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THE PAWN OF MAROTTICHAL

By Kabeer KHURANA

Social issues - Completed 2025

In the quaint Marottichal rife with severe alcoholism, an ordinary man Unni tackles the illicit habit by replacing it with the game of chess and turning the village into 'India's Chess Village,' transforming it for a brighter future.

- Year of production
- 2025
- Genres
- Social issues, True Story, Bollywood
- Countries
- INDIA
- Languages
- HINDI
- Duration
- 34 mn
- Director(s)
- Kabeer KHURANA
- Cast
- Mohan AGASHE, Maahir MOHIUDDIN
- Producer(s)
- Vinay MISHRA (HUMARAMOVIE), Preety ALI (HUMARAMOVIE)
- Synopsis
- Nestled in Kerala's lush landscape, Marottichal was once ravaged by alcoholism, leaving shattered families and a dwindling economy. Amid this despair, Unni, grieving his brother's death, took in his orphaned nephew, Dev, and struggled to provide for his
  family. A chance encounter with Aalim, a wise elder with a troubled past, introduced Unni to the transformative power of chess.
  
  Through the cunning "Marotti-chaal" strategy, Aalim inspired Unni to teach chess to the village's drunkards, offering a reward to those who could beat him. This simple act sparked a revolution, replacing bottles with chessboards. Villagers found discipline, strategy, and community in the game, slowly revitalizing Marottichal.
  However, not everyone welcomed the change. Joseph, the wine shop owner, and Rameshwar, Unni’s bitter former employer, conspired to sabotage him. Their plans
  unraveled as chess brought unexpected joy to their own families, melting their resistance.
  
  In time, Marottichal transformed into "India’s Chess Village." Foreign tourists flocked to witness its inspiring story, injecting new life into the economy. Unni’s perseverance and Aalim’s wisdom healed a broken community, proving that even the smallest moves can lead to the grandest victories.