''Godha'' () is a 2017 Indian
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
-language
sports comedy film directed by
Basil Joseph
Basil Joseph (born 28 April 1990) is an Indian film director and actor who works in the Malayalam film industry. He directed three films, ''Kunjiramayanam'' (2015), ''Godha'' (2017) and ''Minnal Murali'' (2021). All three films were a huge suc ...
and written by Rakesh Mantodi, and jointly produced by
AVA Productions
AVA Productions is an Indian film production company based in Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the stat ...
and E4 Entertainment. The film stars
Tovino Thomas
Tovino Thomas (born 21 January 1989) is an Indian actor and film producer who prominently works in Malayalam films. He made his debut in 2012 with the film ''Prabhuvinte Makkal''. His breakthrough roles were in the films ''ABCD'' (2013), '' 7t ...
,
Wamiqa Gabbi
Wamiqa Gabbi (born 29 September 1993) is an Indian actress, who works in Punjabi, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. She made her screen debut in the Hindi film ''Jab We Met'' (2007) with a small role. But her major success came with ' ...
,
Aju Varghese
Aju Kurian Varghese (born 11 January 1985) better known as Aju Varghese is an Indian actor and producer who appears in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut in 2010 in ''Malarvadi Arts Club'', directed by his college classmate Vineeth Sreenivas ...
and
Renji Panicker
Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960) is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with ''Bharatchandran IPS'' in 2005.
Early life
He did his ...
. The plot follows Aanjaneya Das, son of a
gatta gusthi
Gatta gusthi is a form of submission wrestling practiced in Kerala, India. It is competed inside an open ring on the ground, usually on a beach, known as ''godha''. Wrestlers are called '' phayalvans''. The sport consists of around 100 techniques ...
coach, who brings home Aditi Singh, a
Punjabi wrestler. ''Godha'' was released on 19 May 2017.
Plot
In
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
, Aditi Singh is a Punjab University wrestling champion. Her late father had encouraged her to take up wrestling from a young age but her older brother restricts her, sometimes through violent means.
In a small village in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
,
gatta gusthi
Gatta gusthi is a form of submission wrestling practiced in Kerala, India. It is competed inside an open ring on the ground, usually on a beach, known as ''godha''. Wrestlers are called '' phayalvans''. The sport consists of around 100 techniques ...
wrestling used to be a passion for the old generations but the younger generation has moved on to cricket. They frequently clash over Manayathuvayal, a large field where wrestling competitions used to happen years earlier. Aanjaneya Das is one of the youth of the village that play cricket and is generally aimless in life. Captain, who used to be the wrestling champion of the village and his father, sends him to Punjab University against his wishes to enroll him in Master's. There he meets and befriends Aditi and he falls in love with her.
However, her brother fixes her marriage against her wishes and while he takes her home by force, Das interferes and assaults her brother who is a Punjab police officer. Upon Aditi's insistence, he returns to Kerala temporarily until things cool off. But a few days later, he gets a call from Aditi informing him that she ran away to escape from marriage and has landed in his village.
Das lodges her in his home without his parents' knowledge but news soon spreads to his family and later, the village. They reluctantly let her stay there while Das' friends try to woo her. During a temple festival, Aditi takes down two drunkards who misbehave with her. Impressed by her wrestling moves, Captain decides to train her at his gym while Das' friends leave cricket and take up wrestling to get closer to her which irritates Das.
During training, Captain pushes her to work hard and enroll in national wrestling championships while Aditi's mingling and friendship with Das' friends enrages him. One night, he scolds Aditi for her behavior while she reminds him that he has no right to control her actions. Hurt, he proposes her but they are overheard by Captain. Captain tells Das that she aims to become a wrestling champion and encourages him to find his own aim in order to become her equal. A flashback shows that Das was a junior wrestling champion under his father's tutelage but he quit due to his strict and tough training which soured their relationship ever since.
Das realizes that his aim and desire was always to be a wrestling champion and vows to be one, no matter what hardships he faces. He joins his dad's gym while Aditi trains to represent Kerala in National Games. During National Games, the officials inform them that Aditi is ineligible as she is from Punjab. Hurt, she sees her nemesis, Pinto, winning gold. After the match, they exchange heated words and Aditi challenges her to a wrestling competition in Manayathuvayal which she accepts.
