Aditya Sarpotdar is the director of Munjya, a 2024 Indian Hindi-language supernatural comedy horror film produced by Maddock Films’ Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik. This is the fourth Maddock Supernatural Universe movie, starring Sathyaraj, Abhay Verma, Mona Singh, and Sharvari. Inspired by Indian mythology and tradition, the film revolves around the legend of Munjya.

A small child named Gotya, who is seven years older than Munni, is determined to marry her in 1952 in the Chiplun village of Konkan. Gotya is compelled to become a pandit by his mother. But when Gotya uses black magic to obtain Munni, his fascination with her takes a sinister turn. Sadly, everything goes wrong, he passes away, and he becomes “Munjya.” Bittu, a member of Gotya’s family, must cope with the nightmare years later. His yearning to be with Munni has returned along with Munjya.

The horror-comedy directed by Aditya Sarpotdar does not mince words. Gotya’s tale sets the tone for all that comes after. Bittu is reintroduced to us years later. You are riveted during the first hour of the build-up, and Aditya has gone above and beyond to make it pleasurable. Munjya is humorous in addition to being eerie and disturbing. However, some sequences will undoubtedly frighten you if you’re someone who shies away from scary movies. I cherished them.

This intriguing movie explores themes of terror, dark magic, love, and addiction. This can all be done in two hours. The film stays true to its main idea throughout, even with so many different aspects. I liked their friendship even if Munjya turned Bittu’s life upside down. Though at times unsettling, even the most terrifying sequences are masterfully done.

Everything comes together in the second hour, but not before there is a great deal of mayhem and additional supernatural components. Aditya adheres to the standard horror film formula, which includes an abandoned location, a figure like a parent capturing the demon, and—because it is set in India—the use of a goat. But because the idea is original, the whole experience is memorable and unique.

The Munjya movie’s setting in the Konkan area of Maharashtra is another aspect I adored. The tragedy is hidden amid the stunning water and verdant surroundings. My cousins used to tell me scary stories about locations like these when I was a child. Aditya’s film seemed to be one of those tales brought to life for a large screen audience. I don’t want to reveal the movie’s genius by talking too much about the narrative or plot. It’s an experience to have firsthand. However, it was great to behold such a masterful fusion of humor and terror on a large screen.

As the shy and anxious Bittu, Abhay Verma excels, adding a charming element to a tale meant to frighten you. Abhay has a great connection with the CGI-created Munjya, and he gives Bittu just the appropriate mix of bravado and dread. In her role as Bela, Sharvari Wagh gives a strong performance. She doesn’t appear much in the first hour, but in the second, she steals the show. Whatever position you assign Mona Singh, she will excel in it. Mona doesn’t have anything particularly noteworthy to give as Pammy. Yet, her fiery demeanor and speech make you fall in love with her.

S Sathyaraj portrays a guy who exorcises ghosts and demons. Fortunately, he doesn’t play a harsh parent or a babas as most horror movie characters do. The character’s ridiculousness is what makes it funny. The remaining members of the cast perform admirably the entire time.

The director of Zombivli, Aditya Sarpotdar, knew exactly what he intended to reveal and how much of it. In a horror comedy, the humor element usually wins out. Aditya, on the other hand, has expertly balanced it, frequently keeping you anxious about what may come next. I really like the director’s decision to forgo using repeated jump scares in an attempt to heighten the eerie aspect. The fact that Munjya, the bad character in the film, has a great sense of humor is something else I really enjoyed. The fact that Munjya is entirely computer-generated imagery and has an eerie appearance also makes me happy. The figure has a shrieking voice to add to its vileness.

Good music is essential for films in this genre. Fortunately, the loud background music significantly contributes to the story’s increased sense of dread. There is just one lovely song in the film, “Tainu Khabar Nahi.”

Munjya is an excellent, well-made, and fun watch all around. The performances are outstanding, the terror is superb, and the evil thing adds more humor than any human character. The VFX and CGI work well. Maddock Films has been treating a horror genre enthusiast like me to amazing stories with Stree, Bhediya, and now Munjya. In recent years, there has been a significant decrease in the quantity of terrifying Hindi films. What if, one day, even they cease repeating such stories? That is my biggest concern. Enjoy this eerie treat in theaters if you’re a fan of the genre.

PS: The film concludes with a unique dance performance. Wait until the very end to see the unexpected surprise before leaving the theater.

An impressive 3.5 stars!