Gaganachari

An unprecedented experience in the Malayalam film industry. Gaganachari is a futuristic experimental product. Creativity on a peak level. Change is here. The crew behind the screen had done beyond meritorious work especially the art team. And the cast cannot be left unspoken. Performance by Gokul, Anarkali and moreover Ganesh sir was promising than before. Aju Varghese has done it again. The soothing background score gets you immersed into the vibe. An admirable movie, still not so acceptable by all of the audience. A heartfelt appreciation for the brave efforts. Longing for more from the team.

A very good attempt at a proper sci-fi satire rooted in Kerala. The dystopian United States of Kerala with the overgrown vegetation over the buildings was set up pretty nicely. All the Malayalam pop culture references were so fun to watch, and the updates given to some were definitely the most laugh-out-loud moments. Gokul Suresh's dialogues referencing his father were also really great. But it meant that this was primarily for the 90s kids. If the comedic aspect of Gokul Suresh's character was reduced, I would've painfully felt like relating to that character, but I don't want to that much, lol. The use of traditional murals to playfully convey some ideas and the ending twist etc made its satiric approach work really great. The insistence on rituals and their powers at that point, the lies, the murals etc can be read together as why our society is like this today. The visual effects were great for what it is, but the extensive use of AI images is a turn-off for me. Even in music, there was a very derivative quality to it that I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be references or not.

Initially, I approached "Gaganachari" with skepticism, but the film pleasantly proved me wrong. This alien Sci-Fi thriller emerged as one of the best in Malayalam cinema, captivating me with its engaging narrative and impressive execution.

With a unique blend of intrigue, suspense, and emotional depth, "Gaganachari" successfully explores the complexities of human relationships amidst an extraterrestrial backdrop. The film's well-crafted storyline, paired with impressive visuals and convincing performances, makes for an immersive viewing experience.

Overall, "Gaganachari" is a hidden gem in Malayalam Sci-Fi, defying expectations and delivering a thrilling ride. If you're a fan of the genre, this film is definitely worth watching.

Gaganachari scores high in how it treats its familiar (yet experimental, for Malayalam) plot, garnished with a heavy dose of pop culture references, making it palatable for both 90s and 2000s kids. The sci-fi mockumentary packaging, which I only remember from a recent Krishand film, looks and feels fresh. The humor flows organically, even when a few writing misses occur in the second hour. The cast is terrific-each fitting their respective roles to the T. Gokul Suresh is surprisingly good as the lovestruck loser Allan, and so is Anarkali Marikkar as Alieyamma. Ganesh Kumar and Aju Varghese bring in the laughs with their one-liners, making even generic events like dinner, sleep, and meditation look entertaining.

There is overuse of AI but it's understandable given what the makers were trying to achieve here. Ultimately, what we see and hear on screen, looks incredibly believable for its given budget, and that's what should matter at the end of the day. The socio-political subtext is also played for laughs, and I particularly enjoyed the writing (and visual) choice of painting Kerala in a greenish excess, as opposed to the typical dystopian desert shades. Sankar Sharma's music also adds zing to the proceedings. I'm unsure if the sequel (or is it a spinoff?) holds the same level of potential given it'll be a star-led vehicle, but we'll just have to wait and see. Good work, Arun Chandu!

If you love malayalam movies and if you are looking for something different, Gaganachari is a must watch.

In my opinion Gaganachari could be seen as South Park special fused with Rick and Morty theme. What that entails is a movie with over-the-top satire, pop-culture references and layered societal commentary. The movie is a testament to director's (Arun Chandu) vision and execution as the movie makes use of GenAI skillfully to remain within the constraints of a tight budget. Hats off to the producer (Ajith Vinayaka) for taking the risk to produce such an experimental movie (SciFi, Alien, Sattire, 4:3) knowing well this will mostly fail. This is precisely we should encourage such content as it is bold, fresh and sets a precedent. If such advents do not get any recognition, we will be stuck in the past. The movie is certainly not for everyone but underneath the main plot the movie offers depth and ton of Easter eggs. The movie is ahead of it's time and is sure to have a cult following just like Devadhoothan Churuli, BigB, etc. Special mention to Meraki, Bava and Sankar Sharma. Hats off and I cannot wait to see your next product.