“The Web of the Witch” (“Makdee,” original Indian title), directed by Vishal Bhardwaj is a comedy/horror based in a small village in India, and revolves around two twins named Chunni and Munni (played by Shweta Basu Prasad), and their experiences with a witch at the local villa, which is supposedly haunted.
The film is written, directed, and produced by Vishal Bharadwaj, which attests a mark of quality. The film is light, funny, and yet a scary exploration into the superstitions deep-rooted in Indian villages to date. Though the film was released in 2003, it is relevant even in 2020. “The Web of the Witch” is a perfect combination of comedy and horror, with the elevations of excellent performances, background, and cinematography. In particular, the performance by Shabana Azmi as the witch is the most relevant and crucial, without which the genre of horror gets discarded. Shweta Basu Prasad, who plays twins Munni and Chunni, the former who is distinguished by a mole on her face. The emotions by a child with such varied emotions of worry, fear, fright, nervousness, and sorrow are so vividly portrayed that one cannot fail to fall in love with the performance.
The dialogue delivery by every character is so natural and unique, which glimpses life in a rural setting in India. The plot of the film is certainly well-thought and highlights the mentality of multiple rural villages. Moreover, the scene where the butcher (Makarande Deshpande) chasing Chunni with his sharp knife for stealing his chickens is funny and fearsome at the same time; the naturalism of the act by both the characters engages the audience in an intriguing interplay.
The movie highlights an important social message while attaining high standards of comedy and horror. The film is perfect for young children who somehow connect with the character of Chunni and enjoy a laugh while getting scared. It is as if Chunni carries the emotions of the film entirely by herself. The film has managed to replace visual effects with props, which create a sense of realism without creating a sham for the audience to interpret.
“The Web of the Witch” is without a doubt a great watch for anyone who wishes to see light horror with some comedy. The plot of the film is certainly an interesting one to follow without moving into complexities; the film offers juxtapositions of several emotions in a roller-coaster performance of its amazing ensemble, direction, and production.
