A new streaming series centered on Kerala’s ancient martial art Kalaripayattu is being developed by director Abhilash Vijayan (“That Elephant From the Bridge”) and producer Nithin Lukose (“Paka: River of Blood”) and is participating at India’s Film Bazaar.
Set in 16th century Kerala, “Chekavar” follows a teenage warrior who secretly takes on a mission from the King of Kuttiyadi to lead an army against the rebellious Lord of Palayi, who has executed 44 of the king’s swordsmen. The young protagonist must prove himself worthy of his legendary father Thacholi Othenan’s legacy while mastering Kalaripayattu.
“I’ve been familiar with these stories since childhood. Characters like Thacholi Othenan, Unniyarcha and Aromal Chekavar stood as heroic figures of folk mythology,” Vijayan told Variety. “Later in life, I discovered Japanese Samurai cinema, particularly through the films of Akira Kurosawa, and became an instant fan.”
“The parallels between the lives of the Samurai and the Chekavar are striking,” Vijayan added. “Heroes in both cultures are extraordinarily brave and skilled in combat. A code of honor, loyalty, and sacrifice binds both warrior clans.”
The project’s timing aligns with growing audience interest in Asian warrior narratives, with Vijayan citing recent series like “Shogun” and “Blue Eye Samurai.”
The series draws from Northern Ballads, a genre of Malayalam folk tales celebrating martial art heroes. “At its heart is the journey of a teenager who only has faint memories of his legendary father,” said Vijayan. “Through the stories he has heard, he reconstructs an idealized image of his father and becomes determined to live up to that legacy.”
Lukose, whose feature “Paka: River of Blood” played at Toronto after winning awards at Film Bazaar, connected with the material’s cultural roots. “The stories of Chekavar are those we were listening to while growing up in Kerala that have universal connections with Samurai films,” said Lukose, who was Vijayan’s batch mate at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
The team is currently gathering research materials and seeking co-producers and streaming platforms at Film Bazaar. The series aims to blend elaborate Kalaripayattu action sequences with magical realism elements drawn from Indian tradition.
Film Bazaar (Nov. 20-24) is the project market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI, Nov. 20-28) in Goa.
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