Churuli (2021): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Churuli is a 2021 sci-fi horror film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, starring Soubin Shahir as Joy, Joju George and Vinay Forrt. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes. Its Echo Score is 75/100.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 54m (114 min)
- Director
- Lijo Jose Pellissery
- Original language
-
Malayalam
- Studio
- Chembosky Motion Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Churuli About?
The premise of Churuli without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Two undercover police officers venture deep into a remote forest village while tracking a wanted fugitive. As they pursue their target, they are repeatedly confronted by an enigmatic figure, who leads them down a series of confusing and disorienting paths. The officers find themselves increasingly lost and uncertain, struggling to discern the truth and complete their mission.
Churuli Themes & Keywords
· 17 tags- forest
- woods
- undercover policeman
- surrealism
- gun
- shot in the ear
- blood
- driving a car
- jeep
- india
- eating
- aerial camera shot
+5 more Show fewer
- animated sequence
- scene during end credits
- one word title
- scene during the whole end credits
- title spoken by character
Churuli Cast & Characters
Soubin Shahir leads the cast as Joy, with Joju George as Thankan and Vinay Forrt as Shajivan. Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Lijo Jose Pellissery
- Soubin Shahir as Joy
-
Joju George as Thankan - Vinay Forrt as Shajivan
- Sajin Gopu as Jeep driver
Also Starring in Churuli
· 6 more- Jaffer Idukki Toddy Shop Manager
- Chemban Vinod Jose Antony
- Lukman Avaran Moonji Biju
- Geethi Sangeetha Pengal Thanka
- Surjith Shooter
- Hariprashanth M G Kudakan
More from Lijo Jose Pellissery
More films directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, best-rated first: Jallikattu, Malaikottai Vaaliban, Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Ee.Ma.Yau..
Churuli Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in art & craft (92) and weakest in story & flow (55).
Churuli Echo Score Breakdown
Churuli presents a bold, experimental canvas that dazzles through its visual and auditory design while leaving its narrative thread and character arcs uneven. Critics and viewers commend the film’s striking cinematography, inventive soundscape, and daring direction, yet repeatedly note the story’s opacity and the difficulty of emotional connection. The blend of admiration for craft and frustration with coherence results in a polarizing experience that rewards patient viewers but alienates those seeking conventional storytelling.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 92
In terms of direction and visual craftsmanship, Churuli excels. Reviewers highlight the film’s imaginative framing, vivid forested landscapes, and meticulous editing that reinforce its labyrinthine premise. Production design is praised for constructing an otherworldly environment that feels both immersive and purposeful. The overall technical execution sets a high standard for avant‑garde cinema, confirming the strength of its artistic foundation.
- Character & Emotion 73
When it comes to character depth and performance, the response is mixed. Some viewers find the acting raw yet compelling, noting intriguing moments from the leads, while others argue that the characters lack clear arcs and emotional resonance. The ensemble’s chemistry is intermittently effective, but the deliberate ambiguity often limits audience attachment, resulting in a moderately positive yet uneven impression of the film’s human element.
- Story & Flow 55
The narrative structure of Churuli is widely regarded as confusing and deliberately opaque. Critics and audiences alike point to a fragmented plot that resists conventional coherence, leaving many plot points unanswered. While originality is acknowledged, the pacing and lack of clear resolution hinder sustained engagement, producing a lukewarm assessment of the story’s overall effectiveness.
- Sensory Experience 88
Sensory experience stands out as a major strength. Reviewers commend the minimalist yet haunting score, precise sound design, and a visual style that oscillates between mesmerizing and unsettling. The film’s auditory texture and color palette work in concert to create an immersive atmosphere that amplifies the thematic labyrinth, solidifying its impact on viewers.
- Rewatch Factor 68
Rewatch potential is moderate to high for audiences inclined toward interpretive cinema. Several commentators suggest that repeated viewings reveal hidden layers and deepen appreciation of the visual and auditory intricacies. Conversely, some find the persistent ambiguity exhausting, indicating that the film’s replay value depends largely on the viewer’s tolerance for experimental storytelling.
Churuli Plot Summary
What happens in Churuli from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a quiet forest tale, a monk travels through the trees to track down Perumadan, an evil spirit that misleads travelers. The forest seems to acknowledge him, with creatures winkingly familiar as he passes. Along the way he discovers a rolled-up pangolin, and, thinking it is merely a ball, he pockets it to give to his children. But the pangolin suddenly speaks and urges him to choose a different path. He listens, wanders deeper, and eventually gets hopelessly lost. It’s only later revealed that the monk never truly escapes the woods—the pangolin was Perumadan in disguise, and he remains trapped by his own ignorance of the ruse.
Full summary
The whole story of Churuli, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Churuli?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What are the false names the two police officers adopt in the village?
Churuli Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “Labyrinth” and “Лабиринт”.
- Also known as
-
- Labyrinth
- Лабиринт
Seen Churuli?
Movies Like Churuli
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Churails, Cheluvi and Chola.
Churuli FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Churuli, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Churuli?
Churuli runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).
When was Churuli released?
Churuli was released on February 12, 2021.
Who directed Churuli?
Churuli was directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery.
More films by Lijo Jose Pellissery Who is in the cast of Churuli?
Churuli stars Soubin Shahir as Joy, Joju George as Thankan and Vinay Forrt as Shajivan, among 10 credited actors.
Does Churuli have a post-credit scene?
No. Churuli has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Churuli in?
The original language of Churuli is Malayalam.
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