Latest news with #AdityaSarpotdar
Mint
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sharvari celebrates one year of her film Munjya: Thank you to everyone who made it possible
New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) Bollywood actor Sharvari expressed gratitude to the makers of her film "Munjya", as it completed one year of its release on Saturday. Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, the film also featured Abhay Verma and Mona Singh in the lead. It was released in theatres countrywide on June 7, 2024. The film went on to collect over ₹ 100 crore gross at the domestic box office and emerged as a hit. It followed the story of the eponymous mythical creature, which has its roots in Marathi folklore. The 27-year-old actor shared a post on her Instagram handle. "1 year ago, on this day our film #Munjya released. With hope, courage & love we introduced our bundle of happiness & hardwork to the world... Who knew 1 year later we would be here celebrating our superhit film," she wrote. Sharvari said her dance song "Taras" from the film will remain extremely special. #Taras will always be extremely special because it was my first solo song & to experience the love that I receive for it even today is unreal." "Thank you to you all - the audiences who championed our film & gave us so much to look forward to in our careers ahead! This journey would be incomplete without y'all Thank you to each & every one of you who made this possible." "Who knew this scary little creature #Munjya would bring so much love & happiness to my life," she quipped. Sharvari made her acting debut in Kabir Khan's war drama series "The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye" in 2020. She will next appear alongside Alia Bhatt in "Alpha". The film is slated to release on December 25 and is a part of Yash Raj Films' Spy Universe.
NDTV
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
1 Year Of Munjya: How Munjya Broke New Ground In Storytelling With Feet Firm In Folklore
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Munjya is a 2024 Marathi horror-comedy rooted in local folklore and produced by Maddock Films. The film explores themes of family, generational trauma, and healing beyond typical horror-comedy elements. Munjya's story centres on a supernatural entity born from a tragic death after a Brahmin thread ceremony. New Delhi: While some films have blockbusters written all over them from their very first look, some are plain surprises that revive box office, every now and then. Aditya Sarpotdar's horror comedy Munjya, which released on June 7, 2024, was one of them. The film had many of firsts attached to its credit. It made Sharvari an overnight sensation and debutant Abhay Verma (Remember him from The Family Man season two as the young terrorist?) was suddenly on everyone's social media feed. But the one who truly stole the show was Munjya himself, the CGI-generated titular character. Production banner Maddock Films has put all its might behind its ever-expanding horror-comedy universe since the release of 2018's Stree, the first film in the franchise. Suddenly, viewers were became curious about stories rooted in Indian folklore. While Stree delved into the tale of the legendary Nale Ba from the 1990s Karnataka region, Munjya had its roots in Marathi folklore. It follows the story of the the birth of the eponymous mythical creature Munjya. In comparison to its other horror-comedy counterparts like the Stree franchise and Bhediya, Munjya digs deeper into the cultural well. Stree addressed issues plaguing the society. It told the story of a courtesan who became an object of desire by men, only to be killed off and later become this much-feared supernatural presence. But what sets Aditya Sarpotdar's Munjya apart is a horde of factors. While the packaging was all about the horror comedy genre and visual effects, it explored themes of family, generational trauma, and healing. What Is Munjya? The menace that was Munjya rose from the tragic death of a male child belonging to the Maharashtrian Brahmin community. Traversing across the Konkan coast, the peepal-haunting ghost Munjya arises in the film when a young child dies unmarried after his Sod Munjya ceremony, which marks the end of the Brahmacharya (learning) phase and the beginning of the Grihastha (household) phase. The film took a leaf out of this popular folklore and gave it a riveting twist with the horror-comedy genre. