Chatha Pacha Trolls: Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies, the Malayalam action-comedy directed by Adhvaith Nayar and written by Sanoop Thykoodam, has once again found itself at the centre of discussion. The film began streaming on Netflix on February 19 in Malayalam, along with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. A day after its digital debut, online platforms are witnessing reactions, memes and renewed criticism.
The film, which was released in theatres on January 22, follows three brothers who launch an amateur, WWE-style underground wrestling promotion in Fort Kochi. Featuring Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew, Vishak Nair and Ishan Shoukath in lead roles, the project blends action sequences with comedy against a local backdrop. Supporting roles include Siddique and Lakshmi Menon.
During its theatrical run, the film received mixed responses, particularly regarding its narrative structure and a cameo appearance by Mammootty. The veteran actor appeared in a brief role as a character named Walter. However, his sync-sound dialogue delivery became a talking point among audiences. Some viewers felt the audio quality and delivery did not sit well within the overall tone of the film.
In the lead-up to the OTT release, reports suggested that the makers had taken steps to address this criticism. Walter’s portions were reportedly re-dubbed for the streaming version in an effort to avoid repeating the same concerns that surfaced in theatres. Viewers who have watched the digital version have pointed out noticeable differences in the audio track.
Despite the corrective measure, social media platforms on February 20 continue to host a wave of trolls and commentary. Screenshots, short clips and comparative posts between the theatrical and OTT versions are being widely shared. While some users have acknowledged the change, others have continued to question the initial execution.
Technical Team Behind Chatha Pacha
The film’s technical team includes cinematographer Anend C Chandran, with additional cinematography by Jomon T John and Sudeep Elamon. Music for the songs was composed by the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with Mujeeb Majeed handling the original score. Editing was done by Praveen Prabhakar. The project was produced by Shihan Shoukath and Ritesh S. Ramakrishnan under the Reel World Entertainment banner.
As conversations around the film evolve in the digital space, Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies remains available for streaming, drawing fresh attention from viewers who missed its theatrical run as well as those revisiting it online.