Achayans

Achayans is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language comedy crime thriller film directed by Kannan Thamarakkulam and written by Sethu. It stars Jayaram, Unni Mukundan, Prakash Raj and Amala Paul in lead role as well as Sshivada, Anu Sithara, Sanju Sivram and Adil Ibrahim. Principal photography began in November 2016, with shooting locations being Edakochi and Vagamon. The film was released in India in May 2017 with mixed-to-negative reviews, Despite that, it was a Hit at box office.
The film was later dubbed into Telugu as Marana Mrudangam.

Synopsis

Four brothers - Roy, Tony, Rafi, and Aby - get drunk on the night before Tony's wedding. Their family members send them to a Christian de-addiction centre, but they are kicked out. When they decide to start a road trip, they are accompanied by two women, Reetha and Prayaga, who have escaped from a critical situation. When they reach a hotel on New Year's Eve 2017, they sleep late after the celebration. The next day Reetha is found dead. Finding the culprit and the reason behind her death is the main plot of the film.

Cast

Jayaram as Roy Thottathil
Unni Mukundan as Tony Vavachan
Prakash Raj as Commissioner Karthik Viswanathan IPS
Amala Paul as Reetha Fernandez
*Baby Parthavi as Young Reetha
Sshivada as Jessica
Anu Sithara as Prayaga
*Akshara Kishor as Young Prayaga
Sanju Sivram as rafi
Adil Ibrahim as Aby
Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Roy's mother
Janardhanan as Varkey Vavachan, Tony's father
Ponnamma Babu as Aleyamma Vavachan, Tony's mother
Jayan Cherthala as George, Jessica's father
Usha as Jessica's mother
Siddique as Fernandez, Reetha's father
Anju Aravind as Aleena, Reetha's mother
Kumarakam Raghunath as Aravindan, Prayaga's father
Nitha Promy as Prayaga's mother
Maniyanpilla Raju as DSP Satheeshan Pothuvaal
Suja Varunee as SI Panchami
Shanu Suresh
Idavela Babu as Sugathan
Dharmajan Bolgatty as Sudharman
Ramesh Pisharody as Father Jose Keerikkadan
Kalabhavan Navas as Jose Keerikkadan's assistant
Saju Navodaya as SI Nalinikanth
Jayakrishnan as Police Officer
Sohan Seenulal as Lakshmana
Thesni Khan as Valsa
Krishna as Craig
Rajavarman Ramakrishnan as Tony's driver
Sajan Palluruthy as Alcohol addict
Jaise Jose as Goon
Sruthi Ramakrishnan as Geetha
Maya Viswanath
P. C. George as himself
Production

The venture began production in November 2016. Achayans marked third collaboration for the duo after Aadupuliyattam.

Release

Theatrical

Achayans was opened in over 1000 screens in India, released alongside Godha and Adventures of Omanakuttan on 19 May 2017.

Reception

Critical response

Indiaglitz rated 3/5 and said that "Achayans needs to have been reworked in a different way. A more sharper script would have made it more entertaining". Deccan Chronicle stated that the movie is a one time watch and rated 3.5/5. The Times of India rated the movie 3.5/5 and said that "Overall, Achayans is a film that requires some patience to watch and doesn't quite qualify as an entertainer".

Box office

Though the critic reviews were unfavourable, the film managed to be one of the profitable ventures of 2017. The film made on a budget of ~6 crore and collected above 17.5 crore worldwide.