‘Munjya’, running in cinemas near you now, is a perfect blend of comedy, horror, and fantasy.
Director: Aditya Sarpotdar
Actors: Abhay Verma, Sharvari, Mona Singh, Sathyaraj
Producers: Dinesh Vijan, Amar Kaushik
Date of release: 7th June 2024 (India)
Run-time: 123 minutes
Where to watch: At your nearest theatre
The film Munjya begins with the disclaimer that the film does not support or endorse child marriage, black magic, occult practices, superstition, and subjugation. Naturally, you can guess that the film deals in the elements of horror and the supernatural. The film also deals in the elements of comedy, drama, fantasy, and magic; making it an enjoyable and delightful watch with your friends.
Munjya is the fourth film in the Maddock Supernatural Universe, a supernatural horror-comedy film franchise that also consists of films like Stree, Roohi, and Bhediya.
Plot
The film Munjya tells the story of a boy named Bittu who visits his native village in the Konkan region, and unveils a family secret. He learns about how his father died in a tragic accident. In a fit of rage, Bittu visits the spot where his father had died. The spot is on an isolated island called ‘Chetukwadi’ which is supposedly cursed. Bittu then encounters a mischievous and vengeful spirit called Munjya on the island, and falls in his trap.
Things turn wild and turmoil erupts as Munjya refuses to leave Bittu alone, and continues to cling on to him like ‘Vikram and Betaal’. He wants to get married to a certain “Munni”, and constantly troubles and bothers Bittu by asking him to look for Munni. Bittu has to fight several battles to protect himself and his loved ones from the clutches of Munjya. What eventually unfolds is a chaotic and terrifying but humorous story. The film and the central character of the film are based on Indian folklore and mythology.
A few mention-worthy factors about the film that struck me
1. Exceptional background music and score:
We all know the importance of background music in films. The film Munjya boasts of superb background music, accompanying music, and an impactful background score. One should watch this movie in a theatre equipped with Dolby Atmos that further elevates the sound experience. The overall sound quality and aural experience of the film are brilliant. The last Bollywood movies which had such amazing sound quality were Animal and Shaitaan.
2. Outstanding cinematography:
The filmmakers have made brilliant use of camerawork and technology to bring alive the elements of horror and terror on the big screen. The film is visually appealing and the film’s exceptional cinematography does nothing but elevates the overall experience of watching the film in a theatre.
3. Splendid use of VFX, SFX, and CGI:
From a technical point of view, I would say that Munjya is a Bollywood film that is ahead of its time! The filmmakers have created the main character of the film completely through computer-generated imagery. In an interview with PTI, the director Aditya Sarpotdar shared, “Half of the film’s budget went into VFX, a significant allocation underscoring its importance. We meticulously developed a CGI creature through extensive research and development to ensure accuracy”.
4. Refreshing and entertaining plot:
The plot of the film is quite unique and refreshing, and manages to keep you hooked till the end. However, the storyline could have been executed in a better manner. The film explores the genre of horror quite well, considering how most filmmakers in Bollywood end up turning their films into ridiculous and forced comedies, thus killing the element of horror in their films.
5. Commendable acting performances:
All the actors, including Abhay Verma and Sharvari, have performed well in the film. One of the film’s redeeming qualities is the engaging performances that make the film a worthy watch, especially for those who are seeking a horror-comedy experience set in a contemporary and youthful atmosphere.
6. Crisp direction, narrative, and screenplay:
Besides excelling in the technical departments, especially in VFX, CGI, and SFX, the movie boasts of crisp editing. The film is well-paced and does not bore you for even a moment. The film will tickle your stomach at one point, and will unintentionally try to get the better of you at another point.
For instance, when I watched Shaitaan, I felt that the scenes in which Vanraj Kashyap (played by R. Madhavan) was trying to torment and harm Janvi (played by Janki Bodiwala) and her family members were getting repetitive. Similarly, in this film, there are moments when Munjya torments and bothers Bittu so much that he desperately wants him to get off his back. The filmmakers had the scope to turn these scenes into a repetitive and monotonous show, but they didn’t; and that is a plus point about the film.
7. Abhay Verma’s Harry Potter look in the film:
I liked Abhay Verma’s look in the film, which resembles the look of Harry Potter. In fact, the film reminded me of the Harry Potter films quite often, as the film makes extensive use of fantasy and magic. In the film, Bittu (played by Abhay Verma) also uses a wand-like object to combat and tackle the evil spirit Munjya. The wand and Bittu’s rimmed glasses constantly reminded me of the Harry Potter films.
8. Outrageous and horrific climax that does not underwhelm:
The climax of Munjya is a terrific show of horror and fantasy but the climax does not disappoint or underwhelm. Most good Hindi movies often tend to have a climax that just does not satisfy the viewers, but this film’s climax makes you want to get the film off your back as desperately as Bittu wants to get Munjya off his back.
Overview
On the whole, Munjya strikes a decent balance between trying to scare you and trying to make you laugh. The film is a perfect amalgamation of horror and comedy, bearing in mind how it is never easy to handle horror, or comedy, or both, in a Bollywood movie! Munjya is a theatrical experience, and deserves a watch for its originality and genuineness. It is a breather of a film.
My rating: This film is a solid 5-starrer for me!
Afterword
At the end, there is an item song featuring Sharvari. Please do not miss the post-credit scene after the item number for a special surprise. Varun Dhawan fans, assemble here fast, as “Bhasky” from Bhediya appears to steal your hearts!
Happy watching! Make sure you also grab some popcorn!
You can also read my review of Munjya on Letterboxd here.