romanjam malayalam movie review

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A game of Ouija board goes hilariously wrong when seven bachelors unexpectedly invite a spirit and try to make the best out of the situation. A game of Ouija board goes hilariously wrong when seven bachelors unexpectedly invite a spirit and try to make the best out of the situation. A game of Ouija board goes hilariously wrong when seven bachelors unexpectedly invite a spirit and try to make the best out of the situation.

• Jithu Madhavan
• Soubin Shahir
• Arjun Ashokan
• Chemban Vinod Jose
• 50 User reviews
• 6 Critic reviews
• 4 nominations

Top cast 35

• Jibi Madhavan

• Sinu Solomon
• (as Arjun Asokan)

• Sayed Mohammed

• Sinu's Mother

• Jibi's Mother

• Maala Chechi
• Maala's Husband
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia Based on real incidents that happened in the life of 7 bachelors in Bangalore in 2007.
• Connections Remade as Kapkapiii

User reviews 50

• Jithindurden
• Feb 14, 2023
• How long is Romancham? Powered by Alexa
• February 3, 2023 (India)
• Guppy Cinemas
• Johnpaul George Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 10 minutes

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Romancham (2023) Movie Review: A Delightful and Comic Ride Sprinkled With Elements of Horror

Debutant director Jithu Madhavan has packed quite a punch with his maiden film, “Romancham” ( Goosebumps ). Being true to its name, the film does give you the excitement it promises. The best part is that it doesn’t offer the typical excitement you might expect from a film of the horror genre. The comedy here surpasses the horror elements, but things fall beautifully into place.

The usage of typical horror props like an Ouija board sets the mood of the narrative quite right. However, what works best is how meticulously each character has been developed and how impeccable their comic timings are. Everyone in “Romancham” gives almost pitch-perfect performances, from the veteran actors to the complete newcomers. When we see them together on the screen, it does not feel like they are a bunch of actors working together for the first time as a group. 

Instead, they appear as people who have really known each other for a while and have been sharing space. They seem to be aware of each other quirks, bad habits, triggers, and everything that you know about people who have been with you for long. This chemistry between the actors works hugely in favor of the film, and right from the beginning, you realize no matter what, there will never be a dull moment in this film, and there never is.

Another exciting thing about the film is that true events have inspired it, and because of its careful and crafty making, it does not seem unbelievable either. At the very beginning, we get to know that this is about seven people living together in a house in Bangalore in 2007. This is a group of bachelors, and we get a solid mixture of extremely different types of people. 

There are the unemployed ones, the ones with proper jobs, some with bizarre business ideas, and the ones awaiting their appointment letters. These are all bachelor guys living their lives to the fullest, partying all night, and waking up to one messy house the next day. While the responsible ones try to keep the others in line, things keep getting out of hand in their own comical way. The simple charm of the lives these bachelors live makes the sequences really enjoyable and vibrant. 

Now comes the point when one group member, unable to participate in a game that requires physical movement and agility, suggests that they play something more engaging yet does not require movement. Teammates initially oppose, but gradually, the Ouija board draws everyone in. It all starts with fun and games, and they even become popular in the neighborhood, with people coming to them with unresolved issues of their families in the hope of getting answers. 

From here, “Romancham” starts dabbing with elements of horror, but that too in a rather comic and animated way. After a point, the two members who operated the Ouija board on their whims realize that they aren’t in control anymore. If this realization isn’t enough, the group soon discovers that the spirit summoned via Ouija is quite determined to live with them. At first, some of the more logical ones in the group refuse to believe it, but the ghost, with its staunch determination, ultimately makes everyone feel its presence. What follows is a comical chaos and a desperate attempt to make the house get rid of the ghost. 

Coming to the characters, though, every one of them has been developed with equal care and craft; the character of Sinu, played by Arjun Ashokan, stands out. With his weird quirks and his absolutely great comic timing, Arjun has nailed the character. From his introduction to the group till the time he leaves, only to come back again, he fills the screen with a kind of energy that’s very muted and yet very weird, something that goes with the vibe of a comedy horror film really well.

“Romancham,” with its simple yet effective and intriguing plot, hits all the right chords. The background score by Sushin Shyam adds the perfect icing to the cake. The lives of the bachelors, with their everyday struggles, fights, and bouts of excitement and happiness, make them the ideal target of a ghost who despite having a sad past probably does not mean harm. The film ends on a kind of cliffhanger, making us, the audience, look forward to the sequel. After all, who would not want a ride that’s this funny yet scary at the right places?

Read More: 25 Greatest Malayalam Movies of All Time

Romancham (2023) movie links: imdb , wikipedia romancham (2023) movie cast: soubin shahir, arjun ashokan, chemban vinod jose, where to watch romancham, trending right now.

A lover of all things blue, a color that she equates with grief, Pramila has found a home in the void. She likes to chill there by herself, with movies, books, and some occasional humans for company!

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Romancham Movie Review: Rewarding horror-comedy that's high on the laughs

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

Vividity is a strong suit of director Jithu Madhavan's debut feature, Romancham . It's a mark of the detailing that went into the home of the film's central characters. It's also a mark of the character sketches. After I came out of the movie, it's not the horror aspects that I remember the most, but the faces of these characters and their perfectly timed interactions. They don't give the impression of 'actors' who met for the first time; they convey the camaraderie of guys who have known each other for the longest time and have been sharing a home for years. The level of detailing is such that you could almost smell their home. Maybe one of these men isn't into taking baths that often. When another character looks at the condition of their home after a night of partying and wonders aloud if it's a pigsty, you nod your head in agreement. It does look like one until the same man, Nirup, cleans it up.

