Aavesham: Why Was Jithu Madhavan's Romancham Success Different (image-Instagram/jithumadhavan)Director Jithu Madhavan is back with another quirky and entertaining film featuring the incredible Fahadh Faasil, called Aavesham. And it seems that the “aavesham” (pun intended) has reached the audiences with the film amassing over Rs 78 lakhs in pre-sales, an impressive feat. The yet-to-be-released film is garnering a huge amount of anticipation from fans who have seen Mr. Madhavan’s surprise debut hit, Romancham.
A horror flick featuring a Ouija board opening the gates for haunting spirits that create havoc and refuse to leave is a movie that we have seen a hundred times in the past several years. But the 2023 Malayalam film Romancham uses this same trope but gives it a completely different and unique stroke of creativity.
Set in Bengaluru in the year 2007, the film revolves around the lives of seven bachelors, each with their own peculiarities, and their one crazy adventure with the supernatural. What made the film work was its diverse set of characters, their personal struggles with getting a job, getting a girlfriend, and more, all while sharing a one-bedroom apartment. Youngsters couldn’t help but find the characters and the bachelor life on the screen relatable. Mr. Madhavan himself states, “I feel it is familiarity that makes horror really work. When people can imagine these events happening to them, everything becomes funnier and scarier,” as quoted by Film Companion.
What makes the film interesting is perhaps its unconventional casting choice. Instead of picking well-known names, the film decided to go the risky but, if done right, highly rewarding route. With the exception of a few renowned actors like Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan, and Chemban Vinod Jose, the majority of the main cast members were not mainstream actors at all. Handpicked from web series and Instagram reels, Madhavan chose a cast that audiences couldn’t help but rave about after its release.
Abin Bino was working in Dubai when Mr. Madhavan chose him after watching him essay the role of Naththu in a web series called Othalanga Thuruth. With a significant online following built through posting comedy reels during the COVID lockdown, Siju Sunny got a role in the film. Sajin Gopu was selected after he rose to fame with his Jeep driver character in the 2021 film Churuli.
Although the film is led by Soubin Shahir, the narrative does not revolve around one particular actor or character. The story is about all of the seven characters. Other cast members with remarkable performances include Afzal P. H., Jagdeesh Kumar, Anantharaman Ajay, Sreejith Nair, and Joemon Jyothir.
In addition to that, the impromptu and spontaneous humour is further elevated by the incredibly talented Sushin Shyam’s composition and lyricist Vinayak Sasikumar. Capturing the dash of craziness in the characters and the situation they end up in, the zesty music gives the soul to Romancham. “Aadharanjali”, “Aathmave Poo”, and “Thalatherichavar” are some of the tracks that made their way to the hearts and playlists of the audience.
A situational comedy with overtones of the supernatural, Romancham promises a laugh riot without resorting to exaggeration, nonsensical humour, or cheap gags. Weaving the genres of comedy and horror around eccentric characters portrayed by an excellent cast, the film made its way into the hearts of the audiences, leaving them wanting more. While the film is more of a comedy than horror, it does maintain a healthy dose of balance while instilling occasional moments of fear and curiosity within the audience.
And the cherry on top of the already-delicious cake? The film is inspired by real-life events from the director and writer, Mr. Madhavan himself. Although the ending hinted at a potential sequel, Mr. Madhavan has stated that it all depends on a script that is on par with Romancham in terms of story and quality. Notably, the up-and-coming director has previously worked as an assistant director in films such as Utopiayile Rajavu (2015), Guppy (2016), Maradona (2018), and Ambili (2019).
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The sleeper hit Romancham was a commercial and critical success. Made on a tight budget of Rs 3 crore, the film garnered over Rs 70 crore worldwide at the box office, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2023 until it was surpassed by 2018. Currently, Romancham ranks in fifth place. A Hindi remake, Kapkapii, was announced recently by director Sangeeth Sivan, featuring Shreyas Talpade and Tusshar Kapoor in the lead roles.
With his next release hitting theatres on April 11, Mr. Madhavan has clarified that Aavesham and Romancham are not connected in any way. Apart from the fact that both films are set in Bengaluru, the music is composed by Sushin Shyam, and with Vinayaka Sasikumar’s lyrics, the films have no narrative overlap. The standalone commercial package promises action, drama, and the beloved Fafa in a never-seen-before avatar.