In the film Munjya, a large, ominous tree in a forest serves as the backdrop for a thrilling tale. The demon Brahma haunts this tree, attacking and devouring passersby who fail to meet his demands. This fearsome concept, reminiscent of a village legend, resonates strongly with audiences, contributing to the film’s massive success. Made on a budget of ₹30 crore, Munjya has impressively earned ₹130 crore.
The story centers on Bittu (Abhay Verma), a hairdresser with a deep-seated fear of the tree. Bittu returns to his ancestral village for his sister’s engagement, only to discover that his father died at the hands of the demon Munjya. In a surge of emotion, Bittu confronts the tree, leading to tragic consequences as his grandmother Geeta (Suhas Joshi) dies while trying to save him. The demon Brahma then targets Bittu, even following him to the city where he intends to marry Munni. However, upon seeing Bittu’s beloved Bella, the demon decides he wants her for himself. The film explores how Bittu and his friend Spielberg deal with the demon and the quest to save Bella.
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While the story itself is straightforward, the film excels in bringing folktales to life with modern technology, creating a thrilling and humorous experience. The director takes a bit of time to set up the world of Bittu before diving into the main plot, but once the family reaches Konkan, the film delivers a roller coaster of emotions and laughs.
Hungama Vadupubba, who teams up with Spielberg to tackle Munjya, provides comedic relief. The film’s highlight is a surprising twist where the demon desires Bittu’s beloved Bella instead of Munni, leading to a series of humorous situations. The movie is engaging throughout, with notable scenes including Padri (Sathyaraj) attempting to trap Munjya’s soul in a goat.
Munja also teases a potential sequel, linking to the ‘Maddock Supernatural Universe,’ which includes films like Stree, Bedia, and Roohi. The film’s cast, including Abhay Varma, Sharvari, Sathyaraj, and Taranjot Singh, delivers strong performances despite being relatively unknown to Telugu audiences. The film’s technical aspects, especially the VFX for Brahmarakshas, are impressive. Director Aditya Sarpotdar effectively brings Yogesh Chandekar’s story to life, making Munjya a standout supernatural thriller. and this movie Currently streaming only in Hindi and English languages on Disney+Hotstar platform.
