RobbyAyres at 09:35, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T09:35:50Z

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{{Short description|2025 Indian-Malayalam language film}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Avihitham
| image = Avihitham Film.jpg
| caption =
| director = [[Senna Hegde]]
| writer = {{ubl|Ambareesh Kalathera|Senna Hegde}}
| story = Ambareesh Kalathera
| producer = {{ubl|Mukesh R. Mehta|Harris Desom|P. B. Anish|C. V. Sarathi|Senna Hegde}}
| starring = {{ubl|Unni Raj|Renji Kankol|Vrinda Menon}}
| cinematography = {{ubl|Sreeraj Raveendran|Ramesh Mathews}}
| editing = Sanath Sivaraj
| music = Sreerag Saji
| studio = {{ubl|E4 Experiments|Imagin Cinemas|Marley State of Mind}}
| distributor = {{ubl|E4 Experiments ([[Kerala]])|AP International (Rest of India)|Home Screen Entertainment ([[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]])}}
| released = {{Film date|2025|10|09|GCC|2025|10|10|India}}
| runtime = 106 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget =
| gross = 
}}
'''''Avihitham''''' ({{Translation|Illicit}}) is a 2025 [[Malayalam]]-language [[black comedy]]-[[Drama (film and television)|drama]] film directed by [[Senna Hegde]], who co-wrote the screenplay with Ambareesh Kalathera. The film has an [[ensemble cast]] including Unni Raj, Renji Kankol, Vineeth Chakyar, Dhanesh Koliyat, Rakesh Ushar and Vrinda Menon. It is produced by E4 Experiments in association with Imagin Cinemas and Marley State of Mind. Sreeraj Raveendran and Ramesh Mathews handle the cinematography and Sanath Sivaraj edits the film. Sreerag Saji composes the songs and background score.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2025 |title=Senna Hegde's next film titled Avihitham |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2025/Aug/18/malayalamnews2025aug17senna-hegdes-next-film-titled-avihitham |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 2025 |title='Avihitham': Filmmaker Senna Hegde announces his next |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/senna-hegde-new-movie-avihitham-set-in-kanhangad-kasaragod-malayalam-movie/article69946642.ece |access-date=2025-10-08 |work=[[The Hindu]] |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

''Avihitham'' released theatrically on 9 October 2025 in [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]]<ref name="gcc">{{Cite Instagram |postid=DPjOqTFE59i |user=homescreenentertainment |title=Avihitham has cleared Gulf censor and will hit your favourite theatres on October 9 |date=October 8, 2025 |access-date=2025-10-08}}</ref> and on 10 October 2025 in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2025 |title=Senna Hegde's Avihitham gets release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Oct/01/senna-hegdes-avihitham-gets-release-date |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

==Plot==
One night, while returning home after drinking with friends, Prakashan comes across a young man named Vinod and a young woman behind the house of Madhavan, a carpenter working on a temple project in another village. The duo seems like a couple in love. Prakashan shares this matter with Venu, a tailor. The next night, Venu also witnesses the couple embracing. They think the young woman is Nirmala, Madhavan's daughter-in-law. They discussed among themselves the next steps and decided to tell Madhavan's younger son Murali. Madhavan's son informs Madhavan , who asks them to verify the news. They follow Nirmala and see her talking to Vinod, and jump to the conclusion that she was indeed having an affair with Vinod.Madhavan informs Mukkundan,Nirmala's husband, who is devastated. He leaves for home disturbed.

