 "'Munjya': Decoding the folklore this horror-comedy is based on and meeting India's first CGI actor")
Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films have always believed in the idea of flirting with ambitious narratives, brimming with imagination and inventiveness. They are the pioneers of horror- comedy universe that has become extremely successful and popular over the years. Stree and Bhediya were lauded for their concept and contagious characters that stayed with audiences. They are now expanding the universe with another film called Munjya.
Fun with folklore
And just like Stree and Bhediya, there’s fun to be had in a new folklore this horror-comedy grapples with. To give the credit where it’s due first, this theme, based on the story by Yogesh Chandekar, has never been attempted before in Hindi film landscape. Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and written (dialogue and screenplay) by Niren Bhatt, Munjya is a tale all the way from the mysterious and marvelous Konkan coast. The rich visuals only add extravagance and eeriness to a story that deserves to be seen. And the eponymous hero is India’s first CGI central character.
Niren Bhatt on what the film is about
Talking to Mid-day, Bhatt said, “In a man’s life, there are traditionally considered to be four stages: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retirement, originally involving leaving the city to live in a forest), and Sannyasa (renunciation). The Upanayan or Thread Ceremony, known as Munja in Marathi, marks the initiation of a child into the student phase. Sod Munja is another ceremony, usually performed as part of marriage rituals, signifying the end of the student phase and the beginning of the Grihastha phase.”
The writer added, “If a man dies unmarried after his munja has been performed but before his Sod Munja, he becomes a Munjya: A spirit who resides in peepal trees or near wells.”
The Peepal trees release large amount of carbon dioxide after the dark and the fear of Munjya discouraged people to sit under them after sunset.
Who is a Munjya?
Bhatt told the publication, “He is a monster but a child because he died young. He bothers people to fulfill his desires, and usually wants to get married. Munjyas aren’t typically malicious; just juvenile, petty nuisance. They really seem to like pelting stones at those standing underneath trees.”
Exploring fascinating landscapes
Stree, in 2018, popularized the landscape of Chanderi, which was largely an unknown and unexplored land. Bhediya did the same with the sprawling jungles of North East, which added more nuance and depth to the story of the film. It’s time for the valleys of the Konkan to sparkle their magic on the audience when the film opens in cinemas on June 7.