Director: Jithu Madhavan

Cast: Soubin Shahir, Sajin Gopu, Siju Sunny, Arjun Ashokan

The film begins with Soubin Shahir's character recollecting a story. Although it starts with him and proceeds through his point-of-view, he isn't really what you call the 'main character'. That label fits all the seven men who live under the same roof, starting with Nirup (Sajin Gopu, from Churuli and Jan-e-Man ), the bossman of the pack. He has the poise and stature of a man commanding an army. But he also reveals a vulnerable side, at the expense of which we occasionally get some laughs. It's the little things -- like someone mistakenly calling him 'Nirodh' or how, in another instance, his softer side gets exposed when he is talking to his parents, something which he doesn't want his housemates to know. I describe this sketch of Nirup because the makers have given all the other characters the same degree of attention. Everyone has their share of distinct quirks and mannerisms that make them different from others. For example, there is a whole gag involving a 'Hans' consumer and how Nirup is trying to 'reform' him. It's almost like an implicit tobacco warning from the film. 

Romancham is at its funniest when it explores the idiosyncrasies of these characters, particularly after Soubin's character introduces them to the idea of summoning ghosts through an OUIJA board, and you get to see how they react to this newfound supernatural phenomenon. The admirable quality of all these actors -- some of whom are fresh faces -- is that they don't always have to say anything to make you laugh. There were multiple instances in the film where audience members, including yours truly, were cracking up at how these characters looked at each other or how they behaved when they were by themselves or sharing the same frame. One can't help but recall classics like In Harihar Nagar , Godfather , or Ramji Rao Speaking . The last time a Malayalam film came this close to creating that kind of 'classic' male-male bonding on screen was Jan-e-Man .

For obvious reasons, I'm not going to write about every little detail, but suffice it to say that the film gets to have a lot of fun with the material. It gives a fresh twist to the horror-comedy genre. The presence of a spirit is naturally supposed to elicit some fear, but Romancham is not interested in making us supremely uncomfortable. Its interest lies in extracting comedy from scenarios that terrify those living in the house but are comical to distant observers like us. At one point, Chemban Vinod Jose makes a hilarious cameo. 

That said, it doesn't entirely leave out the scare factor, but it does it in a way that doesn't make you want to hide like Mr Bean in that horror movie episode. And having a composer like Sushin Shyam, who is coming up with some really cool stuff these days, helps contribute to the overall hip vibe the film is going for, even when the characters are not. 

If you suspect the entire film revolves around the OUIJA board, fret not; you'll be surprised at the direction the film takes after the interval. When Arjun Ashokan's character enters the picture, Romancham becomes a different kind of movie -- sort of like a second chapter whose connection to the pre-interval portions only becomes more evident by the time we get to the third act, the conclusion of which is followed by the promise of a sequel. And this character's eccentricity makes an admirably significant contribution to the laughs department.

Since the first part shows signs of a big success judging by the footfalls in theatres during the weekend, I expect the sequel to be a sure thing. Let's hope the makers spring more surprises in that one.

'Romancham' Malayalam film review: Rewarding horror-comedy high on laughs

Vividity is a strong suit of director Jithu Madhavan’s debut feature, Romancham. It’s a mark of the detailing that went into the home of the film’s central characters. It’s also a mark of the character sketches. After I came out of the movie, it’s not the horror aspects that I remember the most, but the faces of these characters and their perfectly timed interactions.

They don’t give the impression of ‘actors’ who met for the first time; they convey the camaraderie of guys who have known each other for the longest time and have been sharing a home for years. The level of detailing is such that you could almost smell their home. Maybe one of these men isn’t into taking baths that often. When another character looks at the condition of their home after a night of partying and wonders aloud if it’s a pigsty, you nod your head in agreement. It does look like one until the same man, Nirup, cleans it up.

The film begins with Soubin Shahir’s character recollecting a story. Although it starts with him and proceeds through his point-of-view, he isn’t really what you call the ‘main character’. That label fits all the seven men who live under the same roof, starting with Nirup (Sajin Gopu, from Churuli and Jan-e-Man), the bossman of the pack. He has the poise and stature of a man commanding an army. But he also reveals a vulnerable side, at the expense of which we occasionally get some laughs.

It’s the little things—like someone mistakenly calling him ‘Nirodh’ or how, in another instance, his softer side gets exposed when he is talking to his parents, something which he doesn’t want his housemates to know. I describe this sketch of Nirup because the makers have given all the other characters the same degree of attention. Everyone has their share of distinct quirks and mannerisms that make them different from others. For example, there is a whole gag involving a Hans consumer and how Nirup is trying to ‘reform’ him. It’s almost like an implicit tobacco warning from the film. 

Romancham is at its funniest when it explores the idiosyncrasies of these characters, particularly after Soubin’s character introduces them to the idea of summoning ghosts through an OUIJA board, and you get to see how they react to this newfound supernatural phenomenon. The admirable quality of all these actors—some of whom are fresh faces—is that they don’t always have to say anything to make you laugh. There were multiple instances in the film where audience members, including yours truly, were cracking up at how these characters looked at each other or how they behaved when they were by themselves or sharing the same frame. One can’t help but recall classics like In Harihar Nagar, Godfather, or Ramji Rao Speaking. The last time a Malayalam film came this close to creating that kind of ‘classic’ male-male bonding on screen was Jan-e-Man.

For obvious reasons, I’m not going to write about every little detail, but suffice it to say that the film gets to have a lot of fun with the material. It gives a fresh twist to the horror-comedy genre. The presence of a spirit is naturally supposed to elicit some fear, but Romancham is not interested in making us supremely uncomfortable. Its interest lies in extracting comedy from scenarios that terrify those living in the house but are comical to distant observers like us. At one point, Chemban Vinod Jose makes a hilarious cameo. 

That said, it doesn’t entirely leave out the scare factor, but it does it in a way that doesn’t make you want to hide like Mr Bean in that horror movie episode. And having a composer like Sushin Shyam, who is coming up with some really cool stuff these days, helps contribute to the overall hip vibe the film is going for, even when the characters are not. 

