The Malayalam political thriller Prathichaya, starring Nivin Pauly and directed by B. Unnikrishnan, hit theatres on March 26, 2026. As the first shows wrapped up across Kerala and other regions, viewers quickly took to X to share their initial reactions, offering a glimpse into the film’s early reception.
While these posts don’t amount to in-depth critiques, they reflect immediate audience impressions from opening day. Detailed reviews from critics, along with broader public feedback, are likely to emerge over the next few days.
Peak…Peak..First Half 🥶🔥🔥#NivinPauly Ijjathi Performance🔥🔥❤️
Sharafudheen & ബാലചന്ദ്ര മേനോൻ അഴിഞ്ഞാടിയ 1st Half👏🔥❤️ Excellent Performance❤️🔥
Ooman Chandi Reference ഒക്കെ അന്യായം ആയിരുന്നു❤️🔥🥺
എന്തായാലും 1st ഹാഫ് തൂക്കി
Waiting For 2nd Half☠️🔥#Prathichaya pic.twitter.com/dIVkB301Bz— Anantha_vishnu (@Ananthuavj) March 26, 2026
Prathichaya: Cast, Plot And Crew
Positioned as a gripping political thriller, Prathichaya explores themes of power, governance, and public image. The story centres on the Chief Minister of Kerala, who finds himself at the heart of a controversy sparked by alleged links to a corporate nexus.
As the crisis deepens and his reputation begins to falter, his son, John Varghese, steps in to probe the truth behind the allegations. The narrative follows his journey through a tangled web of political intrigue and corporate interests.
#Prathichaya so far is impressive, best first half for a #BUnnikrishnan film in recent times. Balachandra Menon delivers a standout performance after a long while, and #NivinPauly is spot on. If the second half maintains this level, we might have a winner on our hands 👌 pic.twitter.com/XWQqCRj5Zo
— Akshay (@iAkshayRPillai) March 26, 2026
In addition to Nivin Pauly, the film features a strong supporting cast including Sharaf U Dheen, Balachandra Menon, Harisree Ashokan, Maniyanpilla Raju, Ann Augustine, Neethu Krishna, Sabitha Anand, and Vishnu Agasthya.
The film is produced by Gokulam Gopalan under the banners of Sree Gokulam Movies and Rd Illuminations LLP, with Baiju Gopalan and V. C. Praveen serving as co-producers.
#Prathichaya is a gripping peak political thriller, elevated by #NivinPauly’s swag and dialogue delivery, strong performances from Ann Augustine, Sharafudheen, and Balachandramenon, marking an absolute redemption for B Unnikrishnan and making it totally worth it.
Go for it! pic.twitter.com/rRAJa17NqS
— Badusha (@Badusha_bachu) March 26, 2026
On the technical front, the film brings together cinematographer Chandru Selvaraj, music composer Justin Varghese, and editor Manoj. The production design is handled by Shajie Naduvil, while sound design is by the duo Sankaran-Sidharth.
For now, Prathichaya has begun its theatrical run with early buzz building online, marking the first phase of its journey at the box office.
Olivia Sarkar is a Senior Content Producer on the Entertainment and Lifestyle desk with 6 years of experience. In 6 years, she worked with ANI, IANS, Zee News. Known for covering trends and engaging storytelling, she covers a wide spectrum of topics including entertainment news, fashion, fitness, health, food, travel, astrology. From major film announcements to industry controversies. Throughout her career, she has interviewed several notable personalities such as Femina Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty, Miss World 2024 USA contestant Victoria DiSorbo, Miss France 2020 Clémence Botino.Her interview portfolio also includes celebrities like Milind Soman, Tiger Shroff, and Vikrant Massey, along with acclaimed singers Shubha Mudgal and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Jaspinder Narula. Beyond work, Olivia enjoys exploring new food joints, being wanderlust, and writing poetry. You can reach her out on X: @OliviaSarkar11
