NicholasPrentice at 09:41, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T09:41:30Z

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{{Short description|2022 film by Mahesh Narayanan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Ariyippu
| image = Ariyippu film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical Release poster
| director = [[Mahesh Narayanan]]
| writer = Mahesh Narayanan
| producer = {{ubl|Shebin Backer| [[Kunchacko Boban]]|Mahesh Narayanan}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kunchacko Boban]]
* [[Divya Prabha]]
* [[Danish Husain]]
* Loveleen Mishra}}
| cinematography = [[Sanu Varghese]]
| editing = {{ubl|[[Mahesh Narayanan]] |Rahul Radhakrishnan}}
| music = [[Sushin Shyam]]
| studio = {{ubl|Shebin Backer Productions|Kunchacko Boban Productions|Moving Narratives}}
| released = {{Film date|2022|08|04|[[Locarno Film Festival]]|2022|12|16|[[Netflix]]|df=y}}
| runtime = 107 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
}}

'''''Ariyippu''''' ({{Translation|}} '''''Declaration''''') is a 2022 Indian [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]]-language [[drama film]] written and directed by [[Mahesh Narayanan]]. The film is produced by Shebin Backer, under the banner of Shebin Backer Productions, [[Kunchacko Boban]] under the banner of Kunchacko Boban Productions and Mahesh Narayanan himself under the Moving Narratives banner. It features [[Kunchacko Boban]], [[Divya Prabha]], [[Danish Husain]], Loveleen Mishra, and Faizal Malik in pivotal roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/mahesh-narayanan-ariyippu-selected-for-locarno-film-festival-kunchacko-boban-is-overjoyed-8013315/|title=Mahesh Narayanan's Ariyippu selected for Locarno Film Festival, Kunchacko Boban is overjoyed|date=6 July 2022|access-date=12 August 2022|website=Indian Express}}</ref> The film premiered in the ''Concorso internazionale'' (international competition section) of the [[75th Locarno Film Festival]] on 4 August 2022, where it was nominated for [[Golden Leopard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thefilmstage.com/locarno-film-festival-unveils-2022-lineup/ |title=Locarno Film Festival Unveils 2022 Lineup |first=Jordan|last=Raup|work=The Film Stage |date=6 July 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/kunchacko-boban-mahesh-narayanan-busan-locarno-london-declaration-netflix-1235398941/|title=Kunchacko Boban, Mahesh Narayanan's Festival Hit Film 'Declaration' Snapped Up by Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)|date=12 October 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref> The film had a worldwide release on [[Netflix]] on 16 December 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mahesh-narayanans-ariyippu-to-premiere-december-16-on-netflix/article66234776.ece#:~:text=The%20film%20is%20directed%20by,Netflix%20from%2016th%20December%202022.|title = Mahesh Narayanan's 'Ariyippu' to premiere December 16 on Netflix| newspaper=The Hindu |date = 7 December 2022}}</ref>

==Plot==
Set in the pandemic-stricken times in [[Noida]], a struggling [[Malayali]] couple nurture the dream of migrating out of the country for a better life. They both are working in a glove factory and they record a video of Reshmi working which they wanted to share with prospective employers as a skill video. Later, Hareesh receives a video on [[WhatsApp]] where he finds his wife's original video joined with a different clip of a woman engaging in a sexual act with a man. Hareesh decides to complain to the police to prove his wife's innocence. But the police discourages them, saying since the burden of proof will be on Reshmi, they should withdraw the complaint.

Hareesh decides to investigate who leaked the video. His only proof is a bangle typically worn by men which the guy in the video was wearing and that the background of the video is B Block in their company. He follows a driver in the glove factory and finds out that the driver is part of a gang who is replacing the new gloves with used up ones. Meanwhile, Hareesh sexually assaults Reshmi in the presence of their friend Sujaya and Sujaya's son.

Hareesh watches CCTV footage to collect the proof and he finds Reshmi entering B block where the sex act was committed. Hareesh thinks that it was his wife itself in the video. He confronts Reshmi at home, hits her and pushes her out of his home. Reshmi starts living with her friend.