If you suspect the entire film revolves around the OUIJA board, fret not; you’ll be surprised at the direction the film takes after the interval. When Arjun Ashokan’s character enters the picture, Romancham becomes a different kind of movie—sort of like a second chapter whose connection to the pre-interval portions only becomes more evident by the time we get to the third act, the conclusion of which is followed by the promise of a sequel. And this character’s eccentricity makes an admirably significant contribution to the laughs department.

Since the first part shows signs of a big success judging by the footfalls in theatres during the weekend, I expect the sequel to be a sure thing. Let’s hope the makers spring more surprises in that one.

Film: Romancham Director: Jithu Madhavan Cast: Soubin Shahir, Sajin Gopu, Siju Sunny, Arjun Ashokan Rating: 4/5

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Romancham review: Great debuts make this Soubin horror comedy a fun watch

If for some reason, you have wondered about the lives of young people living in cramped houses away from home with standard bachelor negligence to matters of hygiene, Romancham gives a lifelike replica of seven such men, drawn from corners of Kerala to ‘one end of Bengaluru’. The writer and director of the film Jithu Madhavan had warned us that the film is about real-life events, much before its release. The chilling one-liner of the film says how a game of Ouija board affected the lives of seven friends in a house in 2007. How Jithu manages to bring it out with a curious mix of horror and humour is what makes it a great debut by him, helped by brilliant performances from a relatively new cast, and the music of Sushin Syam.

Romancham opens with the most familiar face among the seven: Soubin Shahir waking up with blurry eyes in a hospital. He tells his tale involving the six other men of the house and a few more (women are far and few between but forgivably so, given the circumstances) to a sympathetic nurse. All seven in the house have very distinct personalities and if you are the skeptical sort, you’d wonder how much of one man’s narration of the past you can trust. For even when he talks about each of them, he skips his own tale – what does he even do? To be fair, he doesn’t make himself sound like a saint. All the men are endearingly flawed.

Sajin Gopu plays the indisputable leader of the gang, his deep voice and “natural” fitness satirising the macho man when he breaks into a shrill scream as terror strikes. Siju Sunny looks like he fell from the 1970s with his sideburns and curly head of hair, but the marked disdain of an addict crumbles in the face of horror. Afzal PH and Abin Bino are remarkable as men of small stature with unique traits, their quickly fading expressions a treat to watch. Jagadeesh Kumar plays the “businessman” in the group, unmindful of his several failures remaining as boxes of commodes across the house. Anantharaman, a film critic, plays perhaps the most ‘decent’ of the lot, with a job, a girlfriend, and a load of faith.

Watch: Trailer of the film

The Ouija board comes into the midst of this gang, shaking their daily lives, which mostly involved slacking off, drinking, and playing games (Soubin’s character for some reason hates outdoor games). The horror part of it makes a slow entry, as the games yield nothing at first and become a joke between the men until the board seems to act on its own. The bored expressions, the quick exchange of words, and the sudden switch to wonder, shock, and fear are too good. It makes you laugh and it makes you scared. You can either laugh at your fears or hide your fear behind your laughs. You can also try to find logic among all that chaos to calm your inquistive mind down.

Soubin, after a few poor outings, is back in form. It is difficult to believe most of the other actors are new, or only a few films old. Even the others visiting the house, like the Ouija expert DJ, are fun to watch. If you are the nostalgic kind, you can also revel in the pleasures of an old world (2007 is 16 years away), when mobile phones were not “smart” enough to take all your time.

Jithu also makes the script tight. He doesn’t linger over the Ouija board for too long. He lets it have its run and then brings new characters to the screen. Arjun Ashokan appears as a surprise package, a man who can bring the creeps even as he smiles too often and acts too friendly. Chemban Vinod too has an endearingly witty cameo. Behind the screen, Sanu Thahir works the camera to bring you warm shots, like the one in which Soubin and Sajin walk on either side of a goofy Arjun in the night, as another of Sushin’s gripping songs flows into the screen.

With such a package, the horror and the comedy come off really well. But if you are not quite a fan of horror, chances are that you might have trouble with the viewing, despite the comedy accompanying it.  

Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the series/film. TNM Editorial is independent of any business relationship the organisation may have with producers or any other members of its cast or crew.

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പ്രേക്ഷകർക്കും ‘രോമാഞ്ചിഫിക്കേഷൻ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍’; രോമാഞ്ചം റിവ്യൂ Romancham Movie Review

Published: February 03 , 2023 02:30 PM IST

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വളരെ ലളിതമായ ഒരു കഥ. തികച്ചു സ്വാഭാവികമായ കഥാപരിസരം. പക്ഷേ ഒരു ഓളത്തിലിരുന്ന് സിനിമ കണ്ടുകണ്ട് ചിരിച്ച് ഊപ്പാടിളകുകയെന്ന അനുഭവം ഏറെക്കാലത്തിനു ശേഷമാണ് തിയറ്ററിൽനിന്നു കിട്ടുന്നത്. ഉറപ്പിച്ചു പറയാം, കാണികൾക്കു രോമാഞ്ചിഫിക്കേഷനുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന അനുഭവമായി ‘രോമാഞ്ചം’ മാറുന്നുണ്ട്.

സംഗീത സംവിധായകൻ സുഷിൻ ശ്യാം ഒരുക്കിയ ട്രെൻഡിങ് സോങ്ങായ ‘നിങ്ങൾക്കാദരാഞ്ജലി നേരട്ടേ..’ കേട്ടതുകൊണ്ടാണ് ‘രോമാഞ്ചം’ എന്ന സിനിമ കാണാൻ പലരുമിറങ്ങിയത്. റീൽസിൽ തരംഗം സൃഷ്ടിച്ച പാട്ടാണല്ലോ. ആ ഓളം തിയറ്ററിൽ അനുഭവിക്കാമെന്നതായിരുന്നു പ്രതീക്ഷ. ആ പ്രതീക്ഷ തെറ്റിക്കാതെ കാക്കാൻ സംവിധായകൻ ജിത്തു മാധവനും നിർമാതാവ് ജോൺപോൾ ജോർജും ഗിരീഷ് ഗംഗാധരനുമൊക്കെ പരമാവധി ശ്രമിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.