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Munjya Movie (@enterta_nment01) Munjya became a passage for the Indian audience to probably visit a rooted history that most were oblivious to, until now. But does Munjya really exist? In an earlier exclusive conversation with NDTV, Munjya director Aditya Sarpotdar shared a personal experience. He said, "I've been brought up in Pune, but I have my roots in the Konkan territory. Every holiday, we used to go back to our hometown. As a kid, I have heard stories of Munjya in my hometown." He adds, "I've always been intrigued about him and who he could be. When I was making my movies, this was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to explore this [the story of Munjya] in my own way." More Of Heartbreak, Less Of Horror The juvenile spirit of Munjya meanders in the dead of night, seeking vengeance for his sudden demise. Behind his vengence is a sadness that consumes him. Munjya tells the story of Gotya, who resides in a village on the Konkan coast. He is obsessed with a girl called Munni, who is seven years older to him and already has a suitor. Gotya is enraged but it is a lost battle when Munni gets married. And, that is when Gotya pledges to perform a human sacrifice ritual under a peepal tree. Munjya gains form, they make the said tree their home. If learning tenses was this easy in school! 🙄🎵 #Trending #VartamaanTrend #Sharvari #AbhayVerma #Munjya #DineshVijan #MaddockFilms — Maddockfilms (@MaddockFilms) April 3, 2025 Gotya tries to use his own sister Gita as a victim for his ritual but when she escapes, Gotya accidentally kills himself. Buried in the soil beneath that same tree is what leads to the birth of this supernatural entity. And, Gotya transforms into Munjya. His anger stems out from the feeling and belief, that he has been wronged. But alas, what surfaces is the monstrosity that his doing unleashes, and not what caused it. How Locations Added To The Spirit Of Munjya When the genre has a tinge of horror to amplify its storytelling, locations become paramount to its effect. In Munjya, elements like the peepal tree, from which Munjya (literally) stems from, plays a key role. The crashing waves on a Konkan beach and the eerie feeling of the fictional village of Chetukwadi in the film - all add to the backdrop. Munjya was vastly shot in the Kudal and Guhagar regions within the Konkan belt. The film was also shot in Pune. Real locations like Badami Caves and Raigad Fort in the Konkan area, further accentuate the underlying mystery of the cultural folktale. This leads to a more immersive experience for the audience, as they find themselves wandering in the same world much longer after they leave the theatre -- even if it's a figment of the maker's imagination. Tumbbad Vs Munjya The comparisons between the 2018 film Tumbbad and the 2024 release Munjya were unavoidable. There is a distinct tonal difference in both films, Tumbbad settles in a more serious world enhanced by the psychological impact of greed, while Munjya gives you a melange of horror and comedy in equal measures. But then again what brings them together is that they are both inspired by Indian folklore, set in the Konkan belt in Maharashtra. Munjya, as established, was the story of a Brahmin boy whose dreams of marrying his childhood love are crushed just before dying an untimely death after his thread ceremony. Tumbbad is on a completely different tangent that draws its storyline from a specific legend. It talks about the Goddess of Prosperity and his first-born son Hastar. The goddess was the symbol of gold and grain, but his son gets consumed by the greed of wealth. Even though she saves her son from downright annihilation, she curses him to be forgotten and never be worshipped, which becomes the key plot of the film. How a family gets entangled in this web of Hastar and generational greed forms the core of Tumbbad. While the sense of foreboding and dread seems like a common bread between Tumbbad and Munjya, there are vastly differentiating elements that make the comparisons fall apart rather naturally. With a year gone by, and so many theories coming to light, maybe it's time to watch Munjya from a new perspective. It's a way of looking back while staying feet firmly planted in the present.
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First Post
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Cannes 2025: Indian influencer asked to leave the red carpet in viral video; is the festival losing its essence and exclusivity?
