A Death in the Gunj

A Death in the Gunj

Year: 2016

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: English

Director: Konkona Sen Sharma

ThrillerDrama

Life for a shy young Indian student slowly falls to pieces during a family road trip.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – A Death in the Gunj (2016)

Trace every key event in A Death in the Gunj (2016) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening scene: dead body in the trunk, a road ahead

In the opening scene, Nandu and Brian stand over a body concealed in the car trunk, unsure of the next step. They decide to drive on, taking Shutu with them as the morgue recedes into the distance. The sequence cuts to a flashback that moves the narrative to a week earlier.

Opening scene Morgue / car trunk / road
2

Week-before gathering in McCluskieganj

A week earlier, a small extended family gathers at a house in McCluskieganj after a long journey from Calcutta. Nandu and Bonnie, their daughter Tani, Mimi, and Shutu inhabit the shared space, each carrying hopes and tensions. The house becomes a site where affection, expectation, and quiet conflict mingle.

A week earlier McCluskieganj house
3

Shutu's vulnerability within the family

Shutu's gentleness makes him endearing yet vulnerable within the family dynamic. The jokes and sarcastic remarks around him reveal the friction between belonging and being seen. The week gradually narrows his sense of place.

A week earlier McCluskieganj house
4

Kabaddi clash leaves Shutu bruised

A rough Kabaddi game with Vikram leaves Shutu bruised, highlighting his fragility and the uneven balance of power in the household. The incident is a small but sharp reminder that strength is prized and softness is risk. The moment intensifies the undercurrents shaping Shutu's place in the family.

A week earlier House courtyard
5

Shutu and Mimi share a charged moment

Shutu and Mimi share a discreet, charged moment that hints at a budding connection. Mimi's responses feel cautious and pragmatic, suggesting her interest lies more with Vikram than with Shutu. The exchange deepens Shutu's longing to be seen and valued.

A week earlier House
6

Motorcycle ride and Tani's disappearance

Shutu and Mimi steal a ride on a motorcycle, slipping away from the house for a breath of freedom. When they return, they discover Tani has disappeared, and the family's attention immediately shifts to the child's safety. Shutu feels increasingly invisible as the search consumes the house.

A week earlier Town streets / near house
7

The day after: Tani is found, Shutu's absence

The next day the search continues for Tani, but Shutu's absence goes unnoticed amid the relief of finding Tani unharmed. The house relaxes into a fragile calm, while Shutu's sense of being unseen grows deeper. The family remains largely unaware of the quiet fracture taking hold.

The day after Tani is found House / village
8

Shutu plans to leave: train ticket to Calcutta

Shutu buys a train ticket to return to Calcutta and tells Mimi he will come back soon. Mimi's brief, curt dismissal—urging him to focus on his studies—lands as a cold, definitive boundary. The moment marks Shutu's growing isolation from the family he longs to belong to.

The day after House
9

Weeks later: O.P. Bakshee teaches the rifle

In the weeks that follow, O.P. Bakshee mentors Shutu, teaching him to shoot a rifle with an inherited, weathered weapon. The act begins as a rite of passage but quickly reveals itself as a desperate attempt to assert control and belonging. The rifle becomes a powerful symbol of the family's fragile line between nurture and danger.

Weeks later Family home / Bakshee's room
10

The rifle turns toward Shutu and others

Shutu wrests the rifle from O.P. Bakshee and turns it toward himself and those around him. The room fills with pleas and frantic attempts to calm him, but the gun remains fixed on his future. He pulls the trigger, and the room collapses into shock as the tragedy unfolds.

The night of the tragedy House
11

Ending: the trunk scene revisited

The film returns to the opening trunk scene as Nandu and Brian drive away with Shutu's body. The backseat feels haunted by Shutu's ghost, a spectral reminder of the cost of not truly seeing those closest to us. The ending invites reflection on memory, loss, and the quiet crises of family life.

End credits Road / car trunk

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:46

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Slow burn psychological unraveling like in A Death in the Gunj

Stories where quiet tension and inner turmoil lead to a character's gradual collapse.For viewers who appreciated the quiet, tense atmosphere of A Death in the Gunj, this section collects movies with similar slow-burn pacing and a focus on mental health crises. These films explore characters on the brink, often in isolated or family settings, leading to tragic, emotionally heavy conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character, often introverted or suffering from neglect, as they navigate a social environment that fails to understand or support them. The plot is driven by internal conflict rather than external events, with a linear or straightforward structure that meticulously charts their descent into despair, culminating in a tragic ending.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared commitment to a melancholic tone, slow pacing that allows for deep character study, and a heavy emotional weight centered on themes of mental health, isolation, and tragedy. They create a claustrophobic, observational vibe that feels deeply immersive and devastating.

Tense family gatherings with tragic undercurrents like in A Death in the Gunj

Family vacations and reunions where hidden tensions erupt into devastating consequences.If you liked the claustrophobic family dynamics and tragic outcome of A Death in the Gunj, explore these movies about fraught family reunions. These dramas use a confined setting to explore mental health, neglect, and the emotional violence that can occur within families, resulting in heavy, sorrowful conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The story unfolds during a family-centric event like a trip or a celebration. A seemingly stable group dynamic is gradually revealed to be fragile, with specific characters—often the most vulnerable—bearing the brunt of the collective dysfunction. The narrative is straightforward, focusing on the slow accumulation of slights and misunderstandings that culminate in a dramatic, sad climax.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific narrative setup (the family gathering), a tense and melancholic mood, and a thematic focus on how families can inadvertently harm their most sensitive members. The pacing is often slow to medium, building a sense of dread, and the emotional impact is consistently heavy.

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A Death in the Gunj Summary

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A Death in the Gunj Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Death in the Gunj

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape A Death in the Gunj. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Death in the Gunj

A Death in the Gunj Spoiler-Free Summary

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A Death in the Gunj Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Death in the Gunj

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