In a time when Bollywood is desperately trying to regain its lost glory, the trailer launch of the upcoming film Kapkappii seemed to reflect everything that's wrong with today's cinematic promotions—emotional manipulation, hollow tributes, and glaring insensitivity.
This morning at 11 AM, the star cast of Kapkappii assembled at Fun Republic Cinepolis, Andheri, to unveil the trailer of their film, set to release on 23rd May. Present at the launch were actors Tushar Kapoor, Siddhi Idnani, Jay Thakkar, Sonia Rathee, Abhishek Kumar, Varun Pandey, Dhirendraa Tiwari, and Dinkar Sharma, alongside producer Jay Patel. Also in attendance were the late director Sangeeth Sivan’s wife, daughter, and son-in-law.
The event began with a moment of silence for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and applause for Operation Sindoor—both current and emotionally resonant topics. However, in a jarring oversight, not a single tribute was offered to Sivan himself—the man who directed the film and, tragically, passed away before its release. The team only remembered to speak of him when prompted by an audience question, raising serious concerns about the priorities behind the event.
Their answers, filled with tears and emotional anecdotes, especially from actress Siddhi Idnani who broke down on stage, seemed to many like a well-scripted PR move rather than a heartfelt remembrance. The absence of any mention of Sivan at the beginning of the launch—despite his family being present—spoke volumes.
This insensitivity was coupled with an attempt to align the film with current nationalistic sentiments, perhaps as a tactic to gain audience empathy. References to India-Pakistan tensions and comparisons with other releases like Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which is facing boycotts, made the event feel more like a calculated media pitch than a genuine film celebration.
Worse still, the trailer received lukewarm reactions. Kapkappii, a remake of the Telugu hit Romancham, left viewers underwhelmed—yet another example of Bollywood’s dependence on remakes over originality. Critics have pointed out that even the trailer fails to carry the charm or thrill of the original.
Adding to the confusion was the absence of lead actor Shreyas Talpade, reportedly recovering from a heart attack suffered soon after filming. His absence was brought up only to be brushed aside as something "not needed to be mentioned," then oddly re-emphasised during the press interaction—again appearing to evoke empathy.
Instead of addressing core media questions about the film's substance, the team focused more on painting a picture of struggle and sacrifice, sidestepping critical discussions. The press conference, ultimately, felt more like an orchestrated PR exercise than a platform for genuine dialogue.
It’s disheartening to see talented actors like Shreyas Talpade and Tushar Kapoor caught up in such hollow strategies. With Talpade’s recent Marathi film The Boys underperforming, and Bhaiaji Superhit already labelled a flop, this should have been an opportunity to reflect on meaningful cinema. Instead, it became a case study in misplaced priorities.
The larger question remains: Is this the face of Bollywood’s comeback? A mix of unoriginal content, emotional gimmicks, and press events that focus more on trends than talent? Cinema halls today feel like revolving doors for remakes, re-releases, and nepotistic line-ups—far removed from the soul-stirring storytelling the industry once stood for.
As Bollywood continues to chase quick attention, it risks losing the trust of its audience, especially when the real heroes—like Late Sangeeth Sivan—are so easily forgotten.