Latest news with #ShihanShoukath
Khaleej Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Felt like one of our own': Dubai filmmaker on casting Khalid Al Ameri in 'Chatha Pacha'
The Malayalam WWE-inspired action-comedy Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies has been generating quite the buzz lately, thanks to the unexpected guest appearance by Emirati social media favourite Khalid Al Ameri. But for Dubai-based filmmaker Shihan Shoukath, who is helming the big-ticket production under his banner Reel World Entertainment, the decision felt like a no-brainer. 'I often joke with [Khalid] that he's an adopted Malayali. The love Malayalis — especially in the Gulf — have for Khalid is something else. So when he walked onto set, it felt like one of our own showing up,' Shihan tells Khaleej Times. 'He brings this really warm, grounded, and humorous energy to everything he does, and that totally fed into the way we built his character. It was a fun mix of who he is, plus a twist to fit the tone of our crazy, chaotic world,' he adds. And with 30 days of filming now wrapped, Chatha Pacha is already turning heads, not just for the surprise cameo, but also for its star-studded cast, throwback WWE energy, and highly-anticipated soundtrack, marking Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's Malayalam film debut. Wrestling, rain and rowdies On paper, Chatha Pacha sounds like a fever dream: a Malayalam film set in Fort Kochi, where three estranged brothers come together to start their own WWE-style wrestling club. But in Shihan's hands, it's become a love letter to childhood obsessions, familial chaos, and the raw conflict of growing up in a place where dreams don't come easy. 'When the story came to me, I was instantly hit with this childhood memory of watching WWE with my brother and even my grandmother crammed into one living room, screaming every time someone did a chokeslam,' Shihan recalls. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies (@chathapachathefilm) 'That mix of chaos, brotherhood, and obsession with wrestling was so unique to our growing up. And I thought, what if we captured that energy, but rooted it in a very entertaining, local story? That's how Chatha Pacha was born. A total mad fusion of nostalgic WWE fandom and emotional Malayalam storytelling.' Star-studded cast and more With a star-studded cast including Roshan Mathew, Arjun Ashokan, Vishak Nair, and Ishan Shoukath (Dubai-based actor and Shihan's younger brother, last seen in a breakout performance in Marco), the energy on set has been anything but ordinary. 'It's been wild. Pure madness in the best way possible," says Shihan. "We were shooting in the rain, in real locations, with extras who are actual wrestling fans,' he adds. 'There were several moments when our legendary cinematographer, Anend C Chandran, framed our young child actors, and they spontaneously came up with improvised dialogues, wrestling moves, expressions. Everyone just froze. And I remember thinking to our director, Advait: this is connecting in ways we didn't even expect." And for the WWE fans, yes, there will be wrestling. Full-blown, sweat-dripping, bone-crunching wrestling. 'We're not taking wrestling lightly at all,' he adds. 'Our stunt director Kalai Kingson studied WWE's psychology, and even though it's stylised, it's grounded in real physicality. We even cast people with legit fight training. When the punches land, you will feel it.' How you could land a cameo Even before hitting the big screen, Chatha Pacha has been making noise where it counts. The film's GCC and overseas theatrical rights were recently acquired by Dubai-based distributor The Plot Pictures for a landmark sum, cementing it as one of the most valuable overseas deals in Malayalam cinema. Add to that, the music rights snapped up by a major Indian label, driven by the buzz around Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's debut. 'The soundtrack is on another level, honestly,' says Shihan. 'There's one track that's kind of a rebel anthem, which is already stuck in everyone's heads.' Meanwhile, the #ChathaPachaChallenge on social media has taken on a life of its own. Fans from across India and the Gulf are recreating their wildest WWE-style wrestling moves for a chance to score a cameo in the film. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies (@chathapachathefilm) Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies is slated for theatrical release later this year. And if the buzz is anything to go by, then our countdown has already begun!
Khaleej Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Felt like a perfect welcome': Khalid Al Ameri on his Malayalam film debut
When you think of Emirati pop culture, very few names capture your imagination quite like Khalid Al Ameri. For years, the content creator has chronicled the quirks and contradictions of life in the Gulf region with humour, heart, and an infectious sense of curiosity. But this weekend, when news broke that he would be making his film debut — of all places, in a Malayalam action-comedy — the Internet was set abuzz. Beyond just an influencer-turned-actor headline, it felt like a cultural crossover we didn't know we needed. Even more intriguing? The film, Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies, is being produced by Dubai-based filmmaker Shihan Shoukath. A Cannes-recognised storyteller, Shihan's debut short film Deadline won Best Original Story at the World Film Festival. Since then, he has co-founded Reel World Entertainment, a production company rooted in cross-cultural storytelling. And with Chatha Pacha, the production house aims to set the tone for a bold new chapter in Malayalam cinema — one that straddles the line between nostalgia, larger-than-life madness, and a deeply rooted emotional core. 'I was having a conversation with Shihan about a crossover film when he suggested I fly over to Kochi and spend a few days on set, just to learn about the industry and how things work,' Khalid tells Khaleej Times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies (@chathapachathefilm) 'That alone was exciting for me. I love learning more about the industry. But then he surprised me by offering a cameo in Chatha Pacha. I've never done anything like this before, so it felt like the perfect welcome to the industry," he adds. For Khalid, it was also about stepping into a world he'd long admired from afar. 'The South Indian film industry is such a rich, powerful world built on incredible creativity and storytelling. I feel lucky to have experienced even a small part of it.' Surprise collab or long-time brewing? Speaking of the collaboration, Shihan adds, 'Khalid's actually a good friend and we've been in conversation for a while now about doing something together, especially a Malayalam film. The more we spoke, the more it started to feel real. When Chatha Pacha came along, I just knew there was this perfect window where he could come in and make a moment truly memorable.' As for what that role actually looks like? 'Without giving too much away, what I'll say is, audiences are definitely going to get the Khalid they love, but also see him in a way they've never seen before,' he shares. Though brief, Khalid's appearance marks a meaningful cultural crossover — a further nod to the UAE-India artistic bond that continues to grow stronger. "His short cameo isn't just for the sake of it, it actually plays into the mood and the movement of the scene. And yeah, there's definitely going to be a cheer in theatres when he shows up, especially in the UAE!" Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies, starring Roshan Mathew, Arjun Ashokan, Vishak Nair, and Ishan Shoukath (Dubai-based actor last seen in Marco), is slated for theatrical release later this year.
