Munjya Review: A Delightful Blend of Horror and Comedy in Konkan's Heart

Based on the Maharashtrian folklore of the adoloscent ghost Munjya inhabiting a peepal tree, Maddock's latest addition to its supernatural universe is a tad low on scares but high on entertainment!!

Bittu (Abhay Verma) is stalked by his own ancestral munjya, whose unfinished dream of getting married to his 'Munni' becomes his only claim for redemption. As if that ain't enough, Munjya finds his 'Munni' in Bittu's love interest Bella, who has friendzoned Bittu dear for a firangi dude. Aww, not good!!

After directing some successful Marathi flicks like Faster Fene (2017) and Zombivli (2022), Aditya Sarpotdar attempts a shot at the Maddock supernatural franchise, which started with the surprise hit Stree (2018). While Munjya is not directly related to that world, there is a reference in the end credits sequence with a certain guest appearance. Sarpotdar's execution is truly commendable even as he cleverly draws influence from the famous 'Baba Lagin' line in Mahesh Kothare's Pachadlela (2004).

The performances are first rate. Abhay Verma is totally convincing as the troubled Bittu. Sharvari not just looks pretty but acts equally well. Her dance grooves in the end credit song will leave you spellbound. Mona Singh, Suhas Joshi and Ajay Purkar lend competent support. Sathyaraj (Bahubali's Katappa) impresses even in a small role.

The authentic Konkan locales are pleasing to the eyes. The Marathi tadka used in the movie, works perfectly with the setting. Another positive is the grandmother (Suhas Joshi) bonding, which is so beautifully explored. At one point, my eyes welled up remembering my own dear grandma.

On the flipside, the character of Munjya is entirely CGI generated and isn't that scary enough. While film's first half is a howl, the post interval proceedings tend to lose grip. I enjoyed the crazy climax though!!

To sum up, Munjya is a highly entertaining horror comedy, which will definitely find its target audience. Going by the youngsters cheering loudly at the Sunday matinee show at Inox Nakshatra, Dadar, it is already a hit!!

As for my mandatory rating out of 5, I would place Munjya somewhere in between 3.5 to 4. The movie entertained me thoroughly even with its few flaws. Okie, let me playfully toss a coin. Heads it will be 4, tails 3.5. Scroll down to find out the result...

Ratings on some key aspects* :
1. Acting : 4/5
2. Direction : 4/5
3. Music : 3/5
4. Story, Screenplay and Dialogue : 3.5/5
5. Cinematography : 3.5/5
6. Editing : 3.5/5
7. Costume Design : 3/5
8. Special Effects and VFX : 2.5/5
9. Action : NA
10. Production Quality : 3.5/5

#SNRating for #Munjya : 3 & 1/2 stars out of 5.

- Sumeet Nadkarni

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* - The overall film rating is not a simple average of all ratings on key aspects but a weighted average of the ratings where some crucial aspects (like direction, acting, story and screenplay etc) are assigned more weightage than others.

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#SNRatings barometer:
1 star = Poor
1 & 1/2 star = Below average/ Avoidable
2 stars = Average
2 & 1/2 stars = Above average/ Risk it
3 stars = Good enough/ Endurable
3 & 1/2 stars = Definitely worth a watch
4 stars = Very good
5 stars = Masterpiece/ Outstanding.

2024 SNRatings. 

About Sumeet Nadkarni:

Sumeet Nadkarni is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a self-styled film critic by passion. He reviews Bollywood movies and OTT releases on his popular personal blog #SNRatings. His film-related articles have appeared in leading publications in India. With a keen eye for cinematic detail and a knack for insightful critiques, Sumeet brings a unique perspective to the world of Indian cinema. Follow him for the latest Bollywood insights and unbiased film reviews. #FilmCritique #BollywoodReviewer