A Death in the Gunj
Konkona Sen-Sharma’s directorial debut, A Death in the Gunj may be packaged like a whodunit but is a lot more than just that. Prior to the film’s release, the actress-filmmaker had shared that it was loosely inspired from the stories her father narrated to her as a child. Set in 1979 in McCluskieganj, this mystery revolves around a family vacation that doesn’t exactly go as planned. The ensemble cast comprises Tilottoma Shome, Gulshan Devaiah, Vikrant Massey, Kalki Koechlin, Ranvir Shorey and Jim Sarbh. The film delivers as a classic mystery and lulls the audience into a world where one is always uncertain about the events to follow. It helps significantly that cinematographer Sirsha Ray translates Sen-Sharma’s vision closely and intuitively, much like an artist’s impression. A Death in the Gunj has to be Massey’s most compelling performance. In the film, Massey slips into the protagonist Shuttu, who is also used as a vehicle to convey the flipside of being quietly repressed.The film’s ending received divided opinions but for those who love a touch of fantasy and the atmosphere of an old school mystery, this one’s a must-watch. If you haven't wanted this flick yet, see it on Amazon Prime Video.Alright, that's the lost and found film for today's podcast. I shall be back again with another film or show that turned out to be a hidden gem. Until next time, it's your host Nikhil outta here.
