A Death In The Gunj Review - The Most Disappointing Part is the Death

A Death In The Gunj is director Konkona Sen Sharma’s inner knack for telling stories play out on screen. It’s set in McCluskiegunj, where family gathers. Drinks are shared, people laugh, talk, say abusive words a lot and ultimately have sex. An ensemble cast of Vikrant Massey, Jim Sarbh, Tanuja, Kalki Koechlin, the late Om Puri and Ranvir Shorey has been set up skilfully by Konkona

To say A Death In The Gunj is a good film or a bad film, isn’t quite right. It doesn’t leave you with the sheer hatred that films like Dilwale did, but neither does it leave you with the love, the whole feeling of Dangal. In other words, it makes you feel odd. And that’s the biggest accomplishment of Konkona. This film isn’t meant to be the enlightenment that the country needs, nor is it trying to be. The camera angles and the narrative are such that you’re made to feel like you’re right there with the rest of the characters, you’re just another part of the family.

The cast are the best. Simple. Vikrant Massey is skillful as the lost, wandering puppy who is Shutu. Kalki Koechlin captures the hatred of Mimi and her sheer jealousy of Ranvir Shorey’s character’s new wife perfectly. Ranvir Shorey is also fantastic as the devil incarnate. Tanuja and Om Puri make for a good pairing. They have good chemistry and Tanuja speaks her dialogues like she is indeed the owner of the home. They’re all comfortable around each other, just like a family should be. The environment that Konkona creates makes you feel like you’re another friend or cousin of these people.

Vikrant Massey and Arya Bakshi, who plays the little girl Tani, have the best chemistry. He’s not interested in the matters and affairs of an adult so he hangs out with her.

They’re cute together and he unleashes a good side of himself. A nice, loving man who has the undertones of a psychopath. The film is slow-paced and is set over seven days. On the seventh day, as you guessed it, there’s a death in this gunj. I have to say, this was the most disappointing part of the film. I can’t and won’t tell you who dies but I hate that it was so predictable. I know Konkona is following the text of a short story written by her father, Mukul Sharma, but a little change in who dies could’ve given this film a better impression in my books. But, the directorial debut of Sharma is smart, biting, twisted and lovely. It’s hard to say ‘Don’t miss it’, because it has a really limited release.

On a scale of 1 to 5, Death In The Gunj gets a 4 star rating. It’s a nice film, it will leave you incomplete however due to its climax, but don’t miss it. The sets are well done, the acting from Vikrant especially is great, and how comfortable all of them are with each other just adds another layer to the film. It’s a nicely executed one from Konkona.