Kakuda (film)

2026-04-22T13:23:53Z

73.39.160.5: quick cleanup article and improved wording

{{Short description|2024 Indian film by Aditya Sarpotdar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kakuda
| image = Kakuda poster.jpg
| caption = Official release poster
| director = [[Aditya Sarpotdar]]
| producer = [[Ronnie Screwvala]]
| writer = Avinash Dwivedi<br />Chirag Garg
| based_on =
| starring = [[Riteish Deshmukh]]<br />[[Sonakshi Sinha]]<br />[[Saqib Saleem]]
| narrator = 
| music = Gulraj Singh
| cinematography = Lawrence D'Cunha
| editing = Faisal Mahadik
| studio = [[RSVP Movies]]
| distributor = [[ZEE5]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2024|07|12}}
| runtime = 116 minutes<ref>{{cite news |title=EXCLUSIVE: CBFC replaces 'tits' with 'kids' in Riteish Deshmukh-Sonakshi Sinha starrer Kakuda; also removes 'harami', 'c*****a'|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/exclusive-cbfc-replaces-tits-kids-riteish-deshmukh-sonakshi-sinha-starrer-kakuda-also-removes-harami-ca/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=12 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Kakuda''''' is a 2024 [[Hindi]]-language [[comedy horror|horror comedy]] [[film]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kakuda: Victor aka Riteish Deshmukh reveals he has a setting with ghost; Watch |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/kakuda-victor-aka-riteish-deshmukh-reveals-he-has-a-setting-with-ghost/5fbcbd868f36 |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref> directed by [[Aditya Sarpotdar]] and produced by [[Ronnie Screwvala]], under [[RSVP Movies]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Taank |first=Shagun |title=Kakuda: Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh And Saqib Saleem Are "Triple Trouble" In New Film |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kakuda-sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukh-and-saqib-saleem-are-triple-trouble-in-new-film-2490572 |access-date=4 January 2023 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=July 20, 2021}}</ref> It stars [[Riteish Deshmukh]], [[Sonakshi Sinha]], [[Saqib Saleem]] and [[Aasif Khan]] in the lead roles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kakuda Movie (2024) {{!}} Release Date, Review, Cast, Trailer, Watch Online at Zee5 |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/kakuda-movie-126726 |website=[[NDTV|Gadgets 360]] |access-date=11 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Kakuda' to star Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh |url=https://telanganatoday.com/kakuda-to-star-sonakshi-sinha-and-riteish-deshmukh |access-date=18 April 2023 |work=[[Telangana Today]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]] |date=20 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh to star in Bollywood horror comedy 'Kakuda' |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukh-to-star-in-bollywood-horror-comedy-kakuda-1.80775974 |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=[[Gulf News]] |date=20 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> It is written by Avinash Dwivedi and Chirag Garg. It was released on ZEE5 on 12 July 2024.

== Plot ==

The story is set in Ratodi, a village cursed by the ghost Kakuda, who appears every Tuesday at 7:15 pm. Each house has a small door that must be opened at that time; if not, Kakuda enters, kicks the male resident responsible, causing a fatal hump to appear, and the victim dies after 13 days.

Sunny, a local, marries Indira despite her father’s objections. On their wedding night, Sunny forgets to open the small door and is cursed by Kakuda. Indira, skeptical of the supernatural, seeks medical help, but the curse persists. She then consults Victor, a ghost hunter, who investigates Kakuda’s origins.

Through their investigation, they learn Kakuda was once a kind circus dwarf who healed villagers with his right kick but was falsely accused of an affair and killed by the villagers. Seeking revenge, his spirit now haunts the village.

Victor, Indira, Sunny, and others devise a plan to defeat Kakuda by targeting his supernatural right leg. After a confrontation involving possession and deception, Victor manages to sever Kakuda’s leg, breaking the curse. Sunny recovers, and the villagers are freed. The story ends with a hint that the supernatural threat may not be entirely gone.

