Munjya Review: Exciting Blend of Horror and Comedy!

MUNJYA

Producers- Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushiik

Director- Aditya Sarpotdar

Cast- Sharvari Wagh, Abhay Verma, Mona Singh, Suhas Joshi, Satyaraj and Taran Singh

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating:

By Jyothi Venkatesh

Munjya is a film that draws inspiration from traditional Marathi folklore and Indian beliefs. The plot revolves around a young man’s (Abhay Verma) visit to his native village, where he uncovers a family secret and a vengeful spirit, Munjya.

To put it in a nutshell, Munjya is an interesting film that tackles the themes of love, obsession, black magic, and horror, all in 2 hours. Despite so many elements, the movie never drifts away even for a minute from the primary premise.

Way back in 1952, in Konkan’s Chiplun village, a young boy named Gotya is adamant that he wants to marry a girl named Munni, who is seven years older than him. However, Gotya’s mother forces him to become a pandit. However, Gotya’s obsession with Munni takes an evil turn as he turns to black magic to get her.

Sadly, things backfire, and he dies only to turn into ‘Munjya’. Years later, Bittu, who comes from Gotya’s family, has to deal with the horror. Munjya is back, and so is his desire to be with Munni.

Horror-comedy as a genre hasn’t been explored much in our Hindi films until producer Dinesh Vijan refurbished it with Stree in 2018 and since then the genre garnered social acceptance. He also introduced his own horror-verse with Roohi (2021), Bhediya (2022) and now with Munjya, he steps into the world of Konkan folklore.

Also read: Director Aditya Sarpotdar: “I learned about Munjya through local stories and family anecdotes”

Bittu visits his ancestral house with his widowed mother Pammi (Mona Singh), a small-time beautician and accidentally enters an adjacent cursed island. Bittu secretly loves his childhood friend Bela (Sharvari), a Zumba professional. Munjya, the child demon finds his way to marry his love Munni through Bittu.

As far as performances are concerned, Abhay Verma delivers a natural as well as delightful performance as Bittu, convincingly portraying the character’s fear and at the same time also excelling in comedic scenes. Sharvari complements him well as Bela.  Mona Singh as Bittu’s fiery Punjabi mother, Pammi, and also Kattappa fame S. Sathyaraj as the quirky godman, does win you over as actors, but it is Suhas Joshi who impresses you.

At a time when the number of scary Hindi movies has gone down drastically in the past few years, films like Stree, Bhediya, and now Munjya, will make a horror genre fan more satisfied and delirious with a tremendously exciting story. It is definitely the triumph of the director Aditya Sarpotdar, who has made several A-grade films in Marathi.