Movie Musings - Marathi Movie - Manjha [2017]

This is a note by someone who does not watch commercial Indian cinema regularly and does not look forward to thriller / horror stories even in the books that she reads……

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There was an audible sigh of relief when the word ‘Interval’ appeared on the screen. The tension in the auditorium was palpable. As the lights turned on, hardly anyone moved out of their seats immediately.As the audience stirred slowly, I noticed in the seats around me, it was a few questions I kept hearing ‘Is this a horror movie?’ What do you think is going to happen next?’ The answers I heard and my own guess, was definitely not how the movie played out. I cannot think of anything that could be a better barometer to judge the pace and tempo of a film.

It is a story line that could tug the emotional strings anywhere in the world, not necessarily in India. Undoubtedly, the only thought that would have played on every audiences’ mind during the interval would have been one of protecting an impressionable adolescent from being way laid and wasted.

The two young boys have essayed their roles to perfection.

One boy whose transformation trajectory from..

—an awkward, gangly, tongue tied teenager uncomfortable in his own skin

..to..

—one who gains that bit of awareness and confidence

..to..

—one who has a clear perception of right and wrong

..to..

—one who musters the courage to play the game changer

Hats off to the young director who extracted that performance out of an able young actor.

The other boy was the surprise package! The utterly charming kid everyone would have wished for as their own to the precise manipulator with all his charm intact - was purely a visual portrayal without a change in character. Superb work again by the director and the young actor.

Post the interval too, the story flowed on with the right mix of thrill of spine chilling suspense, emotion and pace. A well knit story, the drama kept the audience fully engaged.

While I fully realise the enormity of the task of telling a story within a time frame, I did feel that the ending was a little too quick and played down the seriousness of the issue - one of confronting a psychopath in everyday life. Putting myself in the shoes of the mother, I would think unlikely that my demeanour would have switched to one of calm and reason within a few minutes of the culmination of a high risk situation. A little later maybe, but so immediately, given the dangers of the presence of such a person?… Could the last bit about the psychiatric help been mentioned in a subsequent scene?

But perhaps it ended this way because there is a sequel in mind! The story does have the potential!

All said, It is a superb film! Hearty congratulations to the entire team for putting out an immensely watchable film!

Wishing you all the very best!

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A note to Trilok Malhotra of India Stories