Today I saw "Death in the Gunj"

It is a slow movie. But once you have patience and if you can soak into its characters - The Bangla bourgeois culture, their liberalism, their talks, the way they look and behave (making the casting perfect); and if you can sustain yourself absorbed till the end the impact of the movie is not good but Overwhelming... Especially for those who have a sensitive soul, who can feel deep down the anguish and pain of a single individual.

Here the single individual is Shutu (Vikram Massey) whose character and psyche is known to us through peeling of each layer through small exchanges of dialogues and incidences. Shutu lost his father when he was 7 years, he does not have a good relation with his mother, who always scolds him, he is bad in studies, and has failed, he is bullied by his friends and talked down and even beaten by this elder brother. He is simple, shy, incoherent, child-like and finds solace and innocent friendship with his niece Tani (Arya Sharma) during a small gathering over a week with family and friends at a hill station house.

Events unfold in such a way that Shutu is initiated to sex by Mimi (Kalki Koechlin) who just wants to have fun and get over her love for Vikram (Ranvir Shorey) who is marrying someone else. By the end of the movie things do not work out for Shutu who is ignored, forgotten by everyone and shunned even by the little girl Tani. Yet with love in his eyes he pins his hopes on Mimi who ignores his feelings and advices him to concentrate on studies and life (sounds so familiar). It is a psychological take on a simple boy Shutu who is driven to death, but unfolding of events – where everyone is unconsciously selfish (as a way of life) and happy with what one has in life – except Shutu, who feels lonely, ignored and useless (even being used by that little girl).

While coming out of the theatre one feels, if once, someone – the little girl Tani, or Mimi would have held Shutu's hand and consoled him, would have given him strength and hope to live life.

It is a great debut of Konkana Sen Sharma as a director. All the actors and actresses have acted superbly. Special mention of Vikram Massey as Shutu who lives his character's flaws like real. The slow and lingering shots are exquisite and a treat on the eye. The detailing is perfect. Music is appropriate with mix of a couple folk tunes and lingering sadness of violin.

This movie is recommended for the typical arty type sensitive movie goers – who want to see good different cinema - This is the one!

(Rating 7.5 out of 10)

I don't remember the last time I gave a film a full rating but I'm just positive about why A Death in the Gunj (A Death in the Echo) demands it from me. It's simply a a fabulous film that takes its sweet time to unfold through its atmospheric appeal, set in remote Bihar and with a stellar cast you wonder how the director got them together, narrating the depressing story of a young, taciturn man with demons in his mind and loneliness on his face. More than anything - and this drama is about many things - the film highlights the influence people have on other people. The final five minutes took my breath away and I'm confident it will make you think about depression, extroversion, sex, and longing. Konkona Sensharma's debut feature A Death in the Gunj is a masterpiece and easily one of my top 3 Hindi films of the 2010 decade. It's crisp, it's exotic, it's fantastic. TN.

My Rating : 4/10

It so desperately wants to be a darling of the critics - with it's English-speaking characters playing bourgeoisie-types - acting pretentious and all. Those are exactly the tropes I wanted it to transcend but nonetheless it is predictable, often slow and pointless.

I'm sick and tired of seeing Kalki, Ranvir and Jim Sarbh trying so hard to be all parallel cinema types. Only Vikrant Massey was a stand-out here and plays his role convincingly.

OK Film. Not as good as I had expected it to be.