Narivetta actress Arya on the struggles of shooting lathicharge scenes in Tovino Thomas-starrer: ‘If after getting beaten by dummy lathi…’

Narivetta, starring Identity actor Tovino Thomas, has been making waves in Kerala for its strong plot and stellar performances. The Malayalam film, directed by Anuraj Manohar, delves into a tribal protest and the subsequent police action. Arya Salim, who is seen as CK Shanthi in the film, recently talked about shooting for the lathicharge (baton-charge) scenes and the effects it had.

Arya Salim on Narivetta’s lathicharge scenes

Tovino Thomas’ latest Malayalam film Narivetta, released in theatres on May 23, 2025. The film has opened to positive reviews from critics, who have praised the realistic portrayal of the police action against agitating tribal people. Arya Salim plays one of the protestors, CK Shanthi, a role which is said to be based on activist CK Janu. The film features scenes where Arya’s character comes under the lathi, and the actress says that even the assault from the dummy lathi left her with bruises.

"Dummy lathi was used to hit, and I had also kept pads on the body. Even then, amid all the running and struggles, the pad would have shifted from its place. And all the kicks and beatings would land on the body itself,” she recounted.

Further explaining about the process, Arya said that though it is a dummy lathi, it would have a PVC pipe in it to avoid breakage.

“After shooting, there would be blue marks on the body,” she said, adding that it made her think of those who had faced the real baton-charge. “If, after getting beaten by a dummy lathi, there are blue marks, then the situation of those beaten with the original lathi would be unbearable,” she said.

Narivetta plot and cast

Tovino Thomas plays police constable Varghese Peter, who, along with his team, is deputed to Wayanad, which is witnessing tribal protests. Protesting the delay in allotting land to them by the state government, the tribal people occupy parts of the forest, which leads to police action. Suraj Venjaramoodu, who has acted in Theevandi and Kaanekkaane along with Tovino, plays head constable Basheer Ahammed, while Tamil actor Cheran is seen as an IPS officer. Priyamvada Krishnan and Arya Salim are among the female cast. Arya Salim had previously acted alongside Tovino Thomas in Minnal Murali.