A Death in the Gunj (2017)

Director: Konkona Sen Sharma

Screenplay: Konkona Sen Sharma (based on a short story by Mukul Sharma)

Cast: Vikrant Massey, Ranvir Shorey, Kalki Koechlin

Music: Sagar Desai

Time: 104 minutes

Bottom-line: Targeted at a very limited section of the audience

Well, the main reason for watching this film was because it seemed to be better than anything else that is running in the theatre. The reviews were on the positive side for Konkona Sen Sharma’s debut film, so I thought it was worth a shot. Having watched it, I conclude that as is, this is a film meant for a very selective audience, and chances are that even those people will end up disappointed by the climax.

 

Massey as Shutu, and Koechlin as Mimi

Inspired by true events.

1979/80: The film starts with two men staring at a corpse in the boot of a car. The timeline shifts one week earlier, where the same car is shown, heading to a small town McCluskieganj, Bihar (now Jharkhand). A family, consisting of Nandan (Gulshan Devaiah), his wife, Bonnie (Tillotama Shome), their daughter, Tani (Arya Sharma), and his other relatives: Shylamlal “Shutu” Chatterjee (Massey) and Mimi (Koechlin). They are joined by friends Vikram (Shorey) and Brian (Jim Sarbh). All the events that take place over the next one week seem perfectly normal, but, bit by bit, they slowly break one person apart… until something irrevocable takes place.

It takes only a few to appreciate what the film has to offer. The atmosphere (and the location), character development and the gradual build-up of the story is you must look out for. This is one of those films where you keep watching without noticing the time fly by, and before you know it, the end credits start flowing. Only later you think back and things start to make sense. This film is the perfect example: all through the film you are waiting for the “build-up” to lead to something (the title says “death”, so when is it??) without realising that “building-up” is all that there is to it.

 

The opening scene of the film: the Tarantino shot, showing
Devaiah as Nandan (left) and Sarbh as Brian

Each day, normal events take place, with a little bit of drama: marital issues, pranks, an affair, a romantic relationship, a budding friendship all play a role till the end, where the consequence of all these incidents takes place. The way the characters are created and the way each “insignificant” incident has a significant consequence are the strengths of the film. All the actors have done well, especially Koechlin and Massey: the former always wanting more sexual satisfaction than she can get, and the latter playing the shy, sensitive man.

 

(From left) Mimi, Vikram, Bonnie, Tani, Nandan
and Brian

The language used is predominantly English, and there are also several other elements one usually doesn’t find in Indian films: the profanity, the sexual content, and the cinematography had a few unique, notable moments too. The main flaw here – that pretty much ruins the film – is, as I said, the climax. It is too abrupt, nonsensical, and probably to some extent, expected. It certainly made me go, “Why the hell would they do that?!” and before I could collect my thoughts, the credits came up. (Spoiler alert) The story is – in the subtlest way possible – a journey of depression going from one stage to a worse stage, but just like another Netflix series of recent times, this film also portrays suicide as a solution to all problems. At least the movie doesn’t make it look fancy.  

As another review aptly put it, “A Death in the Gunj will make your jaw drop in so many places, except when it actually should – the climax”. I would recommend a one-time watch, and DON’T drag along your family or friends for this; I repeat, this film is not meant to be liked by everyone.

My rating: 2/5