Flashback Films: How Romancham Nailed Horror-Comedy Genre And Paved Way For Bollywood Remake Kapkapii (Credit: IMDb)
But before we talk about the remake, let’s take a moment to appreciate why Romancham became such a hit in the first place.
The genius behind it? First-time director Jithu Madhavan. He didn’t try to make a big, flashy ghost story. Instead, he focused on what happens when bored, broke friends decide to summon spirits just to kill time. The best part? It felt real. There’s Soubin Shahir’s narrator, but the spotlight really belongs to the whole gang, seven underachieving, overenthusiastic men who decide to summon a ghost using an Ouija board, because, why not?
These characters aren’t just comic relief, they are the comedy. Whether it’s Nirup (played by the brilliant Sajin Gopu) trying to keep the house in order while secretly talking to his parents like a softy, or a running joke about a guy addicted to paan masala, the film finds humour in the smallest quirks. The detailing is so vivid, you can practically smell the laundry that hasn’t been done in weeks.
What makes Romancham stand out is how real it feels. The camaraderie among the characters is effortless, like a group of friends you’ve known for years. Their reactions to ghostly happenings, ranging from full-on panic to hilarious denial, make the supernatural stuff even more fun to watch. Add to that a catchy soundtrack by Sushin Shyam, and you’ve got a film that hits all the right notes.
But just when you think you know where the story is going, bam, Arjun Ashokan’s mysterious character enters after the interval and flips the vibe entirely. Suddenly, the film deepens, and what started as a ghostly prank turns into something much stranger (and funnier).
Moreover, Romancham wasn’t trying to be smart or spooky. It was just being honest about friendship, fear, and the absurdity of everyday life when you’re in your twenties with no job, no plan, and way too much free time.
The film’s success was no fluke. It not only resonated with Malayalam audiences but also across boundaries, and eventually led to the upcoming Hindi remake, Kapkapiii.
Enter Kapkapiii, the official Hindi remake. The film promises to bring the spooky laughs to a bigger audience. Directed by the late Sangeeth Sivan, Kapkapiii has a familiar cast, a proven story, and a whole lot of potential.
If we re-watch the OG, we can see that Romancham worked because it didn’t try too hard. It found humour in the weirdest places, like haunted houses, this fabulous bunch of actors playing characters with varied personalities, and broken dreams. If Kapkapiii can hold onto that spirit (pun intended), it might just be another winner.
But until then, we’ll be watching and hoping the ghost of good comedy doesn’t get lost in translation.
