Kerala Martial Arts Series ‘Chekavar’ Unveiled at Film Bazaar

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran 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.