Chatha Pacha first review out: Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew’s action comedy has ‘old-school Hulk Hogan-John Cena energy’

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Mentioning that Chatha Pacha is likely to emerge as yet another action blockbuster like director Khalid Rahman’s Tovino Thomas-led Thallumaala (2022) and Nahas Hidhayath’s Shane Nigam-Antony Varghese-Neeraj Madhav starrer RDX (2023), the moviegoer also lauded Roshan Mathew’s performance in the film, calling it his best since Oru Thekkan Thallu Case (2022).

“This one smashed out of the ring! Was emotional, fulfilling, and so heartwarming to watch these boys shine and succeed,” one user wrote on her Instagram story, while another person shared, “Chatha Pacha was a blast. Built around a bunch of boys staging WWF-style wrestling in their hometown, the film taps into that old-school Hulk Hogan/John Cena era energy. And the way it’s shot is genuinely brilliant. The fights are pure mass, the adrenaline is real — that’s right, it’s damn real. The casting is fresh with a lot of new faces, and the direction is sharp and confident. A unique idea that really lands. Definitely worth a watch or two.”

Chatha Pacha advance booking and box office collection

Malayalam megastar Mammootty also makes a cameo appearance in the movie, and those who caught the premiere have been raving about it, albeit without giving spoilers. The movie’s trailer also featured a striking glimpse of the legendary actor, seen from behind as he appeared to step into the wrestling ring.

As the advance bookings opened on Wednesday, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal stepped in to fetch the very first ticket for Chatha Pacha. In a video shared by the film’s team on social media, Mohanlal was seen making the first booking and subtly mentioning that a “friend” of his is also a part of Chatha Pacha.

Featuring cinematography by Anend C Chandran, songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, an original score by Mujeeb Majeed, and editing by Praveen Prabhakar, Chatha Pacha will hit the screens worldwide on Thursday, January 22. The movie has already generated significant hype and has translated that anticipation into revenue, as the team announced on Wednesday that the action comedy’s advance sales have crossed the Rs 1 crore mark.