ഒരറ്റത്ത് സൗബി‍ ഷാഹിറിനെയും മറ്റേ അറ്റത്ത് അർജുൻ അശോകനെയും നിർത്തിയിട്ട് സംവിധായകൻ ജിത്തു മാധവൻ ഇരുവരോടും വെടിക്കെട്ട് തുടങ്ങിക്കോളാൻ പറഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്, ഉറപ്പ്. രോമാഞ്ചത്തിന്റെ കഥ വളരെ സിംപിളാണ്. 2007 കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ബെംഗളൂരുവിൽ ഒരു വീട്ടിൽ വാടകയ്ക്കു താമസിക്കുന്ന ഒരു കൂട്ടം സുഹൃത്തുക്കൾ. തട്ടിമുട്ടി ജീവിച്ചുപോവുന്ന അവരുടെ ഇടയിലേക്ക് രണ്ടുപേർ വന്നു കയറുകയാണ്. രണ്ടുപേരെയും സൗബിനാണ് വിളിച്ചുവീട്ടിൽ കയറ്റുന്നത്. സിറ്റുവേഷണൽ കോമഡി കൊണ്ടുള്ള ആറാട്ടാണ് പിന്നീടങ്ങോട്ട്.

‘ലിഫ്റ്റ് നൽകി വീട്ടിലെത്തിച്ച് ‘സൂപ്പർ നടൻ’ പീഡിപ്പിച്ചത് 3 യുവതികളെ!’ അന്ന് രജനിയേക്കാളും പ്രതിഫലം; കെണിയൊരുക്കിയത് മദ്യരാജാവ്?

2009ൽ ‘മീനു കുര്യൻ’; ഒരു ലക്ഷമെങ്കിലും മതിയെന്ന് 2022ൽ; മുകേഷിനെ രക്ഷിക്കുമോ ‘ലാ‌പ്ടോപ് സന്ദേശ’വും സിപിഎമ്മും?

‘അമ്മ’ ഞെട്ടും മുൻപേ ലോകത്തെ ഞെട്ടിച്ചവർ: അന്ന് നിർമാതാവിനെതിരെ 80 വനിതകൾ, ലൈംഗിക പീഡനത്തിന് കൊടുംതടവ്

ബെംഗളൂരു ബാച്ചിലേഴ്സിന്റെ സൗഹൃദവും കഷ്ടപ്പാടുമൊക്കെ പറഞ്ഞുപോവുന്ന പതിവ് ‘നമ്മഊരു ബെംഗളൂരു’ ടൈപ്പ് കോമഡിപ്പടമല്ല രോമാഞ്ചം. അപ്രതീക്ഷിതമായി സംഭവിക്കുന്ന ഹൊറർ അനുഭവങ്ങളാണ് കഥയുടെ നട്ടെല്ല്. പശ്ചാത്തലസംഗീതമില്ലാത്ത സീനുകളിൽ തീയറ്ററിൽ ചിരികളാണ് മുഴങ്ങിക്കേട്ടത്. ഒരു പക്ഷേ മലയാളത്തിലാദ്യമായിട്ടാവും ‘ഹൊറർ കോമഡി’ ഇത്ര രസകരമായി അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്.

സൗബിനും അർജുൻ അശോകനും ഒരു വശത്ത് തകർത്താടുമ്പോൾ ഒതളങ്ങാതുരുത്തിലെ നത്ത് അബിൻ ജോർജും ജഗദീഷ്കുമാറും മറുവശത്ത് പെടപെടയ്ക്കുകയാണ്. ആദ്യാവസാനം അന്യായ എന്റർടെയ്നറായി രോമാഞ്ചം മാറുന്നത് ഇവരുടെ പ്രകടനം കാരണമാണ്. ഒരിക്കൽപ്പോലും സ്ക്രീനിൽ വരാതെ, എന്നാൽ ആദ്യാവസാനം നിറ‍ഞ്ഞുനിൽക്കുന്ന ഒരു നായികാ കഥാപാത്രം ചിത്രത്തിലുണ്ട്. അതാരാണെന്ന് തിയറ്ററിലിരുന്ന് അനുഭവിച്ചറിയാം.

സിനിമയുടെ അവസാനഭാഗം മാത്രമാണ് അൽപമെങ്കിലും അവിശ്വസനീയമായി പ്രേക്ഷകനു തോന്നുക. എന്നാൽ രോമാഞ്ചം രണ്ടാംഭാഗത്തിലേക്ക് നീട്ടിയിട്ട വാലറ്റമാണ് ക്ലൈമാക്സ്. ആട് ഒരു ഭീകരജീവിയാണ്, അടി കപ്യാരേ കൂട്ടമണി തുടങ്ങിയ ചിത്രങ്ങൾ പോലെ ഒരു ട്രെൻഡ് സെറ്ററാവാനുള്ള സകല സാധ്യതകളും മുന്നിൽ വച്ചുകൊണ്ടാണ് രോമാഞ്ചം അവസാനിക്കുന്നത്.

ജിത്തു മാധവൻ കഥയെഴുതി സംവിധാനം ചെയ്ത രോമാഞ്ചത്തിന്റെ നട്ടെല്ല് സംഗീതസംവിധായകൻ സുഷിൻ ശ്യാമാണ്. സാനു താഹിറിന്റെ ക്യാമറ കഥയുടെ മൂഡ് സെറ്റ് ചെയ്യുന്നതിൽ പ്രധാന പങ്കുവഹിക്കുന്നുണട്. കിരൺ ദാസിന്റെ എഡിറ്റിങ്ങ് രോമാഞ്ചത്തെ മാരകഅനുഭവമാക്കി മാറ്റുന്നുണ്ട്. രോമാഞ്ചം രണ്ടാം ഭാഗം വരാനുണ്ട്. അതുവരെ ‘നിങ്ങൾക്കാദരാഞ്ജലി നേരട്ടേ’...

