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Romancham

Romancham (transl. Goosebumps) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language horror comedy blockbuster film written and directed by Jithu Madhavan in his sensational directorial debut, produced jointly by Johnpaul George, Soubin Shahir, and Girish Gangadharan under the banners of Guppy Amrita Avenues and Johnpaul George Productions. Set against the chaotic, vibrant backdrop of urban Bengaluru during 2007, the story draws authentic inspiration from real-life incidents experienced by director Jithu Madhavan during his formative bachelor years living in a shared rented house. The narrative chronicles the everyday misadventures of seven young Malayali bachelors—Jibin Madhavan, Niroop, Mukesh, Hari, Shivalingam, Rivin, and Niranjan—who reside in a rundown suburban rental home. Burdened by persistent unemployment, mounting debts, romantic rejections, unpaid utility bills, and aimless domestic lethargy, the group navigates daily existence through petty quarrels, casual carrom tournaments, and perpetual daydreaming of effortless get-rich-quick schemes. Everything shifts dramatically when Jibin meets an acquaintance named Sayed, who introduces him to the world of occult spirit communication. Driven by idle curiosity, playful skepticism, and an urge to alleviate household boredom, Jibin convinces his housemates to experiment with a homemade Ouija board. What begins as a lighthearted late-night prank swiftly spirals into an uncanny psychological and supernatural roller-coaster when a mysterious female entity identifying herself as Anamika answers their invocation. As unexplained occurrences begin taking place around the house, eerie coincidences accumulate, and trivial predictions made by the board uncannily come true, an enigmatic friend named Sinu Solomon arrives at the house, claiming a direct spiritual conduit to Anamika. With Sinu exhibiting deeply unsettling nocturnal sleepwalking behaviors, the bachelors descend into acute paranoia, sleeplessness, and uproarious situational hysteria. Romancham subverts classic horror tropes by wrapping its eerie tension in authentic camaraderie, deadpan realism, and situational comedy. Elevated by Sushin Shyam's infectious soundtrack, Sanu Tahir's atmospheric cinematography, and flawless ensemble chemistry, Romancham emerged as an unprecedented box office juggernaut, grossing over ₹70 crore worldwide to become one of the most profitable and beloved Malayalam films of 2023.