Hareesh and others inform the owner of the company about the scam that is happening at his company. Together they investigate and tries to collect all evidences. Hareesh meanwhile sees the bangle on the owner's hand and he thinks its the owner who is in the video. Hareesh takes them to a remote place pretending to show them the used glove godown. There, Hareesh assaults the owner physically and is arrested. But the owner and Reshmi comes to the police station and owner gives his statement that Hareesh did not attack him and he does not have any complaints.

Hareesh later understands that the woman in the video is another worker in the company who committed suicide. She was having an affair with the owners brother and when they found out about it, she was killed or she committed suicide. The owner and his wife gives Hareesh and Reshmi an offer that both of them will get a job in the owner's another company in Malaysia if they withdraw the original complaint from police. Hareesh agrees but Reshmi does not. Reshmi says her demands are 1) to put a statement on the company noticeboard that it is not Reshmi in the video and 2) she has to visit the family of the victim who died.

Hareesh and Reshmi goes to the victim's home and Reshmi changes her mind when she sees the plight of the victim's mother. She said she is not ready for the compromise because the owner is giving them the price of the victim's life. Rashmi also says that Hareesh can take the offer if he wants but she will not take up that job. Later we see that Hareesh joins the new factory in Malaysia where he sees an employee there wearing the same bangle. Rashmi however continues to work in the same factory in Noida. We also see a notice on the noticeboard where the company denies that the girl in the video is an employee of the company which was one of Reshmi's demands.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Kunchacko Boban]] as Hareesh P. V.
* [[Divya Prabha]] as Reshmi Hareesh, Hareesh's wife
* [[Danish Husain]] as Kailash
* Loveleen Mishra as the female supervisor
* Athulya Ashadam as Sujaya
* [[Faisal Malik]] as Dinesh Singh
* Kannan Arunasalam as Suresh
* Kiran Peethambaran as Mohan
* Kartikey Saxena as Gudda
* Sidharth Bhardwaj
* Dimpy Mishra
* Rohit Gupta as Pawan
* Saifuddin as Ismail
* Mannu Rawat as NSEZ Security Guard
* Rahul Panicker as Doctor
}}

==Production==
[[Principal photography]] began on 20 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kunchacko-boban-mahesh-narayanan-film-ariyippu-starts-rolling/articleshow/88387212.cms|title=Kunchacko Boban- Mahesh Narayanan film 'Ariyippu' starts rolling|date=20 December 2021|access-date=12 August 2022|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> In January 2022, the film was shot in [[Noida]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/ariyippu-kunchacko-boban-unveils-his-rugged-look-as-the-shoot-progress-in-noida/articleshow/88852393.cms|title=Ariyippu: Kunchacko Boban unveils his rugged look as the shoot progress in Noida|date=12 January 2022|access-date=12 August 2022|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The film was wrapped up on 11 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ2RfkvBtdW/|title=Officially the last day Shoot of #ariyippumovie ! #thebestteamever #comingsoon #declaration 11/02/2022|first=Divya|last=Prabha|date=12 February 2022|access-date=12 August 2022|publisher=Instagram|language=en}}</ref>

==Release==
The film had its premiere at the [[75th Locarno Film Festival]] on 4 August 2022, where it was nominated for [[Golden Leopard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.locarnofestival.ch/LFF/locarno75/program-75/film.html?fid=1294983&l=en&eid=75 |title=Concorso internazionale: Ariyippu |publisher=Locarno Festival |access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref>
The film released on 16 December 2022 via [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailyjagran.com/entertainment/ariyippu-ott-release-date-netflix-when-and-where-to-watch-kunchacko-boban-starrer-film-10056689|title = Ariyippu- OTT release date, when and where to watch Kunchacko Boban starrer film|date = 7 December 2022}}</ref>

