Chess can transform lives in unimaginable ways

Kabeer Khurana's short film The Pawn of Marottichal tells the awe-inspiring tale of how the game of chess transforms an entire village in Thrissur, Kerala.

- SREEJITH MULLAPPILLY

RITER-DIRECTOR Kabeer Khurana's short film The Pawn of Marottichal tells the awe-inspiring tale of how the game of chess transforms an entire village in Thrissur, Kerala. Based on real-life incidents, the film follows an unemployed Unnikrishnan (Maahir Mohiuddin), who invites villagers into playing the game hoping that they give up alcoholism. A tale of virtues triumphing over vices, The Pawn of Marottichal has a bunch of newbie actors in the cast, except for legendary Hindi actor and Shyam Bengal's collaborator Mohan Agashe. Speaking about what drew him into the project, writer-director Kabeer explains, "It's the human story that appealed to me. I am passionate about making socially relevant cinema, films that are rooted in sound reality and can be a mirror to society. I found this story inspirational because there is an underdog angle to it. The story is completely fictionalised, although the basic concept is about chess transforming a real village in Kerala."