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'Romancham' review: A refreshingly funny story about a game gone wrong

The humour is not over-dramatic or forced

The plot of Romancham is set in 2007 in Bengaluru and follows the lives of seven bachelors who share a house. The first moments of the film give us a glimpse into their lives and the dynamic of friendship they share. Things change when one of them, Jibi (Soubin Shahir), decides to use the Ouija board, and the events that follow determine the rest of the narrative.

Though the storyline is primarily focused on the series of events that follow, the story is delightfully seasoned with laid-back comedy that appears casual, owing to the dynamic the friends have. The movie brings in some refreshing and relatable fun that helps the audience instantly connect with all the characters.

The tension that certain scenarios create is easily matched with one-liners or comments that are certain to make you chuckle. The film's humour is refreshing since it is never over-dramatic or forced. It was truly simple situations that had the entire audience in stitches.

A noteworthy feature was that the movie was not just humorous at the beginning or finish, but the team managed to have evenly distributed amusing parts throughout the film.

There was no struggle in having so many characters to keep up with, thanks to the well-written characters. Sajin Gopu, Anatharaman Ajay, Siju Sunny, Jagadeesh Kumar, Afzal PH along with the others displayed realistic performances.

Their one-liner jokes and facial expressions that were engaging ensured that the audience feel connected to them. A special mention has to be Arjun Ashokan who played his ‘interesting’ character in the best way possible.

The characters of all the seven were so well-rounded that each of their personalities stood out in their own unique way. This ensures that none of them is left behind and gives them all the space to freely move around in the dynamic. The actors who played supporting roles delivered well even in their limited screen time.

The movie has a set of catchy songs brilliantly made by the Sushin Shyam, that are bound to get stuck in your head. The promo song 'Aadharanjali' is a real banger with over 7 million views on YouTube.

Jithu Madhavan, the director-writer of the movie, ensures that the pace of the plot does not lag at any point and has succeeded in leaving the audience wanting for more.

Film: Romancham

Language: Malayalam

Director: Jithu Madhavan

Cast: Soubin Shahir, Anantharaman Ajay, Sajin Gopu, Arjun Ashokan and others

Rating: 4/5

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'Romancham' review | Smartly-woven humour makes Soubin Shahir-Arjun Ashokan's film a fun watch

'Romancham' is a simple story set in the backdrop of an organic milieu. What really makes the film worth your time is the laugh-out-loud humour that’s smartly woven into the narrative. 'Romancham' is that kind of film that gives you plenty of laughs, while also adding necessary goosebumps, every now and then.

Apparently, a lot of people were drawn towards the film after listening to Sushin Shyam’s trending song, ‘Ningalkk Aadharanjali Neratte.’ After all, the song was a hit among reels. Thankfully director Jithu Madhavan and producers John Paul George and Gireesh Gangadharan have managed to put together a film that absolutely lives up to our expectations.

While watching 'Romancham', you get the feeling that Jithu put Soubin Shahir and Arjun Ashokan at opposing ends and told them to have a blast. The story is very simple. The film which is placed in 2017 is about a bunch of friends who live in a rented flat in Bangalore. They are struggling to make ends meet and into their lives enter two people. It is Soubin who invites both of them into the house. What follows soon after are scenes laced with laugh-out-loud situational humour.

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'Romancham' isn’t your typical Bangalore-based bachelor comedy tale that revolves around friendship and struggles. The film’s backbone has to be the unexpected bouts of horror that are cleverly done. During scenes that had no background score, the audience was rolling with laughter. Perhaps this is the first time that a horror comedy has worked this well in Malayalam.

Along with Soubin Shahir and Arjun Ashokan, 'Othalanga Thuruthile Nathu' actor Abin Bino and Jagadish Kumar are having great fun on screen. Their fantastic performance is what leaves everyone in splits. There is a heroine in the film who never makes a physical appearance but you can feel her invisible presence throughout the film.

Maybe it is only towards the end portions that the audience might feel a bit unbelievable. But then the tail-end climax hints towards a second part. 'Romancham' ends with the hope of a stunning sequel like 'Adi Kapyare Koota Mani' and 'Aadu Oru Beekara Jeeviyalla'.

Sushin Shyam is the backbone of this film written by director Jithu Madhavan. Sanu Tahir’s camera has helped in setting the tone of the narrative. And Kiran Das’s razor-sharp cuts make ‘Romancham’ a fantastic experience. Hopefully, the second part will be there. Till then let’s give it up for ‘Ningalkk Aadharanjali Neratte'.

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Directed by Jithu Madhavan

Set in 2007, at Bengaluru, A game of Ouija board goes hilariously wrong when seven bachelors unexpectedly invite a spirit and try to make the best out of the situation.

Soubin Shahir Sajin Gopu Abin Bino Afzal P H Siju Sunny Jagadeesh Kumar Anantharaman Ajay Arjun Ashokan Joemon Jyothir Chemban Vinod Jose Deepika Das Assim Jamal Aditya Baskar Thankam Mohan Jolly Chirayath Soorya Kiran Pooja Mohanraj Premnath Krishnankutty Sneha Mathew Sibi Joseph Sreejith Babu

Director Director

Jithu Madhavan

Producers Producers

Johnpaul George Soubin Shahir Girish Gangadharan Sushin Shyam Annam Johnpaul Joby George Thadathil P. K. Jinu

Writer Writer

Editor editor, cinematography cinematography.

Sanu Thahir

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Suraj Philip Jacob

Production Design Production Design

Vinesh Banglan

Composer Composer

Sushin Shyam

Songs Songs

Vinayak Sasikumar

Sound Sound

M. R. Rajakrishnan

Costume Design Costume Design

Mashar Hamsa

Makeup Makeup

R G Wayanadan

Johnpaul George Productions Guppy Cinemas Goodwill Entertainments

Alternative Title

Comedy Horror

Crude humor and satire Spooky, scary comedy Show All…

Releases by Date

03 feb 2023, releases by country.