Aditya Sarpotdar, director of Munjya, said, 'No amount of influencers or outfits or any buzz created on the red carpet will get you any acclaim as a nation.' read more Cannes 2025 is over but this year saw a lot of first timers. The attendance of influencers all over world continues to see a rapid rise. One such Indian influencer one user recognized as Sarah Sarosh, was asked to leave the red carpet in a viral video as she posed for the paparazzi. The video went viral and netizens shared their reactions on social media: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One wrote- 'Its just the desperation to get value for money. If you pay money, any Tom, Dick n Harry can go to Cannes.' Another said, 'It's invite only affair , so they send her invite. Anyway it's not all prestigious and all, didn't you know about black book incident( rate card kind of thing for all attendees).' A third commented- 'These influencers are pathetic, they should stay in their insta/youtube handles only.' Aditya Sarpotdar, director of Munjya, said, 'No amount of influencers or outfits or any buzz created on the red carpet will get you any acclaim as a nation. These pre-events are always ways to promote the festival more…But that doesn't sum up what the festival is. The sum of the festival is the cinema there.' Is the access to the otherwise prestigious and celebrated festival so easy that Cannes is on the verge of losing its essence and exclusivity? Where are the moments of iconic stars oozing oomph and style on the red carpet? Why a barrage of new faces every year? Where are the veterans?
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ayushmann Khurrana on Diwali Holiday Release for Horror-Comedy ‘Thama' (EXCLUSIVE)
Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana's horror-comedy 'Thama' has locked in a Diwali 2025 release, marking the first time the critically acclaimed actor will headline a major festive window release in his decade-plus career. The Maddock Films production, produced by Dinesh Vijan and directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, represents a significant career escalation for Khurrana, who has built his reputation as one of Hindi-language cinema's most bankable stars through unconventional script choices and socially conscious comedies. More from Variety Vicky Kaushal's 'Chhaava' Crosses $90 Million Globally, Second Maddock Title to Hit Milestone After 'Stree 2' 'Walking With Dinosaurs': BBC Unveils First Look at Epic Prehistoric Revival - Global Bulletin Vicky Kaushal's First Look as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Indian Historical Epic 'Chhaava' Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE) 'Thama' represents an expansion of Maddock's horror-comedy universe. The studio, known for releasing films like 'Stree 2,' 'Munjya,' and 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' in a blockbuster 2024, unveiled a slate of eight interconnected films set to release over the next four years, earlier this year. The lineup begins with 'Thama,' followed by 'Shakti Shalini' on Dec. 31. In 2026, audiences can expect 'Bhediya 2' on Aug. 14 and 'Chamunda' on Dec. 4. The following year includes 'Stree 3' on Aug. 13 and 'Mahamunjya' on Dec. 24. The universe will culminate in 2028 with 'Pehla Mahayudh' on Aug. 11 and 'Doossra Mahayudh' on Diwali, Oct. 18.'It feels amazing to have a big Diwali release with 'Thama.' It is the biggest release of my career and I'm really eager to spread joy, happiness and laughter with the entire country with 'Thama,'' Khurrana said. 'The fact that my film could be one of the reasons for people to have a great festive period feels really surreal.' The Diwali slot has traditionally been reserved for Bollywood's biggest stars and tentpole releases, making Khurrana's booking a testament to his box office evolution from indie darling to commercial heavyweight. 'Thama' is currently the only Bollywood film releasing during the Diwali holiday frame, which falls on Oct. 20 this year. 'For me, Diwali is about togetherness, it is about family and it is about having the best community experience by spending time with your friends,' the 'Vicky Donor' star said. 'I'm a big movie buff and every year, I have a ritual to go to the theatres with my family and watch a film on Diwali. We have so much fun together and it makes me so happy to see scores of people thronging to the theatres to watch these big releases.' 'Thama' brings together an ensemble cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Paresh Rawal, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Aditya Sarpotdar directs from a screenplay by Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, and Arun Fulara, with Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik producing. 'I'm giving my everything for 'Thama' and I can see my producers Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik, my director Aditya Sarpotdar and the entire team of 'Thama' put in every drop of their energy to make this film a truly incredible big screen experience that will be memorable for everyone,' Khurrana said. Maddock Films gained prominence in the horror-comedy space in 2018 with 'Stree,' which popularized the genre in Bollywood. The film's blend of humor, supernatural elements and folklore struck a chord with audiences, paving the way for further exploration of the genre. This new cinematic universe is a natural evolution for the studio, bringing together characters and storylines into an interconnected narrative. The company's epic historical saga 'Chhaava,' starring Vicky Kaushal, is the biggest Indian box office success of 2025 so far. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
