Synopsis

Set in quaint Ponnippadam, Trissur, AIVAR is the story of five best friends - Maalti, Priyan, Vichu, Murali and Bolt. Friends from their school days, they shared their aspirations and dreams along with all the adventures that their childhood freedom gave them.

Maalti is the most good looking of the lot and closest to Priyan. He wanted to be a photographer and settle down with his school crush Lisa after getting his sister married. His mother brought up both the children herself when Malti’s father died young in a mob lynch.

Priyan, the eldest of them all, has no big goals in life. After failing three times in the 8th grade, he stopped studying. He is not afraid of anyone, and if he has something to say to someone, he will say it on their face. He is the one who will give his life for his friends. Ponnipadam and his friends are his world.

Vichu, the most educated of them all - a graduate, a thinker, a philosopher in the group, always advising his friends for majority of their decisions and whatever decision is taken by them, he will stand by it like a warrior. He always wanted to join the Navy and become an officer.

Murali comes from a very poor family and is the funny man in the group. Wanting to be a Police Officer in his life, he will not hurt anyone and will always try to cheer up the team and keep a happy atmosphere.

Bolt is the youngest in the gang and wanted to be lawyer. He will never think twice before getting into any situation to help and protect his friends. He always likes to spend time and be around with them.

Their ideal was Udayan - their senior friend, guide and philosopher – the sensible and level headed of the lot. His word was gospel to all the friends. He earned their respect through his ability to deal with all their madness and energies and manage to solve conflicts effortlessly.

As they grew up, beyond their teenage crushes, local battles with rival groups, secret booze and cigarette sessions, suddenly they were confronted with life and responsibilities.

Unemployment was the first blow. Desperately applying for jobs and getting rejected, they found ended up being like the many local youth hanging around the local political Party office. Udayan was already begun in a small way, his future career in politics, becoming the Party spokesman, speaking about rights, equality and inclusiveness at small rallies.

For the five friends, hanging around the Party office, it began giving them some legitimacy – doing odd jobs given by the politicians and their businessmen patrons. Sometimes roughing up people, sometimes collecting loan dues, sometimes taking on fights with rival political parties. They would vent their frustration in their childhood meeting place in a field at Ponnippadam – with wild drinking sessions and venting out.

Byju was their mentor in the political party. He was a sharp level headed man and loved the five friends and was especially worried that these boys don’t get pulled deeper into the swamp that he himself had ended up and now unable to get out. Byju’s political master was Davis, a businessman whose looking to consolidate his position in the Party leadership for strengthening his family business which is running from two generations. His biggest rival is Danny, another businessman who’s not only aggressive but is slowly eroding Davis’s business and trying to take control with his gang of strongmen and is increasing his clout in the same Party. Their’s was a battle for survival – but no one would know it from the outside. All the battles were proxy through their respective goons.

But before realising the stark truth of life, the boys were more and more pulled into the murky world of dirty politics. All their idealistic childhood dreams seem to be crushed in the demand of livelihood – unable to get employment and unable to let go of the money and legitimacy that they were getting working as small time goons for the political party.

It was just a matter of time before the boys would get completely sucked in. And it happens with a tragic event. Udayan’s fiery speeches at small rallies were beginning to threaten the local power structures. His philanthropic work and helping nature to society matters, gets him into an argument with Kathi Rajesh, a local goon where Udayan scolds him ruthlessly and warns him to mend his ways. A humiliated, Kathi Rajesh finds an opportunity and finding Udayan alone, brutally butchers him mercilessly.

Malti is devastated when he finds Udayan’s blood soaked body in a ditch on the side of the road. Udayan was the only symbol of hope that Malti looked at in his life, that was messy and going nowhere.

In a rush of blood, Maalti seeks retribution and assassinates Kathi Rajesh in a gruesome fashion. This triggers off an epic blood bath – with each side playing a cat and mouse game, hunting down each other in spectacular action sequences.

As the film hurtles to the climax, the friends who die and those who survive, find their peace and purpose, and finally come of age.

Directors Profile

Shaiju Nambiadath started his career at a very young age and has worked in many mediums of the Indian Entertainment Industry including feature films, ad-films, short films and documentaries.

He has had the opportunity to work as an Executive Producer with some of the leading production houses of Mumbai as such as Studio 18 (now VIACOM18), Percept Picture Company, Excalibur Pictures (USA), First & Ten Productions, Phat Phish Films, Impact Films, Light Form Pictures, Choice Films and A.K.Bir Productions.

Being actively involved in all the aspects of film making finally encouraged him to form his own Production House named Cat N Mouse Entertainment Pvt. Ltd in the year 2009. His body of work has given him great learning opportunity and experience to develop a strong base to be in the Industry as a skilled Producer and Director.

An innovative mind to the core, his penchant for Creation, Production, Distribution, and Marketing makes him an important part of the Cat N Mouse think tank. His principal goals involve setting up the core strategy, developing a bold and innovative slate comprised of unique scripted content with a global market appeal across genre.