A family drama film-“A Death in the Gunj” marks actress Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut this year.

This year’s official Opening Film at Jio MAMI with Star – A Death in the Gunj– marks actress Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut and follows an Indian family gathering with a rather unscrupulous undercurrent to keep you guessing till the very end.

While dysfunctional family dramas have become a recent theme trend in India, Konkona intimately dissects her plot with a rather ruminative style that’s reminiscent of Satyajit Ray and forces the audience to empathise with her characters.

Inspired by a story that her father used to tell her, the indie drama takes place in 1979 which makes for a fun retro ambience.

Lightly spiced with the usual marital tensions and family arguments, the story features several unexpected surprises like an unexplained body in the boot of a car, a missing child and a mounting undercurrent of despair that finally erupts into violence.

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It must be noted that despite any of its limitations, the brooding atmosphere of ‘A Death in the Gun’ burns with old-school heart-tugging melodrama that’s simmered with smokey suspense.