== Reception ==
[[Anna M. M. Vetticad]] reviewed it for ''[[Firstpost]]'' and praised the authenticity of the acting, cinematography and writing. She rated the film 4.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "''Ariyippu'' depicts women's oppression including physical abuse without ever seeking to titillate (...) Slice-of-life cinema has seldom been more true to life than this." Vetticad specifically highlighted the film's "acute observations of gender relations" and spotlight on female solidarity, commending the lack of judgement and honesty within the film's narrative in comparison to commercial films that deal with similar subject matter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/ariyippu-declaration-movie-review-misogyny-collides-with-corruption-and-alienation-in-a-compelling-covid-time-saga-11026201.html|title=Ariyippu (Declaration) movie review: Misogyny collides with corruption and alienation in a compelling COVID-time saga|author=Anna M. M. Vetticad|date=8 August 2022|access-date=12 August 2022|website=Firstpost}}</ref> She named it the best Malayalam film of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/best-malayalam-films-2022-a-year-so-good-that-keeping-this-list-down-to-10-was-impossible-11875531.html|title=Best Malayalam Films 2022: A year so good that keeping this list down to 10 was impossible|author=Anna M. M. Vetticad|website=Firstpost|date=26 December 2022 }}</ref> Sajin Shrijith of ''The New Indian Express'' rated 4 out of 5 and appreciated the film stating, "In ''Ariyippu'', we find Mahesh Narayanan at his most liberated, operating in a terrain he hasn't explored before." Shrijith further wrote, "''Ariyippu'' is his purest film, devoid of adulteration from commercial cinema trappings". Praising the performance of Kunchacko Boban, Shrijith wrote, "This is Kunchacko Boban at his most unglamorous and uninhibited." Shrijith opined, "It's a film for grown-up, serious-minded filmgoers."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2022/aug/11/ariyippu-review-mahesh-narayanan-examines-a-volatile-situation-in-his-finest-2486238.html|title='Ariyippu' review: Mahesh Narayanan examines a volatile situation in his finest|first=Sajin |last=Shrijith |date=11 August 2022|access-date=12 August 2022|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Event
! Category and award
! Recipient(s)
! Result
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| [[75th Locarno Film Festival|2022]]
| [[Locarno Film Festival]]
| International competition: [[Golden Leopard]]
| ''Ariyippu''
| {{Nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mahesh-narayanans-ariyippu-to-be-screened-in-the-competition-section-of-locarno-film-festival/article65606822.ece |title=Mahesh Narayanan's 'Ariyippu' goes to Locarno|first=Saraswathy|last=Nagarajan|work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 July 2022 |access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref>
|-
|[[53rd Kerala State Film Awards|2023]]
|[[53rd Kerala State Film Awards]]
|[[Kerala State Film Award for Best Director]]
|[[Mahesh Narayanan]]
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2023/07/21/kerala-state-film-awards-2022-winners-list.html|title=മമ്മൂട്ടി നടൻ, വിൻസി നടി, മഹേഷ് നാരായണൻ സംവിധായകൻ: അവാർഡുകൾ വാരിക്കൂട്ടി 'ന്നാ താൻ കേസ് കൊട്' - Kerala Film Awards | date=21 July 2023 |access-date=21 July 2023 |work=Manorma Online News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/53rd-kerala-state-film-awards-nanpakal-nerathu-mayakkam-best-film-mammootty-vincy-aloshious-mahesh-narayanan-8851060|title=53rd Kerala State Film Awards: Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam named Best Film; Mammootty, Vincy Aloshious, Mahesh Narayanan bag top honours |date=21 July 2023 |access-date=21 July 2023 |work=Indian Express}}</ref>
|-
|[[68th Filmfare Awards South |2022]]
|[[68th Filmfare Awards South]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Critics film - Malayalam]]
|''Ariyippu''
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards-south-2023/malayalam/winners|title=Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South - Malayalam}}</ref>
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt14189076}}

[[Category:2022 films]]
[[Category:2022 drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mahesh Narayanan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Sushin Shyam]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:2022 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language drama films]]

Ariyippu - Revision history

NicholasPrentice at 09:41, 3 March 2026