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Chaaver
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTinu Pappachan
Written byJoy Mathew
Produced byArun Narayan
Venu Kunnapilly
Starring
CinematographyJinto George
Edited byNishadh Yusuf
Music byJustin Varghese
Production
companies
  • Arun Narayan Productions
  • Kavya Film Company
Release date
  • 5 October 2023 (2023-10-05)[1]
Running time
128 minutes[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Chaaver (transl. Suicide Squad) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller film directed by Tinu Pappachan and written by Joy Mathew. It is produced by Arun Narayan and Venu Kunnapilly under the banners of Arun Narayan Productions and Kavya Film Company. The film stars Kunchacko Boban, Arjun Ashokan and Antony Varghese.[3][4][5] The music was composed by Justin Varghese, while the cinematography was handled by Jinto George and editing by Nishadh Yusuf.[6]

Chaaver was released on 5 October 2023 to mixed reviews from critics and bombed at the box office.[7]

Plot

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Ashokan, Musthafa, Asif and Thomas are political goons who are on the run after being involved in a problem. Musthafa requests Arun, a medical student and the son of a late veteran communist party leader, to provide first aid to Ashokan as he was apparently injured while trying to fix their jeep. Arun takes his friend Sooraj's bike and reaches the location with some first-aid. Before helping Ashokan, Arun asks Musthafa and Ashokan about the injuries as the injuries aren't due to trying to fix any vehicle, but he does not get a proper answer from either of them. They promise to leave Arun after he is done applying the first-aid. During all this events it is also shown that Ashokan getting from instructions from GK, a party leader.

They stop the jeep at a secret location to avoid being seen by anyone while the first-aid is being applied, but they spot a group of Theyyam performers coming towards them and immediately leave the location. They reach a house and rest there for the time being as they have lunch. Arun refuses to eat with them as he is scared and doesn't know about the happenings. As they are having lunch, Arun overhears Ashokan's conversation between others and understands that they are on the run after killing a Theyyam performer named Kiran. Arun later asks Musthafa about killing Kiran, where Musthafa replies that it was all for the party.

The murder of Kiran leads to protests all over the town and the police are actively on the hunt for the murder suspects.

Later, GK calls Ashokan and tells him that the police are tracing their whereabouts and they need to leave their current location immediately. Before leaving, Thomas tries to dispose the remaining bomb by throwing it into a well, but the bomb blasts inside the well, creating further problems. The police capture Sooraj and start questioning him as his bike was present near the location where Kiran was killed, but Sooraj tells that he is unaware of what happened and refuses to reveal Arun's name to the police. Arun manages to escape the place when the bomb blasts and reaches a house, where he asks a person living there for some water.

Meanwhile, Ashokan and the others get worried that Arun might reveal their details to the police and set out to find him. They find him after sometime and take him with them. Musthafa reveals to Arun that he is now at risk of being a suspect. Later that night, Ashokan calls another party leader Mukundan and tells him to make some other people surrender to the police or he will be forced to reveal all the other political killings he has done for the party. Asif and Thomas then split from the group and leave home. Ashokan, Musthafa and Arun drive to a hideout situated in a hilly region and decides to stay there until GK sends his henchmen over to the police station. In the background Mukundan calls GK and tells him that he will take of everything. It is then shown that Asif while returning home is killed in a hit and run accident .

Musthafa takes Arun and goes outside to make a call and learns that he and Ashokan were used by GK to kill Kiran as his daughter was in relationship with Kiran, who is from a lower caste. Thinking Ashokan is also in on this, Musthafa instructs Arun to run away and confronts Ashokan but they are shot at by an unknown assailant. At the same time, Ashokan also gets to know from another party sympathiser about the treachery committed by GK and decides to leave the place. As he is about to leave , GK's henchmen surround the house and shoot at him. Musthafa who got separated from Arun reaches the house and somehow gets inside as the henchemen are shoot at it. Picking up a hunting rifle from one of the rooms, Musthafa meets up with Ashokan who reveals that he was also cheated by GK. Suddenly one of the stray bullets hits Musthafa in his shoulder. Ashokan then picks up the rifle and starts shooting back at the henchmen. He manages to shoot them down but he and Musthafa get critically injured in the process. At that time, Arun who was being chased by another henchman, manages to lose him and gets back to the house. Seeing him, Ashokan gives the keys of the jeep to Arun and tells him to leave them be and escape from there. Ashokan and Musthafa succumb to their own injuries, while Arun successfully escapes from the hilly region after the henchman who was chasing him gets blown up after hitting an electrified fence.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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Chaaver marks the third directorial of Tinu Pappachan after Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil (2018) and Ajagajantharam (2021).[9] The film is produced by Arun Narayanan and Venu Kunnapilly under the banners of Arun Narayanan Productions and Kavya Films.[9] It also marks Tinu Pappachan's third collaboration with Antony Varghese and the first collaboration with Kunchacko Boban.[10]

Release

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Theatrical

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The release date of Chaaver was postponed several times.[11] The film was initially planned to release on 20 July 2023.[12][13] The release date was later pushed to 21 September 2023 and then to 28 September.[14][15] Prior to its release, the film was given a U/A certificate by the Censor Board.[16] The film was released on 5 October 2023.[17]

Home media

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SonyLIV acquired the digital rights of the film.[18] It premiered on 24 November 2023.

