Jugnuma Movie Review : A riveting flight of fantasy

Story: Set in the late 1980s, Dev (Manoj Bajpayee), an orchard owner, lives with his family in a picturesque house nestled in the Himalayas. Each morning, he steps into his workshop, straps on a massive pair of handcrafted wings, and casually heads to a nearby cliff—where he takes flight like a bird.

Review: This surreal ritual is surprisingly normalized in the household. His wife (Priyanka Bose), and children— a teenage daughter (Hiral Sidhu), and a younger son (Awan Pookot) —accept his flying routine without much fuss. They even discuss the wings with curiosity, as if they were just another part of life in the mountains.

While Dev soars above the orchards during his frequent flights, he entrusts the day-to-day operations of the lush estate to his trusted manager (Deepak Dobriyal), who oversees the workers and assigns tasks. With no phones, television, or internet, the family of four embraces a slower, more intimate rhythm of life. Their evenings are spent hosting friends for intimate dinners, singing classical songs, lying under the open sky to stargaze, chasing fireflies, and listening to the whispers of the wind and mountains around them. As you get lost in the bewitching charm of this idyllic life, the orchard mysteriously catches fire. Dev suspects a foul play and holds his staff accountable. Villager also doubt the nomads-monks with horses who are seen in the region. Who wants Dev out?

At its heart, Raam Reddy’s fantasy-fuelled mystery is a tender love letter to the mountains and the unhurried life — the one we traded for ambition long ago. Unlike many indie films, Reddy’s storytelling doesn’t succumb to self indulgence or obscurity. Though open to interpretation, the narrative never glorifies the abstract or slips into aimless nothingness. It’s a slow burn, yes, but never stagnant — you remain hooked as Dev navigates the complexities of an orchard in crisis, and the meaning of ownership.

The film is technically sound. Sunil Borkar’s cinematography is pure magic, capturing the beauty and mystery of the hills. The sound design and VFX are equally accomplished — and remarkably, the flying never feels absurd or out of place, which is a rare feat. The story does not digress either. Performances are equally competent with Manoj Bajpayee bringing in a certain warmth even to his hostility and doubt. Deepak Dobriyal, Priyanka Bose, Hiral Sidhu and Tillotama Shome light up the screen with their presence, too.
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Don’t let its fantasy or experimental nature deceive you. Fascinating mystery with a touch of magic realism give this whodunit an edge. Watch it for its mesmerising storytelling and scenic beauty. Reminiscent of a soothing and suspenseful bedtime story, you are bound to remember this film for a long time.