== Cast ==
* [[Riteish Deshmukh]] as Victor Jacobs, a ghost hunter
* [[Sonakshi Sinha]] in [[dual role]]s as
**Indira "Indu": Sunny's wife
**Gomati: Indira's twin sister
* [[Saqib Saleem]] as Sunny
* [[Aasif Khan]] as Kilvish
* Hemant Singh as BulBulaa
* Mahesh Jadhav as Kakuda
* [[Rajendra Gupta]] as Indira's father
* [[Neelu Kohli]] as Indira's mother
* Taniya Kalrra as Gilloti
* [[Yogendra Tikku]] as Kishanchand, Sunny's father
* Alok Gutch as Bespectacled old villager
* Sameer Khakkar as Kalamandi Goyal

== Production ==
The film was announced by the producer Ronnie Screwvala on 20 July 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronnie Screwvala's 'Kakuda' to star Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2021/07/20/kakuda-to-star-sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukh.html |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]] |date=July 20, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
[[Principal photography]] of the movie started on 20 July 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Srivastava |first=Samriddhi |title=Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh's horror-comedy Kakuda shoot begins today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/sonakshi-sinha-and-riteish-deshmukh-s-horror-comedy-kakuda-shoot-begins-today-1830323-2021-07-20 |access-date=5 January 2023 |work=[[India Today]] |date=July 20, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bhasin |first=Shriya |title='Kakuda' starring Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha goes on floors |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/kakuda-starring-riteish-deshmukh-sonakshi-sinha-goes-on-floors-720746 |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=[[India TV]] |date=20 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sonakshi Sinha, Saqib Saleem and Riteish Deshmukh come together for Kakuda |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/sonakshi-sinha-saqib-saleem-and-riteish-deshmukh-come-together-for-kakuda-49642.html |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=[[Filmfare]] |date=July 20, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The film was shot in places across [[Gujarat]] including the village called [[Vaso, India|Vaso]] ([[Kheda District]]) and near the port area of Mandvi, Kutch.<ref>{{cite news |last=Panchal |first=Komal RJ |title=Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha and Saqib Saleem start shooting for horror-comedy Kakuda |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/riteish-deshmukh-sonakshi-sinha-and-saqib-saleem-start-shoot-horror-comedy-kakuda-7413311/ |url-access=limited |access-date=5 January 2023 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=20 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The unit wrapped up on 17 September 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sonakshi Sinha pens a note of gratitude for her team as they wrap up horror-comedy film Kakuda : Bollywood News |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/sonakshi-sinha-pens-note-gratitude-team-wrap-horror-comedy-film-kakuda/ |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=6 July 2023 |language=en |date=18 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=⚡Kakuda: It's a Wrap for Sonakshi Sinha's Upcoming Horror-Comedy Movie in Bhuj |url=https://www.latestly.com/quickly/entertainment/bollywood/kakuda-it-s-a-wrap-for-sonakshi-sinha-s-upcoming-horror-comedy-movie-in-bhuj-2803196.html |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=LatestLY |language=en}}</ref>

== Release ==
Initially scheduled for a theatrical release, it was changed to a streaming release on [[ZEE5]] on 12 July 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Bhavana |title=Kakuda OTT Release Date Confirmed |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/ott/kakuda-to-directly-release-on-ott-platform-zee5-900402 |access-date=24 June 2024 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=22 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Verma |first=Prerna |title=Kakuda OTT Release: When and where to watch Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem's spooky comedy |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/kakuda-ott-release-when-and-where-to-watch-sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukh-and-saqib-saleems-spooky-comedy-1319244 |access-date=24 June 2024 |work=[[Pinkvilla]] |date=21 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mukherjee |first=Anindita |title=Sonakshi Sinha looks terrified in 'Kakuda' 1st poster with Riteish Deshmukh |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/sonakshi-sinha-kakuda-first-poster-riteish-deshmukh-saqib-saleem-aasif-khan-2556351-2024-06-21 |access-date=24 June 2024 |work=[[India Today]] |date=21 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name = Kakuda
| type = soundtrack
| artist = Gulraj Singh
| released = 05 July 2024
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 06:56
| language = Hindi
| label = [[Zee Music Company]]
| misc =
}}

The soundtrack is composed by Gulraj Singh and lyrics is written by Manoj Yadav.