• Theatrical U

132 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Ananthooo

There a scene where a rat looking at the rat cemetery, cinema peaked there

Review by Michael James ★★★ 3

A refreshing horror comedy that is quite smartly written with well fleshed out characters and some hilarious laugh out loud moments. Wasn’t much into it during the early portions, but right from Ouija board entry, the drama starts to get interesting and just as you think it was gonna take a cliched predictable route, Arjun Ashokan enters and keeps the proceedings engaging once again. The climax doesn’t provide the expected roundup punch. However, if a sequel is indeed in play, I would be enough excited to give it a shot. The apt casting, solid performances, crisp editing and perfect complementary music make sure it ends up a worthy fun watch.

Review by Pranav ★★★★

When we were 13, me and my friends had a camp at our school where we made an Ouija board out of cardboard and used some coins and candles to summon the spirit of Blooody Mary at 3 in the night. Ofcourse nothing happened, but everyone was scared and huddled together to welcome the visitor to our rooms but became disappointed as expected. Romancham made me reminisce those times again.

Malayalam cinema has a dearth of hangout movies, and Romancham is the rare instance where the director manages to use an age-old concept to deliver a clever, brisky paced and smart horror comedy that uses it's talented cast to their full extent, and as I mentioned above it's the ultimate…

Review by Jawshoeaah ★★★★ 1

they didn’t have to do my boy chemban like that 😢☝🏻

Review by NimmUwU ★★★★ 14

Fun fun fun soo fucking fun This was such an amazing joyride. Horror movies and comedy movies are generally quite hard to pull off but these guys pulled off both together soo effortlessly in such a fun way. The comedy is so good and flows with the movie's pacing. The characters are all so likable and well-fleshed out and are performed brilliantly by such great actors like each scene is like every actor is outperforming each other for the spotlight in such a convincing and real manner. Technically also the movie is very good, every department has done well, also the frames with the rats and the graves were godly holy shit itenta kubriko? .They hit the comedy notes and…

Review by Yadhu Krishnan ★★★

Scrolling through the other reviews here, I'm not sure if we watched the same movie. The plot is non-existent, music infringing and so many face close-up zooms like an office episode. I understand the comedy is the main focus here and it blended with the horror genre. Except the beginning and the ending, the humor worked for me. In most places, I was also involved in the laughter riot with the theater audience.

There were two particular instances where the whole theater was laughing continuously close to almost a minute - the Chemban Vinod scene and Arjun Ashokan scene(You will know when you watch). Credits where it's due - the audio of glass moving on carrom board was ASMR. Romancham…

Review by jack ★★★★½ 2

sinu's smile will haunt me forever

Review by cinema_made ★★★½

Amidst the countless formulaic horror-comedy genre films, Romancham comes as a breath of fresh air. The way of approach is so natural. The film carries the horror element in a simple way and that’s what makes it believable. The movie is crackling from start to finish, although the characters are not greatly penned, somehow the director has set the film in a way that everybody contributes immensely in their given space. Not that the film is flawless, the fun factor rubs off the existing issues. There are places in the first half we get to be confused on where the story is leading to.

Another feather in the cap in Soubin Shahir’s career, the natural performer casually hits it out…

Review by Graham ★★★ 5

With its story set among true events that took place in Bangalore in 2007, Romancham is really quite engaging, and it has a wonderfully energetic soundtrack too (without the boom-shacka-lacka song and dance nonsense that often overpowers such comedy films). This is currently tagged as horror/comedy, but it's only really horror in the same way as Hot Fuzz... i.e. some Ouija board ghostly spirit themes, but nothing in the slightest bit scary.

While it is well presented and has plenty of genuinely funny moments, it's hard to connect with any of these men-babies who seem intent on behaving like a bunch of annoying 15-year-olds throughout. The main problem though, is that Romancham went on and on and had absolutely no business being a 2+ hour film.

Review by FKAGoregirl ★★★

This is Jithu Madhavan's directorial debut and it's apparently based on true events that he and his friends experienced at college. Jibin (Soubin Shahir) is in the ICU with meningitis desperate to tell his friends something but he's denied by the nurse. His friends are his housemates Rivin (Anantharaman Ajay), Niroop (Sajin Gopu), Shijappan (Abin Bino), Mukesh (Siju Sunny), Karikuttan (Afzal PH), and Soman (Jagadeesh Kumar). Jibin and his pals like playing sports and partying but after a while they are looking to try something new. Jibin finds just the answer when he's hanging with another friend group and they are playing with a ouiji board. He decides to get his pals to try a carrom board (substitute for ouiji)…

Review by Mystic River ★★★

A hilarious laugh riot. The film is a breathe of fresh air in the stale horror-comedy genre and the biggest win of Romancham is its casting. The actors share terrific chemistry with eo and even make some unfunny one-liners land. I was invested throughout and the interval block was amazing in particular. I don't know how I feel about Romancham 2 tbh, but I also want to know more and see more. As long as the sequel (if at all they're planning to make) is not a cash grab and has a tight bound script, I'm in. The casting director really did his/her best job with this one. Go for this with your friends gang. It's worth it.

Review by Ritwiq BS ★★★★ 1

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Myr thooritu kazikiyo avo 😥

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‘Romancham’ is based on a real-life incident that I experienced: Malayalam director Jithu Madhavan

Director jithu madhavan talks about how he mined personal experience to make the blockbuster malayalam film romancham.

February 18, 2023 01:29 pm | Updated February 21, 2023 01:08 pm IST

Jithu Madhavan on the sets of Romancham with actor Soubin Shahir. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Seven friends and their tryst with the ‘supernatural’ in the Malayalam film Romancham has had audiences in splits since its release. Billed as a horror-comedy, the movie elicits more laughs than shivers. That the film is inspired by real-life incidents comes as a surprise as the end credits roll when we see a photograph of the seven ‘ Romancham originals’.

