a little terrifying. Supporting actors like Sharvari Wagh and Mona Singh played their characters well and did not drift too far away from the story. Abhay’s role as Bittu was superb and looked natural.
The music and the sound effects gave the little jumpscares, keeping the horror element alive. The film starts well, with too many sub-plots keeping me hooked for the first 30minutes. However, the screenplay and direction do not do justice to what could have been a decent thriller film.
The plot is based in beautiful rural Maharashtra, and the night scenes look realistic. However, I would only give this film 3 stars as it disappoints in the second half. If you love Aditya Sarpotdar’s work in Zombivali, it might be worth a watch as a decent attempt to blend comedy with horror.