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
|total_length= 06:56
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Bhasma
| extra1 = [[Divya Kumar (singer)|Divya Kumar]], Gulraj Singh
| length1 = 3:04
| title2 = Shukra Guzaar
| extra2 = [[Aditi Paul]], Gulraj Singh
| length2 = 3:52
}}

== Reception ==
On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], 20% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4/10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kakuda {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kakuda |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[Shubhra Gupta]] of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' commented "‘Kakuda’ jumps into a predictable hump, and stays there."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Shubhra |author-link=Shubhra Gupta |title=Kakuda movie review: This Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh film is out to plague us |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kakuda-movie-review-this-sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukh-film-is-out-to-plague-us-9448238/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=12 July 2024 |language=en}}{{rating|1|5}}</ref> Reviewing for ''[[Rediff.com]]'' [[Deepa Gahlot]] gave the film 2 stars only and stated "''Kakuda'' has a paint-by-numbers, catch-the-trend-before-it-fades feel to it."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gahlot |first=Deepa |author-link=Deepa Gahlot |title=Kakuda Review: Neither Scary Nor Funny |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/kakuda-review/20240711.htm |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=[[Rediff.com]] |date=July 11, 2024 |language=en}}{{rating|2|5}}</ref> Monika Rawal Kukreja of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' gave a negative verdict "The film suffers from an extremely dull screenplay where events unfold in the most bizarre manner, not laving any impact."<ref>{{cite news |last=Rawal Kukreja |first=Monika |title=Kakuda review: Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh's horror comedy is bland and silly |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/kakuda-review-sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukhs-horror-comedy-is-bland-and-silly-101720780510493.html |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=July 12, 2024}}</ref> Sana Farzeen of ''[[India Today]]'' observed "The story is quite a winner, but their screenplay could have been tighter."<ref>{{cite news |last=Farzeen |first=Sana |title='Kakuda' Review: Sonakshi Sinha-Riteish Deshmukh's film is all humour, no horror |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/kakuda-review-sonakshi-sinha-riteish-deshmukh-saqib-saleem-2565173-2024-07-11 |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=[[India Today]] |date=11 July 2024 |language=en}}{{rating|3|5}}</ref>

Devesh Sharma of ''[[Filmfare]]'' also gave a negative review "The film's feeble attempts at humour fall flat, failing to provoke even a chuckle."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Devesh |title=Kakuda Movie Review {{!}} Filmfare.com |url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/bollywood-movies/kakuda-movie-review-67190.html |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=[[Filmfare]] |date=July 11, 2024 |language=en}}{{rating|2.5|5}}</ref>

Shreyanka Mazumdar of ''[[CNN-News18|News18]]'' gave 3.5/5 stars and commented "Despite the flaws, the film is an enjoyable film that effectively uses folklore to create a sense of pervasive dread."<ref>{{cite news |last=Mazumdar |first=Shreyanka |title=Kakuda Review: Riteish Deshmukh Delivers Impressive Performance, But Sonakshi Is the Scene-Stealer |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/kakuda-review-riteish-deshmukh-delivers-impressive-performance-but-sonakshi-is-the-scene-stealer-8960984.html |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=[[CNN-News18|News18]] |date=11 July 2024 |language=en}}{{rating|3.5|5}}</ref> Nandini Ramnath of ''[[Scroll.in]]'' explored "The movie has very mild scares, ample tomfoolery, and no ambition of being anything beyond a time-passer."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |title='Kakuda' review: Very mild scares and cheerful silliness |url=https://scroll.in/reel/1070256/kakuda-review-very-mild-scares-and-cheerful-silliness |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=11 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=15181064}}
* [https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/kakuda/0-0-1z5581177 ''Kakuda''] on [[ZEE5]]

[[Category:Indian comedy horror films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language comedy films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language horror films]]
[[Category:Films set in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films shot in Gujarat]]
[[Category:ZEE5 original films]]

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Kakuda (film)