Turns out that the film’s director Jithu Madhavan was one of the seven who shared a house in Bengaluru. “Yes, it is based on my experience. It was scary then, but now after all these years it is funny,” says the debutant director who also wrote the script. 

Jithu is basking in the film’s success, it is one of big hits so far. Did he expect this? “All films are made with the expectation that they will do well! Likewise, we too. Those who saw it prior to the release liked it. But the final test is the audience’s response.” Romancham is running to full houses, even the morning shows being fully booked on working days.     

Romancham pivots around the happenings that follow the arrival of an ouija board in the house where the seven men live. Pulling off situational comedy, and consistently eliciting laughs is not easy but Romanacham effortlessly scores. The film is reminiscent of the 90s hit capers such as In Harihar Nagar and Ramji Rao Speaking .

“I did not ‘work’ for the laughs. The story is inspired by incidents that happened, and each time I narrated the story, people burst out laughing. There is humour even in the silences,” says the 34-year-old. 

The casting is apt, with each actor living their role. Headlined by Soubin Shahir, the other actors are Arjun Ashokan, Sajin Gopu, Siju Sunny, Afzal PH, Abin Bino, Anantharaman Ajay, and Jagadeesh Kumar. Chemban Vinod Jose appears in a cameo. 

“Most of the actors are not mainstream film actors but they are hugely popular for their work in other media such as TikTok, for their Reels and web series. They were picked without auditions; I am a huge fan of their work. I had not chosen them for their resemblance to the original people but for how well-suited they were for the roles,” he says over the phone. The popularity of the actors too would have been a factor in the film’s success. 

The aeronautical engineer from Veliyannoor, Kottayam, quit his job to give films a go in 2014. He was an assistant director for films such as Utopiyile Rajavu , Guppy , Maradona and Ambili before striking out solo. He would have made his directorial debut sooner had it not been for the pandemic, and perhaps with another story. 

It was a call to Johnpaul, who he assisted on Guppy and Ambili, and whom he considers a mentor, that led to the director producing the film. “I called Johnpaul to ask him whom to approach [to narrate the story]. That is when he asked to listen to it, and when I was done, he said he would produce it.” He credits the entire team for the film’s success, especially editor Kiran Das and music director Sushin Shyam. 

Costume designer Mashar Hamsa comes in for special praise, especially for Siju Sunny’s Mukesh’s ‘costume’. The character is always seen in a lungi and a fur-collared leather jacket. “We looked around everywhere for it but could not find the exact kind, then Mashar sourced two jackets and fashioned the one Siju wears in the film. Yes, my roommate Mukesh would always be in a lungi, over which he would wear that jacket if he had to step out.”   

Soubin was the first actor to come on board as Jibin Madhavan. We see the actor in a comic role after a long time. Arjun Ashokan, the last to join the film, is impressive as Sinu Solomon. 

Who among the seven friends is him? “I am Jiby. I can only tell what happened from my point of view [Soubin is the narrator]. I have not changed any of the names of my roommates from then, except mine. They complained in jest that while I retained all their names, I changed mine. It was just that I would have felt strange referring to my name during the filming — that is the only reason I changed it.”   

Jithu has started work on his next project, which he does not want to talk about now. Contrary to feeling pressured by the massive success of his first film, he feels responsible and thrilled in equal parts when he thinks about the expectations from his second film. “People liked my first film, the onus is now on me to deliver with my next film too.” 

As the film ends it hints at, what many think, a second part. Jithu refuses to commit, except with a ‘maybe’. “It cannot be just for the sake of it. It has to be fitting for the film that Romancham is… I can’t say anything now.”  

Romancham is playing in theatres. 

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Trailer Video

Romancham Malayalam Movie

First-time director Jithu Madhavan's "Romancham" (goosebumps) is a film so funny that it will have you rolling on the floor, laughing. The film is about the paranormal experiences of a group of friends living in a Bangalore house. The gang summons a spirit with the Ouija board game. Initially, they have some fun with the game, but it soon becomes a bit serious.

Now, the Ouija board is usually a filmmaking trope that evokes a sense of fear in the audience. Most filmmakers use it to scare the living daylights out of the viewers. However, the makers of Romancham use the Ouija board game mostly to bring out some laughter in the theater.

There is not a lot in the way of plot in the film, but it works mainly on moments of sheer improvisation. It helps that writer-director Jithu Madhavan conceives clever and hilarious scenarios, such as the one where an Ouija spirit reveals a piece of information that casts doubt on who one's father is. The sudden arrival of a new guest complicates matters while leaving room for more hilarity.

There are also other elements that make Romancham such a fun ride. Jithu gives us enough details about his characters to help us better relate to the situational gags involving each of them. One of them has a job, some of them are awaiting the results of interviews, and another has a failed water closet business. It is funny how they use unsold units of the closet. At a philosophical level, the closet symbolizes the low state of their lives to some extent.

Now, I wonder how much Romancham works as a horror comedy. There are hardly any scary scenes in the film, although it has elements of the horror genre. Sushin Shyam's music lacks a foreboding soundtrack. "Aadharanjali" and "Athmave Poo" veer more towards the funny side.

Acting-wise, everyone is in fine form here. Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan, and Sajin Gopu nail one of the funniest sequences in the film. Siju Sunny makes wonderful use of such a thin line of a character idea, and Abin Bino has a killer expression or two. "Appuppan and the Boys" YouTuber Anantharaman Ajay plays arguably the least funny character here. It is such a joy to see the cast at work.

From a plot perspective, however, the movie is not complete. It is unclear how the ghost ends up at their house. One wonders whether there is even a ghost. The film ends with a promise of a sequel. Maybe Romancham Part II will give us the goosebumps that the title promises.

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Romancham: Brilliant writing with hilarious dark comedy.

