Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies (2026) Movie ft. Roshan, Vishak, and Arjun
Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies introduces WWE-style wrestling to Malayalam screens. The film stars Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew, Vishak Nair, and Ishan Shoukath as childhood friends building an underground wrestling club. Adhvaith Nayar directs his first feature while Reel World Entertainment handles production.
Music legends Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy step into Malayalam cinema with this project. The January 22, 2026 release runs 2 hours 14 minutes. This wrestling drama aims straight at the hearts of people who spent their teenage years glued to WWE broadcasts.
A Story Built On Brotherhood And Dreams
Three kids from Fort Kochi grow up worshipping a local wrestling hero named Walter. Savio (Arjun Ashokan), Vetri (Roshan Mathew), and Little (Ishan Shoukath) let life pull them apart for years. When they meet again, that old fire still burns inside them.
They launch Friday Fight Night bringing WWE theatrics to their neighborhood. Local powers don’t welcome this change though. Family pressures mount while society pushes back. Their own personalities clash creating internal storms. Yet something keeps dragging them back to that wrestling ring together.
The framework stays traditional with heroes facing clear opposition. I won’t claim the story surprised me at any turn. But watching it felt different from reading about it. These characters don’t need plot twists when their raw commitment shines through every scene.
Acting That Lifts Every Frame
Arjun Ashokan and Roshan Mathew pour everything into these roles. Their bond feels real despite limited script depth. Roshan commands attention as Vetri, carrying demons from his past. His explosive nature threatens the group dynamic constantly. Arjun balances this energy with calmer strength as Savio.
Vishak Nair brings genuine texture to his supporting character. Ishan Shoukath rounds out the trio with solid work. Veterans like Siddique and Lakshmi Menon fill their parts competently. Fresh faces add believable grit to this wrestling underground.
Mammootty’s appearance as Walter sparked endless debates before release. His few minutes on screen pack serious weight. Some viewers felt transported to another dimension watching him. Others wanted more story impact from this moment. I found myself somewhere between both camps watching his presence dominate that ring.
A Director Who Chooses Boldness
Adhvaith Nayar gambles big for a newcomer behind the camera. He cranks everything to maximum volume and brightness. The film never whispers when it can shout. Realism never enters his playbook here. He wants your pulse racing not your brain analyzing.
Cinematographer Anend C. Chandran paints with shadows and vivid colors. Red and yellow tones splash across frames. Tight spaces become electrified zones where anything can happen. You stop watching a movie and start experiencing a live event. That shift happens because of deliberate visual choices throughout.
Fight choreographer Kalai Kingson crafts wrestling moves that honor the art form. Bodies crash with convincing force while maintaining theatrical flair. Anyone who remembers Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Rock will recognize these rhythms. The film respects what wrestling meant to a generation of Indian kids.
Technical Elements Working In Harmony
Editor Praveen Prabhakar understands pacing matters differently across both halves. Early scenes take their time building world and relationships. This patience tests some viewers. Post-interval though, speed increases and intensity multiplies. The editing reflects how wrestling matches build toward climactic moments.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy craft tunes that amplify without overpowering scenes. Their songs gained streaming traction before theatrical release. Mujeeb Majeed scores background music that swells during key wrestling beats. Sound design deserves credit for making impacts feel physical through theater speakers.
Moments That Connect And Thrill
When arena lights dim and wrestlers enter, magic happens. Pure spectacle takes control during these sequences. The film delivers entertainment without apologizing or intellectualizing. Nostalgia hits hard for anyone who taped WWE broadcasts on VHS back in the day.
Every cast member commits fully regardless of material limitations. Performances maintain interest even through weaker writing. Visual presentation stays distinctive with striking photography and production design choices. Action sequences, camera work, and audio mixing all serve the theatrical experience.
The second half justifies the slower first half. Patience gets rewarded with increased momentum and satisfying payoffs. The film knows its identity and never pretends otherwise.
Elements That Miss The Mark
Emotional depth stays frustratingly shallow throughout. These characters live through actions not internal development. I wanted to understand their motivations beyond surface details. Backstories exist but rarely resonate deeply. The writing prioritizes myth-making over character exploration.
Plot progression follows expected patterns with minimal deviation. Early scenes stretch longer than necessary. Major moments get telegraphed well in advance including that famous cameo. Some comedic attempts land awkwardly disrupting flow.
Several viewers report struggling to care emotionally despite technical excellence. Relationship dynamics needed sharper writing to generate real investment. The ending divided audiences with some finding it underwhelming after sustained buildup.
How Critics And Viewers Responded
Professional reviewers offered balanced perspectives. Onmanorama appreciated visual style while questioning narrative substance. The Week praised memorable characters comparing the film to classic 90s Malayalam crowd-pleasers. Rotten Tomatoes noted strong individual scenes lacking overall cohesion.
Online reactions split between enthusiasm and disappointment. Many labeled it perfect “popcorn entertainment” for big screen viewing. Comments highlighted impressive scale, confident style, and effective action design. Others called it India’s first legitimate WWE-inspired film bringing childhood memories alive.
Negative voices criticized average second half execution. Complaints targeted weak writing and absent emotional connections. The anticipated cameo generated wildly different reactions from transcendent to forgettable. Nearly everyone agreed theatrical viewing enhances the experience significantly through scale and sound.
Rating: 3 out of 5
