Ring the changes malayalam cinema enters the wrestling arena

MUMBAI: When cinema steps into the ring, subtlety is the first thing thrown out. Shemaroo Entertainment has partnered producer Shihan Shoukath to present and distribute Chatha Pacha – The Ring of Rowdies across India and international markets, marking a bold push into large-scale regional cinema. Slated for a theatrical release on January 22, 2026, the film positions itself as Malayalam cinema’s first-ever WWE-style sports entertainment spectacle, promising noise, nerves and raw emotion in equal measure.

The film signals a decisive shift in tone and ambition. Loud by design and unapologetically mass in its approach, Chatha Pacha blends spectacle with sentiment, aiming to travel beyond language barriers through scale and universality. For Shemaroo, the partnership extends its strategy of backing distinctive regional stories with pan-Indian potential, as it continues to widen its theatrical and international footprint.

Commenting on the collaboration, Shemaroo Entertainment head of international business and India digital syndication Nishith Varshneya said the film stood out for its fearless concept and emotional core. He noted that while the film is bold and mass-driven, it remains rooted in human drama, making it accessible to audiences well beyond Kerala.

Producer Shihan Shoukath described the project as a labour of ambition, conceived to push Malayalam cinema into uncharted territory without compromising on storytelling. He added that partnering with Shemaroo gives the film the scale and confidence needed to take such an unconventional idea to audiences across cultures and geographies.

Directed by Adhvaith Nayar, nephew of veteran actor Mohanlal, the film follows a group of ex-convicts who form an underground wrestling club. Set in Fort Kochi, the narrative uses the wrestling ring as a metaphorical battleground, where survival, pride, failure and redemption collide. Nayar, a protégé of filmmakers Jeethu Joseph and Rajeev Ravi, said the film combines high-octane adrenaline with deeply human stories of brotherhood and second chances.

Adding to its national pull is the music. Chatha Pacha features a score by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, marking the celebrated trio’s first-ever Malayalam project, a milestone that amplifies the film’s cross-market appeal. The ensemble cast includes Mammootty in a special role, alongside Vishakh Nair, Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew, Ishan Shoukath and Carmen Mathew.

As rivalries intensify and the law closes in, the characters’ fight for survival transforms into a deeper search for identity and dignity. With its blend of sports spectacle and emotional storytelling, Chatha Pacha – The Ring of Rowdies is shaping up as a gamble that could redraw the boundaries of mainstream Indian cinema, one body slam at a time.