Munjya Film Analysis: Dinesh Vijan’s Newest Horror-Comedy Fails to Deliver Scares or Laughs, Takes a Dive After the First Half-hour

Munjya
Munjya director – Aditya Sarpotdar
Munjya cast – Abhay Verma, Sharvari, Mona Singh, Suhas Joshi, S Sathyaraj, Taran Singh, Bhagyashree
Munjya rating – 2/5

Munjya’ hails from the creators of ‘Stree’ and ‘Bhediya’, known for their unique blend of comedy and supernatural horror. While ‘Stree’ managed to strike a chord better than ‘Bhediya’, both films made an impact. Unfortunately, ‘Munjya’ falls short on delivering genuine humor or spine-chilling moments, despite its reliance on jump scares and a CGI ghost. The film draws inspiration from a Konkan legend featuring ‘munjya’, a spirit of a boy who passed away prematurely, seeking to fulfill unmet desires.

The first half-hour of the two-hour movie had me hooked, following Bittu (Verma) as he returns to his ancestral village with his mother (Mona Singh) and grandmother (Joshi). The encounter with ‘munjya’ adds a tragic twist to the story. However, things take a nosedive after that. One of the intriguing aspects of supernatural stories, for those who enjoy them, is the mystery lurking beneath the surface and the vast unknowns in our world. Teasing clues and glimpses of darkness create tension, building anticipation for the big reveal.

So, in simpler words, the ‘munjya’ in the story loses its scary edge and becomes more of a nuisance than a fright after a surprising turn of events. By trying to make it more like a friendly ghost akin to Casper or perhaps Gollum from ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Munjya’ misses the chance to be a truly unique and sinister character driven by dark desires. Its shift towards being family-friendly leaves it in a middle ground that doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Hey, so in simpler terms, the storyline starts off strong but then starts to wander. There’s a Sardar best friend for the hero who seems to be there just for comic relief. They also introduce an exorcism led by a godman who loves Jesus and delve into Bittu’s romantic entanglement with his old friend Bela and her clumsy foreign boyfriend. The attempt to link the ‘munjya’ with patriarchal themes is noticeable but doesn’t really leave a lasting impact.

You can’t help but empathize with Bittu, who comes across as earnest and bewildered with his curly hair and glasses, played well by Verma. Joshi shines as the grandma who makes ‘puran-poli’. The scenic Konkan backdrop is visually appealing as always. However, the overall film, including Mona Singh as the supportive mother of the young hero, could have benefited from stronger writing to showcase her true potential for a more dynamic character.