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.

'Chilli chicken' is a well-crafted piece of cinema that I watched on Amazon Prime. Did not have much expectations as I never heard of this film, but thoroughly enjoyed the movie start till finish...

Script is fast paced, and kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The story is tightly woven, offering a realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by small business owners and immigrants in Bangalore city. It effectively brings attention to issues that are conveniently overlooked - a thought-provoking experience for me.

The acting is spot on by everyone, with particularly strong performances by Adarsh, Khaba, and Jimpa, who truly stand out. This is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates off-beat cinema. Please watch it! You won't be disappointed !!! I'm proud to see such innovative filmmaking in Kannada, and kudos to the writer and director for delivering this exceptional movie.

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!

Watched it on a suggestion from Dr. Varun of Hejje. One of the best movie suggestions I've ever recieved.

There's nothing more sweet that the gesture of non kannadigas talking in kannada.

But here the characters are speaking in Kannada, showing how people from the North-East should speak amongst eachother in Kannada.

Unpredictability of the story is a good experience to indulge in.

It speaks one of the many politics that usually isn't spoken in mainstream.

I wish, someday, audience-base for such movies widens and more confident stories come out of the Kannada industry.

There's a small discomfort 😕 in the cuts. Scenes could have been moved seamlessly.

Songs are beautiful!

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.