One of Malayalam cinema’s most beloved investigative franchises is all set to return for a sixth outing. Director K. Madhu officially teased the arrival of ‘CBI 6’ at a public event, as reported by the Reporter website, confirming that fans who followed Mammootty‘s iconic Sethurama Iyer through five films can expect the next chapter very soon. While the fifth instalment, ‘CBI 5: The Brain’, received a mixed response from audiences and critics, the anticipation surrounding a sixth film remains sky-high. Adding further intrigue to the announcement are reports suggesting that Rekhachithram director Jofin T. Chacko could helm the project.
K Madhu confirms CBI 6
Speaking at a public event, K. Madhu addressed the audience with a teasing statement. He said, “Have you all watched the five parts of CBI? Are you sure? Don’t change your answer tomorrow. Did you like all five parts? Do you want to watch the sixth part? Then it will come soon. You can expect the film very soon.”Unlike earlier films, the sixth installment may feature a new creative team. This marks a major shift for the franchise. Reports suggest that Jofin T. Chacko could direct the film. He is known for his recent hit ‘Rekhachithram’ starring Asif Ali in the lead and also Mammootty played a guest role. There is no official confirmation regarding the same yet. The earlier films were directed by K. Madhu and the screenplay was written by S. N. Swamy. As the recent CBI film received mixed reviews, a new team could bring a modern approach and may also change the tone of the series. Fans are curious to see how Sethurama Iyer evolves this time if the sixth installment happens.The CBI series has a strong legacy in Malayalam cinema. It began with ‘Oru CBI Diary Kurippu’ in 1988 which became a major success. It was followed by ‘Jagratha’ in 1989. Years later, the story continued with ‘Sethurama Iyer CBI’ and ‘Nerariyan CBI’. Each film performed well at the box office and the character of Sethurama Iyer became iconic.
Mixed response to ‘CBI 5’
The fifth installment, CBI 5: The Brain, released after a long gap. The film saw strong pre-release bookings and the expectations were high.After release, the response was mixed and our exclusive ETimes review rated the film 3.5 out of 5. It noted, “The character is a piece of cake for Mammootty, whose mannerisms as Iyer is yet again, classy. Jagathi Sreekumar fans also get a handful of delightful, important moments on the screen through his character Vikram. The team deserves applause for incorporating his character, too, into the story, despite the several shortcomings they might have faced considering the actor’s present health condition. The much-loved background score of this series, yet again, adds punch to the tale as the investigation team crosses each of their milestones.”Our review further said, “There are quite a few scenes in the beginning of the story in which a handful of dead bodies are shown, and the makers aren’t trying much to hide the gruesome nature of the deaths. Heads up for those who can’t digest such scenes easily.”
Can ‘CBI 6’ repeat the magic?
With the sixth installment in discussion, expectations are rising again. Fans are confident about its success if it is helmed by some new director with a promising team and change in plot. On the other hand, Mammootty will be next seen in the actioner ‘Patriot’ which releases in April 23.
