Kakuda is a 2024 Hindi-language horror-comedy film directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under RSVP Movies. Starring Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha, and Saqib Saleem, the movie blends elements of folklore, humor, and horror, though it received mixed reviews for its execution and pacing.
The story is set in Ratodi, a village cursed by Kakuda, a dwarf ghost. Every house in the village has two doors—one normal and one small. Every Tuesday at 7:15 pm, villagers must open the small door; otherwise, Kakuda enters, kicks the male resident, and causes a hump to grow on their back, leading to death in 13 days. Sunny (Saqib Saleem), a villager, marries Indira (Sonakshi Sinha) but fails to open the small door on their wedding night, resulting in his curse. Indira, a skeptic, initially takes Sunny to a doctor, but when the hump reappears, she seeks the help of Victor Jacobs (Riteish Deshmukh), a quirky ghost hunter.
Victor investigates Kakuda’s origins, discovering that the ghost was once Gullak, a dwarf healer from a circus who was wronged by the villagers. Gullak was falsely accused of an affair with a widow and her son, leading to his house being burned and his death after 13 hours of suffering. To avenge his death, Kakuda returns every Tuesday to punish the villagers.
The film’s climax involves Victor, Indira, and Sunny devising a plan to sever Kakuda’s magical foot, which holds his power. After a series of confrontations, they succeed in freeing the village from the curse. However, the film ends on an ambiguous note, hinting that the curse may not be entirely over.
Despite its intriguing premise, Kakuda struggles with a weak screenplay and lackluster horror elements. The humor often falls flat, and the folklore is not convincingly established. While Riteish Deshmukh’s comic timing and Sonakshi Sinha’s dual role as Indira and her ostracized sister Gomti add some depth, the film ultimately fails to deliver a compelling narrative.
In summary, Kakuda is a mediocre attempt at blending horror and comedy, offering a few entertaining moments but lacking the depth and scares expected from the genre. It is now available for streaming on ZEE5.