What happens next is a comedy of errors that leads to a surprising revelation in the end.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
*[[Unni Raj]] as Venu
*[[Renji Kankol]] as Prakashan
*[[Vineeth Vasudevan]] as Vinod
*[[Dhanesh Koliyat]] as Murali
*[[Rakesh Ushar]] as Mukundan
*[[Vrinda Menon]] as Nirmala
*[[Ajith Punnad]] as Nidish
*[[Unnikrishnan Parappa]] as Madhavan
*[[Aneesh Chemmarathi]] as Mahesh
*[[T. Gopinathan]] as Kumaran
*[[Vijisha Nileshwar]] as Geetha
*[[Ammini Chandralayam]] as Sarojini Amma
*[[Parvana Raj]] as Meenu
*[[Beena Kodakkad]] as Savithri Amma
*[[Vismaya Sasikumar]] as Shalini
*[[Premalatha]] as Yamuna
*[[Shyamili Das]] as Rama
*[[Vipin K.]] as Dineshan
*[[Swapna Pallam]] as Radha
*[[Mukesh OMR]] as Babu
*[[Sayanth]] as Radha's Son
*[[Karthika Vijayakumar]] as Nisha
*[[Prabhakaran Velaswaram]] as Contractor Raghavan
*[[Shubha C P]] as Constable Suma
*[[Lakshmanan Manniath]] as Member Damu
}}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Avihitham
| artist = Sreerag Saji
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| released = 2025
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = {{ubl|Pop Media House, [[Ernakulam]]|VTP Studios, Ernakulam}}
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = {{Duration|07:32}}
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| label = E4 Entertainment
|type=soundtrack
}}
The soundtrack album of the film is composed by Sreerag Saji. The first single ''Ayyaye'' was released on 6 October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2025 |title='അയ്യയ്യേ നിർമ്മലേ...' ചിരിപ്പിച്ച് 'അവിഹിത'ത്തിലെ ആദ്യഗാനം എത്തി |url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/videos/ayyaye-song-avihitham-senna-hegde-10537833 |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=ml}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 07:32
| title1 = Ayyaye
| extra1 = Zia Ul Haq, Sreerag Saji
| lyrics1 = Titto P. Thankachen
| length1 = 03:57
| title2 = Vallatha Narakangal
| extra2 = Harikrishnan U.
| lyrics2 = Titto P. Thankachen
| length2 = 00:56
| title3 = Aaro Paranjarinja
| extra3 = Mariya Johny
| lyrics3 = Harikrishnan U.
| length3 = 02:39
}}

==Release==
===Theatrical===
The title poster of the film was released on 17 August 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2025 |title='പദ്മിനി'ക്ക് ശേഷം പുതിയ ചിത്രവുമായി സെന്ന ഹെഗ്‌ഡെ; 'അവിഹിതം' ടൈറ്റിൽ പോസ്റ്റർ |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/entertainment/senna-hegde-new-movie-avihitham-title-poster-articleshow-3uckd1y |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[Asianet News]] |language=ml}}</ref> The teaser of the film was released on 6 September 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 20, 2025 |title=With 'Avihitham', Filmmaker Senna Hegde Returns to Kanhangad |url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/with-avihitham-starring-unni-raja-filmmaker-senna-hegde-returns-to-kanhangadu |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> and the trailer was released on 25 September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2025 |title=Senna Hegde's next directorial Avihitham gets a release window, trailer out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Sep/25/senna-hegdes-next-directorial-avihitham-gets-a-release-window-trailer-out |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishna |first=Gayathri |date=September 25, 2025 |title=Avihitham trailer: Senna Hegde is all set for another bold dark comedy set in Kasaragod |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/avihitham-trailer-senna-hegde-is-all-set-for-another-bold-thought-provoking-drama-set-in-kasaragod/3762929d49913 |access-date=October 8, 2025 |website=[[HT Media#Digital businesses|OTTPlay]]}}</ref>

''Avihitham'' released theatrically on 9 October 2025 by Home Screen Extertainment in [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]]<ref name="gcc" /> and on 10 October 2025 by E4 Experiments in Kerala and by AP International in the rest of India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=P. |first=Divya |date=October 1, 2025 |title=Avihitham release date: Here's when to watch noted director Senna Hegde film in theatres |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/avihitham-release-date-heres-when-to-watch-senna-hegde-film-in-theatres/44e347bf0b478 |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=[[HT Media#Digital businesses|OTTPlay]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1974102316652662941 |user=APIfilms |title=Avihitham to audiences across India (excluding Kerala), releasing this October 10. |date=October 3, 2025 |access-date=October 8, 2025}}</ref>

===Home Media===
The digital rights of the film is acquired by [[JioHotstar]] and started streaming from 14 November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2025|title=Avihitham OTT release date announced|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Nov/07/avihitham-ott-release-date-announced |access-date=11 November 2025 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
S. R. Praveen of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote a positive review, "In ''Avihitham'', which does not have any big star and is propelled by the strength of its narrative, Hegde returns to his roots and sort of rediscovers his 'indie' mojo."<ref>{{cite news |last=Praveen |first=S. R. |date=10 October 2025 |title='Avihitham' movie review: Senna Hegde’s indie rediscovery indicts prying eyes |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/avihitham-movie-review-senna-hegdes-indie-rediscovery-indicts-prying-eyes/article70147806.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}</ref>

Anandu Suresh of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' rated the film 4/5 stars and wrote, "Intriguingly, the film even shifts into an edge-of-the-seat suspense drama at one point. Yet, director Senna Hegde ensures that the soul and core of ''Avihitham'' are never lost in the process."<ref>{{cite news |last=Suresh |first=Anandu |date=11 October 2025 |title=Avihitham movie review: A smartly written, brilliantly conceived black comedy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/avihitham-movie-review-a-smartly-written-brilliantly-conceived-black-comedy-10299493/ |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}{{Rating|4|5}}</ref>