The entire village prepares for the competition and the young generation takes initiative in preparing Manayathuvayal for the same. Aditi's brother tracks her to the village and reaches the venue as the competition starts. After fighting hard, Aditi wins the competition earning her brother's approval and inspiring Das while the entire village celebrates her victory and later on,Das goes onto participate in the
5th Asian Indoor Games representing India along with Captain and Aditi by his side.
Cast
*
Tovino Thomas
Tovino Thomas (born 21 January 1989) is an Indian actor and film producer who prominently works in Malayalam films. He made his debut in 2012 with the film ''Prabhuvinte Makkal''. His breakthrough roles were in the films ''ABCD'' (2013), '' 7t ...
as Aanjaneya Das
*
Wamiqa Gabbi
Wamiqa Gabbi (born 29 September 1993) is an Indian actress, who works in Punjabi, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. She made her screen debut in the Hindi film ''Jab We Met'' (2007) with a small role. But her major success came with ' ...
as Adithi Singh
*
Renji Panicker
Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960) is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with ''Bharatchandran IPS'' in 2005.
Early life
He did his ...
as Captain, Aanjaneya Das's Father
*
Aju Varghese
Aju Kurian Varghese (born 11 January 1985) better known as Aju Varghese is an Indian actor and producer who appears in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut in 2010 in ''Malarvadi Arts Club'', directed by his college classmate Vineeth Sreenivas ...
as Balan
*
Hareesh Peradi
Hareesh Peradi is an Indian actor who predominantly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films.
Career
He is also a well-known theatre artist in Kerala, having made a mark in stage and also in TV and cinema. Even though he has acted in 36 films so far ...
as Ravi
*
Mamukoya
Mamukkoya (born 5 July 1946) is an Indian actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema, and has also appeared in French film ''Flammens of Paradise''. He has mostly appeared in comedic roles. His unique usage of the Mappila dialect and style ma ...
as Pokkarikka
*
Sreejith Ravi
Sreejith Ravi (born 19 May 1976) is an Indian actor who appears predominantly in Malayalam films and also in Tamil films. He is the son of actor T. G. Ravi.
Early life
Sreejith is the son of actor and industrialist T. G. Ravi and V. K. Subhad ...
as Vijayan
*
Bijukuttan
Biju Kuttan (born 13 May 1976) is an Indian actor and comedian who appears in Malayalam films. As of June 2021, he has acted in more than 70 Malayalam films.
Biju Kuttan is born in North Paravur, Ernakulam . He completed most of his schooling ...
as Kolamachan
*
Hareesh Perumanna
Hareesh Perumanna , known by his stage name Hareesh Kanaran, is an Indian comedian and film actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is best known for his stock character Jaliyan Kanaran which first appeared in ''Comedy Festival'', a comedy rea ...
as Dhim Dhi
*
Dharmajan Bolgatty
Dharmajan Bolgatty (born 1976) is an Indian actor, producer, comedian, politician and entrepreneur, who works in Malayalam films, television, and stage shows. He began his career as a comedian appearing in sketch comedies on stage, later foraye ...
as Danger
*
Pradeep Kottayam
Pradeep K. R. (1961 – 17 February 2022), professionally credited as Pradeep Kottayam, was an Indian actor who primarily worked in Malayalam films and some Tamil films. He is best known for his comedic roles. His role in the 2010 Tamil film '' ...
as Captain's brother and their cook
*
Bala Saravanan
Bala Saravanan (born 2 November 1987) is an Indian actor and comedian who has appeared in Tamil language films.
Career
Bala made his debut as an actor in Vijay TV's school drama serial "''Kallikattu Pallikoodam"'' and came to notice in the Vija ...
as Pandi/Muthu Pandiyan
*
Parvathi T
Parvathi T., also known as Maala Parvathi, is an Indian actress, who appears in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu films
Personal life
Parvathi was born in Thiruvananthapuram, to Adv C. V. Thrivikraman and gynaecologist Dr K. Lalitha. She complete ...
as Aanjaneya Das's mother
*
Shine Tom Chacko
Shine Tom Chacko (born 15 September 1983) is an Indian actor and former assistant director who works in Malayalam cinema. After working as an assistant to director Kamal for about 9 years, he forayed into acting through the film. '' Gaddama'' ...
as Kidilan Firoz (Guest Appearance)
*
Dinesh Nair
Dinesh Prabhakar, also known by his birth name Dinesh Nair, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam films.
