Neither spooky nor funny. A total missed opportunity.
The horror-comedy genre, though increasingly popular, demands a delicate balance that many filmmakers struggle to maintain. Kapkapiii, the Hindi remake of the 2023 Malayalam sleeper hit Romancham, is a textbook example of how not to approach this hybrid genre. Lacking in both genuine scares and effective humour, the film quickly loses its footing, becoming a tedious watch.
Set in 2007, the film follows a group of unemployed young men living in a rented house in Faridabad. Their mundane routine takes a turn when two women move in next door. In a bid to impress one of them, Manu (played by Shreyas Talpade) introduces an Ouija board into the mix. To their surprise, the board actually works-soon, a steady stream of locals lines up at their door, seeking answers from the beyond. What begins as a harmless game spirals out of control when the spirit becomes increasingly aggressive. Manu seeks help from his enigmatic friend Kabir (Tusshar Kapoor), unaware that Kabir may bring more chaos than calm. And thus, the film's main narrative begins.
Shreyas Talpade delivers a controlled performance, but the lackluster script and inconsistent direction leave him with little room to shine. Tusshar Kapoor, entering the film post-intermission, shows flashes of comic timing and presence that have been absent from his recent work. Among the supporting cast, Varun Pande is the standout, bringing much-needed energy to an otherwise inert ensemble.
The film's first half meanders aimlessly, relying on clichéd gags and clumsy exposition that neither build suspense nor amuse. Despite a promising setup, the screenplay flounders under the weight of gimmicks. The second half, buoyed briefly by the Talpade-Kapoor dynamic, manages to inject some life into the proceedings but ultimately collapses under its own inconsistency. The climax, poorly conceived and executed, feels like an afterthought.
Visually, Kapkapiii fails to leverage its genre. Horror thrives on atmosphere and tension-both of which are sorely lacking due to uninspired cinematography and a lack of visual cohesion. The music, too, fails to leave an impression, with a jarring item number at the start of the film setting a disjointed tone that never quite recovers.
Director Sangeeth Sivan, in what is his final directorial outing, seems to have aimed for a commercially viable horror-comedy but ends up delivering a confused, lifeless product. Where Romancham found success in its simplicity and relatability, Kapkapiii attempts to compensate with loud humour, cheap thrills, and tired tropes-none of which land effectively.
In the end, Kapkapiii is a missed opportunity-a remake that forgets the core of what made its source material work. With a weak script, uninspired direction, and a failure to evoke either fear or laughter, the film is unlikely to resonate with audiences or critics. Neither spooky nor funny, it vanishes from memory almost as soon as the credits roll.
Set in 2007, the film follows a group of unemployed young men living in a rented house in Faridabad. Their mundane routine takes a turn when two women move in next door. In a bid to impress one of them, Manu (played by Shreyas Talpade) introduces an Ouija board into the mix. To their surprise, the board actually works-soon, a steady stream of locals lines up at their door, seeking answers from the beyond. What begins as a harmless game spirals out of control when the spirit becomes increasingly aggressive. Manu seeks help from his enigmatic friend Kabir (Tusshar Kapoor), unaware that Kabir may bring more chaos than calm. And thus, the film's main narrative begins.
Shreyas Talpade delivers a controlled performance, but the lackluster script and inconsistent direction leave him with little room to shine. Tusshar Kapoor, entering the film post-intermission, shows flashes of comic timing and presence that have been absent from his recent work. Among the supporting cast, Varun Pande is the standout, bringing much-needed energy to an otherwise inert ensemble.
The film's first half meanders aimlessly, relying on clichéd gags and clumsy exposition that neither build suspense nor amuse. Despite a promising setup, the screenplay flounders under the weight of gimmicks. The second half, buoyed briefly by the Talpade-Kapoor dynamic, manages to inject some life into the proceedings but ultimately collapses under its own inconsistency. The climax, poorly conceived and executed, feels like an afterthought.
Visually, Kapkapiii fails to leverage its genre. Horror thrives on atmosphere and tension-both of which are sorely lacking due to uninspired cinematography and a lack of visual cohesion. The music, too, fails to leave an impression, with a jarring item number at the start of the film setting a disjointed tone that never quite recovers.
Director Sangeeth Sivan, in what is his final directorial outing, seems to have aimed for a commercially viable horror-comedy but ends up delivering a confused, lifeless product. Where Romancham found success in its simplicity and relatability, Kapkapiii attempts to compensate with loud humour, cheap thrills, and tired tropes-none of which land effectively.
In the end, Kapkapiii is a missed opportunity-a remake that forgets the core of what made its source material work. With a weak script, uninspired direction, and a failure to evoke either fear or laughter, the film is unlikely to resonate with audiences or critics. Neither spooky nor funny, it vanishes from memory almost as soon as the credits roll.
- navyanssh
- 28 may 2025