134. Romancham; movie review

 

ROMANCHAM

Cert 12A

130 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate supernatural threat, prescription drug misuse

There's been so much trumpeting about Romancham that I was salivating like Pavlov's dog when it arrived on Disney Hotstar.

But Mrs W and I were a tad bewildered early on when it seemed that Jithu Madhavan's movie was just a low-key comedy about a bunch of loser bachelors living together.

However, it moves up several gears after a ouija board is introduced to the house to alleviate the group's boredom.

The story is told to a nurse through the eyes of Jibi (Soubin Shahir) who is being treated in hospital.

He gives her a real flavour of life on the poverty line in Bengaluru and the dynamic between his pals as some of them try harder than others to make a living.

Jibi admits that he tries to stir things up by pretending the house is haunted by fixing the ouija session.

However, this soon backfires on him in many ways as the board's glass points to answers that neither he nor his housemates could possibly know.

There is excellent comedy value behind their shock and surprise and the fun zips up further when Jibi's socially awkward friend (Arjun Ashokan) comes to stay and behaves even more oddly than he expects.

Indeed, Ashokan's character is a real winner with his scary fixed smile and curious routines.

Romanchan works because it is smartly written and very different to any other movie. All of the pals have their own very individual characteristics and it plays on them for laughs.

So, while there is a bit of slapstick, there are also some cleverly earned giggles.

And very surprisingly is it based on a true story!

Regardless, fans will be very pleased that it is already set up for a sequel.

Reasons to watch: Unusual and engaging true story

Reasons to avoid: Takes a while to grab

Laughs: Four

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know?  On February 10, 1891, a Baltimore patent officer awarded a patent for his new toy or game after it was proven to him that the dead could be contacted through a ouija board.

The final word. Jithu Madhavan: "Yes, it is based on my experience. It was scary then, but now after all these years it is funny." The Hindu

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