Reception

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Box office

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The film earned $58,913 in the United Arab Emirates, $1,815 in New Zealand and $1,390 in Australia.[7][19]

Critical response

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S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote "Chaaver shows why mere technical excellence cannot make a film work. All of Tinu Pappachan's craft could not save a poorly-written film."[20] Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "Tinu Pappachan's Chaaver, starring Kunchacko Boban in the lead role, explores violence stemming from political rivalry. However, the film's aestheticisation of violence does not align with its central theme."[21] Cris of The News Minute gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "What helps 'Chaver' stand apart though is Tinu Pappachan's treatment of it, which is as raw as it is aesthetic."[22]

Gopika ls of The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Chaaver is a movie that stands out because of its making. Even with a weak script, the film works because of how the scenes are planned and the refreshing frames. It's not really a new story, but the presentation and the fantasy elements make it a watchable film."[23] Nirmal Jovial of The Week gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "A tightly woven and more engaging third act would have taken Chaaver to the next level. It's highly probable that the film may face criticism, especially upon its release on OTT platforms."[24] Princy Alexander of Onmanorama wrote "Despite the finesse in filmmaking, the script, which boldly explores how party leaders use their workers as pawns, at times is a letdown."[25]

Vishal Menon of Film Companion wrote "It's as though the film only works in an abstract form with the characters not amounting to any real feeling."[26] Sajin Shrijith of Cinema Express gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Tinu Pappachan's obsession with good-looking frames often reaches self-indulgent, near-fetishistic heights."[27] Neelima Menon of OTTPlay gave 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "Chaaver's promising premise is let down by its tiresome, weakly written narrative, executed by a woefully self-indulgent filmmaker."[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Kunchacko Boban's 'Chaaver' censored with a U/A certificate; release date confirmed!". The Times of India. 29 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Chaver". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. ^ "പിന്നിൽ തെയ്യം, മുന്നിൽ കത്തിയെടുത്ത് ചാക്കോച്ചൻ,'ചാവേർ' ഒഫീഷ്യൽ ടൈറ്റിൽ ലുക്ക്‌". Mathrubhumi. 2 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Chaaver Movie : Tinu Pappachan's death arrives; Chacochan and Pepe as stars; Motion Teaser". Zee News Malayalam (in Malayalam). 28 January 2023. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Kunchacko Boban in Tinu Pappachan's 'Chaaver', here's the first look - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  6. ^ "'Chaaver' second look motion poster out!". The Times of India. 30 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Chaver". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Tinu Pappachan's third film's title announced by Mammootty". The Prime Time. 28 January 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Chaaver Movie : ടിനു പാപ്പച്ചന്റെ ചാവേർ എത്തുന്നു; താരങ്ങളായി ചാക്കോച്ചനും പെപ്പെയും; മോഷൻ ടീസർ". Zee News Malayalam (in Malayalam). 28 January 2023. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Anticipation soars as Kunchacko Boban starrer Chaver's first look revealed". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  11. ^ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (27 September 2023). "Chaaver: Tinu Pappachan explains why the Kunchacko Boban-starrer's release date is delayed". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Kunchacko Boban's action thriller 'Chaaver' release postponed! Read more". The Times of India. 30 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Kunchacko Boban and Tinu Pappachan's action flick 'Chaaver' will hit the big screens in July". The Times of India. 23 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Tinu Pappachan's Chaaver locks a release date". Cinema Express. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Is Kunchacko Boban's 'Chaaver' releasing on September 28? Check out the latest poster". The Times of India. 14 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  16. ^ "ഒറ്റ കട്ട് മാത്രം, സെൻസറിംഗ് കഴിഞ്ഞു, ചാവേര്‍ റിലീസ് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച് നിര്‍മാതാവ്". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Malayalam). 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Kunchacko Boban's action-packed thriller 'Chaaver' to release on October 5". The Times of India. 28 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Chaaver on OTT: Where to watch Kunchacko Boban's action drama after its theatrical release". OTTPlay. 21 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Chaaver". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  20. ^ Praveen, S. R. (5 October 2023). "'Chaaver' movie review: Tinu Pappachan's craft fails to save a poorly-written film". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  21. ^ Suresh, Anandu (5 October 2023). "Chaaver movie review: Tinu Pappachan, Kunchacko Boban film uses bloodbath to convey the message that bloodshed is wrong". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  22. ^ Cris (5 October 2023). "Chaver review: Kunchacko-Tinu Pappachan film is a visual treat let down by the script". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023.
  23. ^ ls, Gopika (6 October 2023). "Chaaver Movie Review : A watchable film with a weak script but fabulous making". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  24. ^ Jovial, Nirmal (5 October 2023). "Chaaver review: This hard-hitting political drama is a story of two halves". The Week. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  25. ^ Alexander, Princy (5 October 2023). "'Chaaver' movie review: Script is a handicap for Tinu Pappachan's directorial". Onmanorama. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  26. ^ Menon, Vishal (5 October 2023). "Chaaver Review: Tinu Pappachan's Spectacular Imagery In An Uneven Drama About Martyrs And Their Lost Cause". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  27. ^ Shrijith, Sajin (5 October 2023). "Chaaver Movie Review: Stylish imagery masks frustratingly deficient writing". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  28. ^ Menon, Neelima (5 October 2023). "Chaaver Review: Style Trumps Substance In Kunchacko Boban-Starrer". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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