Early life
Dinesh was born as the second child of Prabhakaran Nair and Sarojini Amma at Pulluvazhi, Perumbavoor, Ern ...
* Gauri as Appu, Aanjaneya Das's sister
* Vineeth Sharma as Aditi's brother
* Jithan V Soubhagom as Youthism Club Member
* Tansen Paul as Aditi's father
* Monisha Sabu as Aditi's friend
*
Gokulan as Driver
* Aarushi Vedikha as Pinto Fernandez
Production
Basil Joseph
Basil Joseph (born 28 April 1990) is an Indian film director and actor who works in the Malayalam film industry. He directed three films, ''Kunjiramayanam'' (2015), ''Godha'' (2017) and ''Minnal Murali'' (2021). All three films were a huge suc ...
announced 'Godha' as his next movie, with
Tovino Thomas
Tovino Thomas (born 21 January 1989) is an Indian actor and film producer who prominently works in Malayalam films. He made his debut in 2012 with the film ''Prabhuvinte Makkal''. His breakthrough roles were in the films ''ABCD'' (2013), '' 7t ...
and Punjabi actress
Wamiqa Gabbi
Wamiqa Gabbi (born 29 September 1993) is an Indian actress, who works in Punjabi, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. She made her screen debut in the Hindi film ''Jab We Met'' (2007) with a small role. But her major success came with ' ...
through his Facebook page on March 5, 2016 .
Filming
Principal photography of the film began in October 2016. Wamiqa Gabbi sustained a lot of injuries in the making of the film.
For the film, the actors underwent rigorous training in wrestling. The movie was shot in
Chandigarh
Chandigarh () is a planned city in India. Chandigarh is bordered by the state of Punjab to the west and the south, and by the state of Haryana to the east. It constitutes the bulk of the Chandigarh Capital Region or Greater Chandigarh, which al ...
,
Patiala
Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, India, Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the ''Qila Mubarak, Patiala, Qila Mubarak ...
,
Ludhiana
Ludhiana ( ) is the most populous and the largest Cities in India, city in the Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab. The city has an estimated population of 1,618,879 2011 Indian census, 2011 census and distributed over , making Ludhiana the ...
,
Ottapalam
Ottapalam, (also spelled Ottappalam) is a town, taluk and municipality in the Palakkad district, Palakkad District, Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ottapalam taluk. Ottapalam is located about 36 km from district head ...
and
Pazhani
Palani ( or ''Palni'' as in British records, is a town and a taluk headquarters in Dindigul district of the western part of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located about south-east of Coimbatore and north-west of Madurai, from Kodaikanal ...
.The shooting was completed by December 2016.
Reception
Critical response
Film critic Veeyen lauded the movie and stated that "Basil Joseph’s tweaking of the sport movie recipe in ‘Godha’ works wonders and lifts it up straight on to a prized zone occupied by some of its triumphant predecessors. Strikingly directed and deftly written, ‘Godha’ steps up the rules of the game and wins the combat in a superb take-down."
Amrutha Menon P of ''Manorama Online'' praised Adithi's charisma, and described the film as "a simple sports story that will not disappoint you".
Baradwaj Rangan
Baradwaj Rangan is an Indian film critic, writer, and formerly the deputy editor of ''The Hindu''. He later became a senior editor of Film Companion. Rangan won the National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 2006. Before joining ''The Hindu'' ...
of Film Companion South wrote "Godha may not be as prickly as Dangal, and crises may get resolved a tad too conveniently, but it shares with that film an unwavering eye on what’s really the story, what’s important...this is a moving, forceful testament to the assimilations that make our country what it is."
Box office
The film grossed 16 crore in 11 days from worldwide box office of which 6.41 crore from UAE and GCC box office (first weekend). The film collected $297,800 in its four weekends from UAE box office and $3,647 in its first weekend from UK box office. The film grossed more than 20 crore from worldwide box office.
Soundtrack
References
{{Basil Joseph
2010s sports comedy films
Indian sports comedy films
2010s Malayalam-language films
Films scored by Shaan Rahman
2017 films
2017 comedy films
Sport wrestling films
Films shot in Punjab, India
Films shot in Chandigarh
Films shot in Ottapalam
Films shot in Thrissur
Films shot in Palani
Films directed by Basil Joseph