I was surprised to see a Malayalam movie in Coimbatore with a full house theatre.

The best parts of this movie are the humorous conversation and acting. The Chemban Vinod scene, as well as two other situations, caused viewers to laugh uncontrollably.

It is a well-made film with an easy-to-follow plot, and audiences thoroughly enjoyed it. After the intermission, I observed people hurrying to their seats with popcorn so they wouldn't miss a single scene.

The film doesn't have any flaws, right? Indeed, there are. But these downsides are not severe. Nonetheless, the director may see them as improvements for the sequel. 1) The story doesn't begin for 30 minutes. 2) The same settings give off a faint serial-like vibe.3) Unsatisfactory conclusion.

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Romancham review: An incomplete fun ride that keeps audiences wanting for more

Barring the vague climax, the film has good enough comedy and horror elements that engage the audience throughout.

Published:Feb 04, 2023

Jithu Madhavan's 'Romancham' movie is a horror comedy. (Twitter)

An appreciable attempt by debutant director!

Romancham (Malayalam)

• Cast: Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan, Chemban Vinod, and Sajin Gopu
• Director: Jithu Madhavan
• Producers: Soubin Shahir, John Paul, and Girish Gangadharan
• Music: Sushin Shyam
• Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
• Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Revathy
• Director: Maneesh Sharma
• Producer: Aditya Chopra
• Music: Pritam Chakraborty
• Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

An Ouija board has seldom been a character in Malayalam movies. But yeah, Mammootty-starter Aparichithan (2004) introduced the Ouija board to the Malayali audience.

Even though the film didn’t do well at the box office, the spirit board, and the spirits, were discussed even by school students. Nearly a decade later, Romancham deals with an Ouija board. But, here, the spirits rarely turn to fierce acts.

Romancham is the story of a group of youngsters living in Bengaluru, who come across Ouija boards and a spirit named Anamika.

Since these youngsters are jobless, they have enough time to enjoy their urban life. But it’s not a bachelor-type movie like Mariyam Vannu Vilakoothi or Kili Poyi.

Soubin Shahir as Jibi and Arjun Ashokan as Siju are known faces in the movie. The rest of the actors are newcomers, mostly.

Chemban Vinod Jose also has a brief role in this humorous film.

Fun and horror

Romancham is a fun-filled movie that is similar to the Tamil movie Goa and the Malayalam flick Nee Ko Nja Cha.

It’s party time for the seven friends in the movie. If one is addicted to drugs, another one uses Pan Parag. As their life goes forward, Jibi is fascinated by the Ouija board and he insists his friends play it with him.

The reluctant friends finally start to use the spirit board and the happenings that follow, are the main plot of the movie.

Also Read: The Great Indian Kitchen (Tamil) review

Situational comedy works out in Romancham . But, at the same time, some moments just don’t make the audience laugh.

‘Romancham’ movie poster. (Twitter)

A movie with comic and horror elements is a good combination. Malayalam movies such as Pakal Pooram and Vellinakshatram are those that worked to an extent when this formula was tried.

Romancham also works with comedy and horror, but has loose ends that could have been trimmed. Since the movie is more focused on comedy, even the horror moments draw loud applause in the theatre.

Based on real-life incidents

The story of the movie is based on real-life incidents of a group of youngsters in 2007 that happened in Bengaluru.

The script by debutant director Jithu Madhavan is a decent one. Even though his efforts have to be praised, the film ends as an incomplete one. A second part is planned by the crew, as per the climax.

Old mobile phones and motorbikes are some of the nostalgic elements the makers have tried to embrace in the movie.

The songs by Sushin Syam, especially Aadharanjali Neratte, have a fan following in Instagram reels.

There are many references in the movie that hooks the audience. For example, the conversation between Jesus Christ and the Hindu God Krishna, and the image of an actress.

Soubin Shahir and the team of young actors are good at delivering humour.

Vague ending

A poster of ‘Romancham’ Malayalam film. (Twitter)

The main problem with the film is its vague end. The audiences sit inside the cinema hall for more than two hours hoping for the story to clarify everything.

Arjun Ashokan’s character should have been explored more, especially in the second part. His character is incomplete. Even the identity of the ghost needs to be explained.

Understandably, the movie has a second part. But there are also movies like Adi Kapyare Kootamani , which ended with the entry of a ghost in the climax. Let’s hope that Romancham 2 will start rolling soon.

However, it is an honest attempt by a group of youngsters who also joined hands together as producers — director John Paul, cinematographer Girish Gangadharan, and Joby George.

Romancham is a fun ride that is incomplete in its making but keeps the audience curious through to the end.

(Views expressed are personal.)

Tags:  

• Entertainment
• Malayalam cinema
• Movie review

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• What is the release date of 'Romancham'? Release date of Soubin Shahir and Chemban Vinod Jose starrer 'Romancham' is 2023-02-03.
• Who are the actors in 'Romancham'? 'Romancham' star cast includes Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod Jose, Arjun Asokan and Sajin Gopu.
• Who is the director of 'Romancham'? 'Romancham' is directed by Jithu Madhavan.
• Who is the producer of 'Romancham'? 'Romancham' is produced by Johnpaul George,Gireesh Gangadharan.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Romancham

In this Romancham film, Soubin Shahir , Arjun Ashokan played the primary leads.

The Romancham was released in theaters on 03 Feb 2023.

The Romancham was directed by Jithu Madhavan

Movies like Paalum Pazhavum , Haal , Bharathanatyam and others in a similar vein had the same genre but quite different stories.

The Romancham had a runtime of 132 minutes.

The soundtracks and background music were composed by Sushin Shyam for the movie Romancham.

The cinematography for Romancham was shot by Sanu Tahir .

You can watch the Romancham movie on Disney Plus Hotstar,.

On 07 Apr 2023 Romancham was released on the Disney Plus Hotstar, platform.

The movie Romancham belonged to the Comedy,Horror, genre.

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