Kapkapiii, marking the final directorial work of the late Sangeeth Sivan, is a Hindi horror comedy released on 23 May 2025. It reunites Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade in a remake of the 2023 Malayalam hit Romancham. Distributed by Zee Studios, the film blends supernatural elements with slapstick humour over a 138-minute runtime.

Story and Setup

Set in Faridabad in 2007, the plot centers on a bunch of unemployed housemates who try an Ouija board for fun. Predictably, they end up summoning a spirit named Anamika, and chaos erupts when Tusshar’s strange friend Kabir arrives. The tone tries to balance horror and comedy but ends up feeling more messy than magical.

Cast and Performances

Shreyas Talpade is energetic as Manu and delivers his signature comic timing. Tusshar Kapoor brings a mix of humor and spookiness in his role as Kabir. Siddhi Idnani, Sonia Rathee, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya support the film with good screen presence, but their roles lack depth and purpose.

Direction and Writing

Sangeeth Sivan attempts to recreate the quirky spirit of Romancham, blending mild scares with humor. However, the screenplay is disjointed and feels more like scattered skits than a single coherent story. Key plot elements such as the ghost’s background are vague, despite the film’s long runtime. The narrative feels unfocused and unpolished.

Horror vs Comedy

While the comedy occasionally works, the horror falls flat. The ghostly presence is never truly threatening, and most scares are played for laughs. The humor leans on loud jokes and exaggerated expressions, many of which feel outdated. The film has moments that may amuse but fails to strike the right genre balance.

Tone and Pacing

The film jumps rapidly between comedy, horror, and emotional drama, leading to tonal confusion. Pacing is uneven and scenes often drag without adding much to the story. While there are nostalgic 2000s touches that may appeal to older viewers, the repetitive structure grows tiring.

Critical and Audience Reception

On IMDb, viewers have rated Kapkapiii positively, with some scores as high as 7.3 out of 10. However, most critic reviews have been mixed to negative. Times of India rated it 3 out of 5, praising the chemistry between the lead actors. Filmfare gave it 2.5, noting that the screenplay lacked grip. Other reviewers, including Hindustan Times, Firstpost, and Koimoi, gave it between 1 and 2 out of 5, citing its weak story, poor editing, and unbalanced tone.

Box Office Performance

Despite a strong cast and promotional campaign, Kapkapiii became one of the year’s biggest box-office failures. In its first 10 days, the film collected only around 1.45 crore rupees against a budget of nearly 25 crore. The disconnect between online user praise and real-world ticket sales suggests that word-of-mouth and critical feedback impacted its performance.

Strengths

  • Strong chemistry between Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade

  • A few genuinely funny moments

  • Nostalgic 2000s atmosphere that may appeal to some

Weaknesses

  • Weak and unfocused screenplay

  • Horror element is underwhelming

  • Repetitive jokes and flat scenes

  • Poor box office reception

  • Lacks originality as a remake of Romancham

Final Verdict

Kapkapiii tries to be a fun horror comedy but falls short on both counts. It offers a few chuckles thanks to the lead actors, but the film suffers from a scattered script, inconsistent tone, and poor pacing. It may entertain fans of slapstick humor and casual weekend movie watchers, but it lacks the depth and polish to leave a lasting impact.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Should You Watch It?

Watch it only if you’re in the mood for something light and don’t mind predictable jokes and underwhelming scares. If you liked Romancham, you may find some familiar comfort here, but don’t expect the same charm or execution.