In a year marked by cinematic flops, the Hindi horror comedy “Munjya,” directed by Marathi filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar, has emerged as an unprecedented success. Surpassing the Rs 100-crore mark, Munjya has become only the third film this year—after Fighter and Shaitaan—to achieve such a feat. The film, led by newcomer Abhay Verma, encapsulates a unique blend of Maharashtrian cultural elements, bringing regional folklore to the national stage and resonating profoundly with audiences.
“What worked is that Munjya’s narrative was rooted in local Maharashtrian folklore. The story and the character were unique,” Sarpotdar disclosed. “When I visited theatres, most people said they were waiting to watch a movie that did not follow the storytelling template.”
The origins of Munjya lie in the traditional folklore of a mischievous Brahmin boy who becomes a spirit after his death and takes residence in a peepal tree. This storyline, with its rich cultural underpinnings, set the film apart from the conventional horror comedies that typically populate cinemas. Sarpotdar, who has previously garnered acclaim for his Marathi films like Faster Fene (2017) and Zombivli (2022), decided to bring this culturally enriched narrative to the Hindi film industry, reiterating his belief that content should always take precedence over everything else.
“A Rs 100-crore film definitely sets the bar high. This gives us confidence to continue making films where the story and plot are the stars, where talent is preferred over star value, and where the scale is secondary to the story’s emotional connect. I’ve made over eight feature films in Marathi. I want to follow the way I have been making films all along.” These strong sentiments from Sarpotdar highlight a growing trend in the film industry where content quality is increasingly valued over star power.
Celebrating the breakthrough, his peers from the Marathi film industry came together to acknowledge this collective victory. Sarpotdar remarked, “As filmmakers from the Marathi film industry, we’ve always supported each other.
. We know how difficult it has been to not only make our movies on a bigger scale in Hindi, but also to make a mark in this industry. So, the success of any of our movies is a collective success of the Marathi filmmakers’ community.”
Indeed, Munjya’s success is emblematic of a broader shift within Bollywood—an increasing openness to regional talents and narratives as industry stakeholders come to realize that audiences crave fresh, content-rich stories. “Now, Bollywood is opening up to regional talent as we all are realizing that the audience prefers content over everything else. Regional filmmakers have always prioritized content over star power.”
In light of Munjya’s success, speculation about a sequel naturally arose. The director confirmed that a follow-up is indeed in the works. “We plan to make a fitting sequel,” Sarpotdar confirmed. However, fans will have to wait a little longer as he first plans to expand his creative horizons with a new project. Collaborating with producer Dinesh Vijan, he is set to introduce a romantic horror fantasy titled Vampires of Vijay Nagar, with Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana headlining the cast.
The affirmation of a sequel to Munjya alongside the upcoming Vampires of Vijay Nagar further signifies Sarpotdar’s commitment to diversifying and enriching the horror comedy genre in Indian cinema. With such innovative ventures, he continues to pave the way for other regional filmmakers aspiring to penetrate the Hindi film market.
As Munjya continues to make waves at the box office, it stands as a testament to the power of culturally enriched, content-driven cinema. For Aditya Sarpotdar and his counterparts in the Marathi film industry, it marks a well-deserved recognition that aligns with their longstanding emphasis on storytelling excellence. This triumph, shared by the entire Marathi filmmakers’ community, signals a promising future for regional cinema on the national stage.