Vivek Santhosh of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' rated the film 3/5 stars and wrote, "In the end, ''Avihitham'' is a modest yet engaging satire that observes more than it surprises. It may lack the sparkle of ''[[Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam]]'' and tread familiar ground in its critique of male morality, but Senna’s control over tone and character keeps it steady and effective. With its dry humour and quiet irony, the film holds a mirror to small-town self-righteousness, showing how easily gossip turns into judgement in the hands of those least fit to make it."<ref>{{cite news |last=Santhosh |first=Vivek |date=11 October 2025 |title=Avihitham Movie Review: A smart, steady satire that observes more than it innovates |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2025/Oct/11/malayalamreview2025oct10avihitham-movie-review-a-smart-steady-satire-that-observes-more-than-it-innovates |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}{{Rating|3|5}}</ref>

Anjana George of ''[[The Times of India]]'' described the film as "a quirky, rustic comedy about voyeurism and secrets" and rated the film 3/5 stars. She wrote, "''Avihitham'' is, at its core, a delightful peek into small-town voyeurism and moral theatre, a comedy of errors where curiosity becomes community entertainment. It’s rustic, witty, and brimming with unpolished charm."<ref>{{cite news |last=George |first=Anjana |date=10 October 2025 |title=Avihitham Movie Review: A Quirky, Rustic Comedy About Voyeurism and Secrets |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/avihitham/movie-review/124451488.cms |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}{{Rating|3|5}}</ref>

Gayathri Krishna of ''[[OTTPlay]]'' rated the film 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Senna Hegde's film is much more than just a story about an extramarital affair. Our patriarchal society, which still adheres to gender stereotypes, is closely examined but satirised."<ref>{{cite news |last=Krishna |first=Gayathri |date=12 October 2025 |title=Avihitham Review: Senna Hegde's film amusingly looks into prying eyes that are not limited to Kanhangad |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/avihitham-review-senna-hegde-film-unni-raj-renji-kankol-vineeth-chakyar/23be5c453c817 |work=[[OTTPlay]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}{{Rating|3.5|5}}</ref>

Swathi P. Ajith of ''[[Onmanorama]]'' wrote a positive review, "''Avihitham'' is a sharp, deceptively simple take on voyeurism and morality—a mirror held up to our collective hypocrisy, wrapped in pitch-perfect humour. Cleverly written, superbly acted, and endlessly entertaining, this is one film that absolutely deserves to be seen on the big screen."<ref>{{cite web |author=Swathi P. Ajith |date=10 October 2025 |title=‘Avihitham’ review: Senna Hegde turns gossip and voyeurism into pure gold |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2025/10/10/avihitham-movie-review-senna-hegde-malayalam-film.html |website=[[Onmanorama]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}</ref>

Sajin Shrijith of ''[[The Week (magazine)|The Week]]'' rated the film 4.5/5 stars and wrote, "''Avihitham'' reminds us that some films are ill fit for big stars and that no matter how unfamiliar these actors may feel to us, if they can momentarily take us back to that time when we saw [[Priyadarshan]]'s ''[[Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu]]'' or [[Sreenivasan]]'s ''[[Vadakkunokkiyanthram]]'' for the first time, when we were kids and yet to familiarize ourselves with not just Mohanlal or Sreenivasan, but also the immensely gifted legendary comedians who acted alongside in supporting roles, I think their mission is successful. If you, like me, hail from Kerala's Malabar region, you're most likely going to get more fun out of this than the others.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shrijith |first=Sajin |date=10 October 2025 |title='Avihitham' review: Funniest Malayalam film of the year so far |url=https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/2025/10/10/avihitham-review-funniest-malayalam-film-of-the-year-so-far.html |work=[[The Week (magazine)|The Week]] |access-date=6 November 2025}}{{Rating|4.5|5}}</ref>

Vishal Menon of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter|The Hollywood Reporter India]]'' described the film as "several LOL moments" and wrote, "Everything fits into place in ''Avihitham'' as it speaks about feminism and the dangers of moral policing without even trying to take a moral high ground. It is what it is, and it's not too surprising to notice how we, too, become part of these men, curious to find out who this woman could be."<ref>{{cite news |last=Menon |first=Vishal |date=22 October 2025 |title='Avihitham' Movie Review: Adultery Has Never Been This Funny |url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/reviews/theatrical/avihitham-starring-vineeth-vasudevan-movie-review-adultery-has-never-been-this-funny |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter|The Hollywood Reporter India]]|access-date=6 November 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|38202962}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2025 Indian films]]
[[Category:2025 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2025 black comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian black comedy films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kasaragod]]
[[Category:2025 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama films]]

Avihitham - Revision history

RobbyAyres at 09:35, 3 March 2026