Chilli Chicken

Chilli Chicken is about a group of migrants working at a restaurant named Noodle Home, owned by Adarsh. The owner is ambitious to open a bigger restaurant named Noodle Palace but being ambitious isn't enough to make ones dream come true. The migrant workers from north east, Khaba, Ajoy, Jimpa and Jason live together, having a close bond. The film presents their lives in Bengaluru, how they try to fit in despite the city still treating them as outsiders including Adarsh. What happens when tragedy strikes and selfishness takes over, forms rest of the story.

Prateek Prajosh is indeed a director to look out for and kudos for him to being genuine to his script. He doesn't lose focus on these characters and the entire first half is dedicated to showcasing their way of life. Their bonding is what makes us stay connected to them, even with Adarsh. They are surrounded by equally relatable characters and this helps in taking the journey through their lives, building the story for second half. Once the tragedy strikes, the true nature of the individuals get explored.

There were two things which I wasn't fully on board with. One being the podcast bit and it plays the major role in the final act but it didn't have the intended impact. Second was the fight at the party which again was inevitable but the way it happened needed some easing into. Thankfully the performances ensure it to be a worthy watch and choosing to not over dramatize any of these characters was a masterstroke. This helped these characters realistic and in turn pass on the important message in the end. Overall, Chilli Chicken is a compelling tale of north east migrants trying to make a living in a far off city which seems to welcome everyone inspite of some miscreants trying to seek attention.

I recently watched this film on Prime Video, and I must say it's one of the best I've seen in recent times. Kudos to Prateek Prajosh for crafting such a remarkable piece. It's incredibly refreshing to see actors from the Northeast finally getting their due and landing substantial roles. The film deeply resonates with stories of Northeastern migrants in metro cities, highlighting their struggles with discrimination and racism.

Bijou Thaangjam's performance as Khaba is a standout. He truly carries the film with his exceptional craft, and his ability to speak Kannada and convey profound emotions is impressive. He's definitely an actor to watch. Shrunga BV also delivered a commendable performance, and Hirock surprisingly stood out with his well-acted role. Overall, the film is a powerful and engaging watch.

Thoroughly enjoyed this new film. It was fast-paced, absorbing, realistic and raw, while managing to convey some important messages without sounding preachy! Roller coaster ride with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Some great acting by the main characters, as well as some of the other characters, such as the loan-shark aunty, the landlady, the loud and self-righteous neighbour. Congratulations and best wishes to the entire young and talented team. Hope this is a stepping stone to many more successful ventures. Hope the movie reaches a much wider audience, pan India, as well as overseas. Good job!

Movie sakkath aagide, last 20 min super anno thara illa.. But from starting to end, olle grip ide, entertaining, engaging aagi ide.

From all angles. Movie ellu.. ond kade nu bejaar agalla... feels so real..

The way all actors played their role is so realistic, and idella nam mundhe ne naditide anno thara feel agatte.

I am really really looking forward to see movies like this..

Movies with bigbudget, big set, great music can make sound in industry. But movies that are real. That are so believable with such a real backdrop, such are hard to Convence to audience, Chilli Chicken team did it so amazingly.

#Realistic #AmazingMovie #SuperDirection #AmazingStory #SuperStory.

The film opens with a question on if we value life at birth or at death, and with text that says Bengaluru is the 2nd largest home to migrants in India after Mumbai, making up 51% of the city's population, making it one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country.

This story is about 4 such individuals from Manipur who work at "Noodle House" and the local owner, who, much like the workers, also wants a better life and hopes to build a "Noodle Palace".

The four of them speak Kannada and one of them is in a proper relationship with a Kannadiga and none of that feels forced (vs the Kannada imposition narrative that you see online) thanks to a decent amount of time spent in the first half in the world building. There are several messages, on cultural assimilation, old values vs the changing world, how (un)welcoming a place can be to outsiders, how you've got to "Put up with the rain, if you want the rainbow" etc., thrown at you very subtly and not in a preachy way which makes you feel like this is a film that's surely gonna be a "lighthearted serious movie".

There's a 'twist' about halfway through and for me, the film fell apart from there. The story couldn't decide if it wanted to answer the question about the value life, or if it wanted to tell the migrant story and in a bid to address both, it ended up doing a little too much for my liking and went all over the place.

That said, the film is being well received and many seem to like it, so you may too. This is apparently the director's first film - decent first one, IMO. We also don't get a lot of films on addressing the lives of folks from the North Eastern parts of the country in other parts of India, so this provides a glimpse of what it's like and how the work/sacrifices you've got to make for dreams and aspirations, regardless of where you are from and where you live, are similar. Support the story and the first-timer, especially if you're looking for something different.