Director - Aditya Sarpotdar 
Cast - Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha and Saqib Saleem 
Writer - Chirag Garg and Avinash Dwivedi
Platform – ZEE5 
Duration – 1h56m
 
Bollywood's fascination with horror comedies continues with Aditya Sarpotdar's "Kakuda," which dropped on Zee5 amid expectations of delivering thrills and laughs. Set in the fictional village of Ratauri, the film introduces us to a bizarre curse centered around a mysterious entity known as 'Kakuda.'
 
"Kakuda" opens with the intriguing premise of a village where residents must be indoors by 7:15 PM every Tuesday or face an ominous attack by Kakuda, leaving them with a fatal bump and a ticking clock towards their demise. This setup immediately draws comparisons to films like "Stree" and "The Ring," blending supernatural horror with comedic elements.
 
The film's cast, led by Sonakshi Sinha as Indira, brings energy and humor to their roles. Sonakshi shines as the anchor of the narrative, portraying a woman frustrated with her father's constant matchmaking attempts. Saqib Saleem as Sunny and Asif Khan as Kilvish deliver memorable performances, injecting humor and levity into the storyline. Riteish Deshmukh's portrayal of the ghost hunter Victor, while entertaining, feels familiar and lacks innovation compared to previous quirky roles he has portrayed.
 
Aditya Sarpotdar's direction maintains a light-hearted tone throughout, focusing on situational comedy and character interactions rather than building suspense or horror. The cinematography captures the rustic charm of the village setting effectively, but fails to capitalize on creating a truly eerie atmosphere that could enhance the horror elements.
 
The screenplay of "Kakuda" struggles with consistency and depth. While the premise is intriguing, the execution feels half-baked, adhering strictly to a predictable three-act structure without exploring the full potential of its characters or supernatural elements. The humor in the dialogues, particularly Asif Khan's lines, lands well, but it's not enough to compensate for the narrative shortcomings.
 
The film touches upon themes of gender dynamics and patriarchy within the village, albeit in a superficial manner. Indira's struggles with societal expectations and blame-shifting during crises add a layer of social commentary, but these themes remain underdeveloped and fail to leave a lasting impact.
 
"Kakuda" is a mixed bag that entertains in parts but ultimately falls short of its potential. While the comedic performances and lighthearted approach make it watchable, the lack of genuine scares or a cohesive narrative arc detracts from its overall impact. The character dynamics and humorous moments are its strengths, but they aren't enough to elevate the film beyond a forgettable genre entry.
 
Despite its promising premise and talented cast, "Kakuda" struggles to balance its horror and comedy elements effectively. It remains an enjoyable watch for fans of the genre seeking light entertainment, but those expecting substantial scares or a deeper exploration of its themes may come away disappointed.
 
"Kakuda" is available for streaming on Zee5, offering a blend of supernatural comedy that entertains but leaves much to be desired in terms of storytelling depth and emotional resonance.