MUMBAI: One of the year's most unexpected hits is "Munjya." The movie debuted on June 7 and is currently enjoying its fourth fantastic week at the box office. Aditya Sarptodkar, the film's director, is on the verge of breaking the Rs 100 crore milestone in India, even though it consistently faces competition from blockbuster releases. Built with a roughly Rs 30 crore budget, its success depends only on its content.
Also read: Munjya crosses 100 cr in India; Mona Singh celebrates the success with her family in Turkey
'Stree' is the biggest earning movie, and the fourth instalment in Maddock's supernatural universe is now the second highest. It's a clear indication of the audience's acceptance of 'rooted' stories, according to Aditya.
He said,"There are two-three major takeaways for us. First, the film is very different. It is not your cliché Hindi Film Industry films which have been released in the last few months. It seems fresh and out- of-the-box and doesn't follow any template or a trope. It blends itself with horror-comedy and people have an appetite for such kinds of films. I don't think that, after 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', any horror comedy has worked in theatres and it's a pretty massive gap. I don't think people also watch everything that is available on OTT.”
Based on a Konkan folktale, "Munjya" is an Indian mythology that tells the story of a soul of a teenage guy who yearns to fulfil unfulfilled aspirations. Aditya claimed that the film's narrative, which speaks to the audience's present feelings, is its greatest USP. The director stated that he was careful not to include any "formula" in the story and that the outcome is visible to everyone.
"One thing that has really worked in our favour is that we have stayed true to the narrative and the story by not diluting it with trade logic like 'you need to have a star or a known face', 'you need to have an x number of songs' or that 'you need to have a very popular narrative rather than a regional one'. Our language is local, our characters are very local, our casting is also local, and our story is very rooted. So, all of that is pretty unconventional and not your quintessential 'industry-like'," he further added.
Therefore, "Munjya" has demolished a lot of Hindi Film industry prejudices in a way. It doesn't have a very impressive cast, and it doesn't draw attention with a seductive dance sequence. Essentially, it's a regional tale, driven by three unassuming performers who steal the show: Sharvari Wagh, Mona Singh, and Abhay Verma. "It seems like we have broken many Hindi Film Industry’s stereotypes. What else could be the reason behind the film working so well despite the other releases? We are not a big-budgeted spectacle. Why is it that we have crossed Rs 100 crore at the box office?" Aditya said.
'Munjya's' ability to let viewers return home is another feature that has greatly benefited from it. This is Aditya's first truly successful movie, and he said he could accurately predict the emotions of the audience. In his opinion, 'Munjya' serves as a link between the desire for indigenous storytelling and the experiences gained elsewhere.
The director explained his perception, "The audience has become global. They are consuming products and experiences from different parts of the world. They watch K-dramas, K-pop, British and American shows, and everything else which is available to them. We have become global in both our choices, outlook and reach. What is it that we are now going towards and hoping to achieve?"
He further said, "In the '80s and the '90s, we would want to watch films showing us Switzerland and these foreign places. That was our aspiration. We wanted to go there and live that kind of life. We wanted that larger-than-life experience for ourselves. Today, we have people living those lives. The audience can access all these places. They are going abroad and living that life. What is the aspiration now then? It is to go back to the roots. I meet so many people who work, and they are always excited to talk about their hometowns, to get back to their hometowns. They want to see their culture and pass that on to the next generation. They miss that, and they want that representation in cinema."
A week after "Munjya" hit theatres, a far larger movie titled "Chandu Champion" with an incredible hero and director debuted. Even though there were shared screens, Munjya's run was little affected by this movie's existence. The filmmaker emphasised the same points and discussed the need of a strong trailer as well as the reasons he thought the public's preferences were changing.
He said, "I see a shift. It's not the scale of the promotions that people are going for. People make up their minds after watching the trailer. We got an opening on par with 'Chandu Champion'. We got a weekend bigger than 'Chandu Champion'. What led to this? I think people decided to watch the film the day the trailer came out. Something in the trailer and the poster worked for them. Scale, volume, spending - all of it is great if it's a big film. But, all of it has to be backed by a great trailer for the film to work. If it doesn't have the support of a strong trailer, people do not watch the film."
“Munjya" is now running at a net income of Rs 95.14 crore in India after 25 days of operation. Achieving entry into the Rs 100 crore club is anticipated after enduring the 'Kalki 2898 AD' storm. However, how about crossovers between "Munjya," "Stree," and "Bhediya"? Aditya highlighted that the audience has already seen "Stree 2" in "Munjya" and will now get to see a bit of "Munjya" in "Bhediya 2," in addition to confirming the interesting crossovers that will take place in the future. He concluded by saying,”"We have left the film open-ended. We have shown that Munjya is there and if there's a need for him to come back, he will come back. So, all that is leading to the possibility of a sequel which, in due time, we will work towards. There is definitely a plan for a cross-over. The end-credits scene in 'Bhediya' shows a bit of 'Munjya' and in the 'Munjya' sequel, you might see 'Stree'. All these films are being made to have interesting crossovers. There's this plan that, slowly and steadily, we will bring all these films together and in that progression of how things will pan out, I am sure as more films in this universe release, you will see this crossover happening a lot more.”
“Munjya" may have made a ton of money for its creators and been hailed as a hit at the box office, but its true success was in catering to the family audience. Because it's a clean movie, kids have been drawn to theatres in particular. "Munjya" is a welcome diversion in the age of heavily CGI-laden mass action flicks. It's what movies from the Midwest should and should not stand for.
Also read: Munjya box office day 24: Sharvari and Abhay Varma starrer is still going strong
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