Lukka Chuppi is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language drama film co-produced and directed by Bash Mohammed and written by Gafoor Arackkal from a story by Mohammed. The film features an ensemble cast led by Jayasurya, Murali Gopy, Joju George, Ramya Nambeeshan, Chinnu Kuruvila, Muthumani, Dinesh Prabhakar, and Asmita Sood. The plot features the reunion of a group of friends from college after 14 years, reviving episodes from their past and how it effects their present life. The entire film was shot in an artificially created resort in Thrissur. Lukka Chuppi was released in India on 5 June 2015. It opened to positive reviews from critics, particularly for the dialogues and performances. Jayasurya received a Special Mention at the 63rd National Film Awards. The film won two awards at the 46th Kerala State Film Awards—Special Jury Award for Jayasurya and Special Mention for George. Lukka Chuppi was an official selection at the Indian Panorama section of the 47th International Film Festival of India.
Plot
A group of friends from college, Raghuram, Siddharth, Rafiq, Annie, Radhika and Benny, reunite after a long interval of 14 years under the insistence of Xavier. Lukka Chuppi examines the emotional links between the main characters. The wives see a new side to their husbands, who are suddenly singing and laughing as they did during their college days. The events that follow their reunion form the crux of the story.
The film is Bash Mohammed's directorial debut and story was developed by himself. He initially approached with the film idea to Dinesh Prabhakar, who showed interest and became the film's executive producer. The title Lukka Chuppi means "hide and seek", which Bash interprets to the life. According to him, Lukka Chuppi is an experimental film "that explores the behavioural pattern of a group of old friends who are on a get-together after a long gap". The story happens in one night, it centers on the re-union of six college friends with their spouses, who now aged in their mid 30s. "It's not a film built on a hero-heroine format. It unravels all six lives in a very light and pleasant style while maintaining an air of feel-goodness till the last frame. Moreover, dialogue delivery is the most important aspect of the narrative, the very reason we decided to bring Resul Pookutty on board", says Bash. Resul Pookutty was the film's sound designer. Bijibal composed the music from the lyrics of Rafeeq Ahammed. Lukka Chuppi is produced by Feel Reel Cinemas. Actor Dinesh Prabhakar who played Benny Chacko, was also the casting director of the film., the release was planned on 21 May 2015.
Casting
plays Reghuram, according to him Reghuram is "a creative person who is filthy rich. He is someone who has gone through many ups and downs in his life. It's an intense character". Asmita Sood was reported to be in the cast in early January 2015, in an important role which brings significant development in the second half of the film. She played Radhika, Lukka Chuppi was her second Malayalam film after the segment Aami in 5 Sundarikal. The actress joined the film in mid January 2015. Ramya Nambeesan was cast as Revathy, an ordinary homemaker, wife of Siddharth played by Murali. Muthumani plays Suhara who hail from a rich family in Malappuram. Suhara aspired to become a doctor but was married too early to a doctor. She spoke in Malappuram dialect throughout the film. Joju George plays Rafeeq, who is from a modest background and married to Suhara, his dominating wife. Dinesh Prabhakar plays Benny Chacko, the once college rank holder who end up as an auto rickshaw driver. Chinnu Kuruvila was cast in the role of Annie, a fashion designer, spouse to Jayasurya's Raghuram. Saiju Kurup portrayed Xavier, one of the college mate who is now a priest.
Filming
The filming began in January 2015 in Guruvayoor, Thrissur. The entire film was shot in a single location, a waterside resort. The two-hour story which takes place within an evening-to-night time span was completely filmed inside the resort. For the film, a house set was created on the banks of Chettuva Backwater in Thrissur. The frontage was entirely build of glass. Including the wallpaper and accessories, all designing materials were imported from Dubai, which cost nearly 50 lakh. The entire film revolves around a re-union party and takes place inside the house. In the film, the house is owned by Siddharth, the character played by Murali Gopy, "he was a singer earlier and has classy tastes in everything. So the house as well as its interiors have been done up accordingly", says Bash Mohammed, who was also the architect of the resort. The filming progressed through February 2015 in the artificially made resort in Chettuvayal, Guruvayoor. The film was shot continuously for 16 17 days. The voices of actors was recorded using sync sound, which was only used in a handful of Malayalam films before. The team completed filming in late February 2015.
Soundtrack
The film score and soundtrack were composed by Bijibal, with the lyrics written by Rafeeq Ahmed.
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Release and reception
Lukka Chuppi was released on 5 June 2015. The film opened with mostly positive reviews from critics, it earned praise for the performances, script and dialogues. The reviewer of Sify commented: "At less than two hours, Lukka Chuppi can be a good entertainer, if you are not there for some heavy-duty drama. It has its moments for sure and can even remind you of your crushes and escapades from the past". Reviewer praised Bijibal's music, Pookutty's sound mixing and the performances, especially of Jayasurya but criticized the film's title and "the never-ending drinking sessions and hasty climax". Deepa Soman of The Times of India rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and praised the dialogues and the one-liners but criticized the film's ending half that with some portions "get dramatic". Deepa Gauri of Khaleej Times said in an out of review article that the film is an " intelligently written and tautly made quirky tale".
