One thing I was curious to know when Chatha Pacha was announced was how they were going to place a concept like this against the backdrop of a state like Kerala. For the 90s kids generation out there, WWE is a childhood nostalgia where we used to believe in the myths and legends around all those wrestlers. So a movie that tries to set up such an event in Kochi sounded extremely challenging. However, director Adwaith Nayar and scriptwriter Sanoop Thykoodam succeed in creating a build-up that works in a theatrical experience, and with a fairly good drama in the story, this simple action movie manages to create that festive vibe through several details that rarely feel irrelevant.
The movie is set around three friends, Little, Savio, and Vetri. The boys used to have the support of a local wrestler named Walter. Something that happened in their childhood ended up in a scenario where Little had to leave Kochi. What we see here is the events that unfold in the present day when Little returns to Kochi with a plan to set up a ring for costume gusti, which was Walter’s dream. How he pulls off that seemingly illogical vision and what all comes with that is what we see in Chatha Pacha.
The movie’s treatment actually knows how to add moments that sort of connect with the audience. As soon as the movie begins, we see this chokeslam that really triggers the nostalgic nerves. Then the movie runs into the struggles of Little in convincing his own people and setting up the ring. In those portions, the movie has a very generic feel. But even there, Savio’s crazy move to convince the friends offers some moments of laughter. Where the movie really kicks in is when the ring fight happens towards the end of the first half. Adwaith manages to create an experience where the audience inside the movie and watching the movie are feeling the same thing. You are skeptical about the first fight, you are laughing out loud seeing the background drama of the second fight, and by the time the third fight ends, the whole WWE vibe kicks in, and they drop a banger interval block visual that establishes the conflict.
The drama in this story is not something we have not seen before. It is the same old story of misunderstanding and someone trying to capitalize on those misunderstandings. But it is the packaging that lets that drama run in the backdrop that keeps the movie entertaining. For instance, the equation between Vetri and his daughter is what holds the emotional track in this crazy wrestling film. However, there is hardly a scene there where that track is getting explained through dialogue. In fact, they are showing that kid as the slightly mature one, and the most hilarious scene in the movie is actually the one where this is being used for emotional blackmail. The writing also implements several setups and payoffs in the movie. The clear yet subtle placement of a detail around a particular wrestling move actually elevates the final showdown moment in the most dramatic way.
The technical side of the movie is super solid, especially the way the edits enhance the impact of the well-choreographed visuals. In the pre-interval fight sequence, you are actually appreciating the way they pulled off the signature moves of various characters. And Praveen Prabhakar was able to bring a rhythm to that whole thing with occasional silences right before a grand moment. The sound design also plays a key role in keeping you inside the ring and feeling the pulsating energy. Shankar Ehasan Loy has done the music for the movie, and the title track has a great energy that matches the movie. Somewhere, I thought they could have used a different version of that title song in the final portions of the movie to have a punchy exit. The only thing that felt a bit underwhelming for me was the tail-end portions that sort of lacked the fun the rest of the movie had.
Arjun Ashokan as Savio gets the best character in the lot. From his comfort zone style to doing action and some transformation sequences, Arjun gets the juicy part and makes the best of it. Roshan Mathew had the responsibility of living up to the hype that was getting created around his character. And he was able to live up to that excitement, and even when it comes to action sequences inside the ring, he and Arjun Ashokan were able to create that euphoria through attitude. Vishak Nair, in the initial portions of the movie, is shown as a clown-like villain whose tactics are extremely silly. But Vishak has a reputation for playing eccentricity convincingly on screen, and thus, he wasn’t making that character too much of a fool, and that sort of helps the movie in mounting him as the antagonist. Ishan Shoukath, who was seen doing character roles in movies like Marco and Padakkalam, gets a major character here. Even though it wasn’t necessarily an acting challenge, he was able to make his presence felt with the help of that shirtless scene.
The surprise package in this movie comes in the form of the supporting cast, and the coolest one in the lot was Vedhika Sreekumar as Rosamma. It never felt like the makers had to force a little girl to act like a mature one. Her performance had a great flow. Among the fighters, my favorite was Syamprakash MS, who played the part of heartbroken Bhasmasuran. Syamprakash is actually a cinematographer who has done movies like Jaanaki Jane, Maarivillin Gopurangal, and the recently released Theatre. Dartagnan Sabu as Kadalkomban was hilarious, especially in the emotional blackmail scene. Carmen S. Mathew had that energy to be Nitro Kili. Vyshnav Biju, as the tall Jango Sulthan, was also fun to watch. The much-anticipated cameo from the Moothon felt refreshing for two reasons. He was using that fun Kochi slang, and the wig was much, much better than what we saw in Ozler. As the final fight progressed, somewhere it felt like they could have reduced his lines.
Chatha Pacha takes up a risky idea and gives it a structure with conventional drama. Then it packages it with moments that will keep you invested in the developments in the movie. With the graph never really dropping, I found this movie thoroughly entertaining with enough humor, zero cringe-inducing moments, and stylishly visualized stunts that do justice to the WWE aspirations.
