Athiradi, now streaming on Sony LIV, is a Malayalam action-comedy set against an engineering college backdrop. Starring Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas in key roles, the film mixes campus emotions, comedy, action, and a festival-based conflict. While the premise has promise, the storytelling does not fully deliver the expected impact.

Athiradi Movie Review: Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas Lead a Mixed Campus Drama

Athiradi is a Malayalam film starring Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas in important roles. Directed by Arun Anirudhan, the film was released in theatres on May 14. Made on a budget of around ₹30 crore, the movie reportedly collected over ₹70 crore at the box office.

The film started streaming on Sony LIV from June 19. It is available in five languages. Designed as an action-comedy, Athiradi mainly targets youth audiences with its college backdrop, humour, action, and emotional drama.

Plot Overview

Sam Kutty, played by Basil Joseph, joins an engineering college and soon forms his own group of friends, including Prasanth. His elder brother Joseph had also studied in the same college in the past. During Joseph’s time, the college used to conduct an annual fest called Arohan.

However, during one edition of the fest, a stampede takes place and three students lose their lives. Joseph is blamed for the incident. Since then, the college bans the fest. The incident leaves Joseph emotionally disturbed, as a negative impression about him continues to remain on the campus.

Sam Kutty strongly believes that the fest must be revived. He wants to invite his brother and the old batch back to the college and clear the stain on Joseph’s name. Swathi R. Krishna, played by Riya Shibu, supports him in this effort.

Sam Kutty convinces singer Vineeth Sreenivasan to perform at the college fest. Around the same time, Sam Kutty and his friends get into a clash with street singer Kuttan, played by Tovino Thomas. Due to their actions, Kuttan’s wife gets injured. Sam Kutty later learns that Kuttan is a feared rowdy with several cases against him.

What does Sam Kutty do next? Does he succeed in conducting the college fest? The rest of Athiradi follows this conflict.

Story and Screenplay

The core point of Athiradi is simple. A college fest is banned after a tragic incident. Joseph is blamed for it. To remove that blame from his brother’s name, Sam Kutty joins the same college and tries to revive the fest.

The first half focuses on Sam Kutty’s entry into the engineering college, his style, attitude, friendships, love track, campus fun, and mischievous activities. The film moves in a light-hearted way during this portion.

The second half gains momentum with the entry of Tovino Thomas as Kuttan. The scenes where Kuttan becomes an obstacle to Sam Kutty’s plans move the story forward. As the film reaches the pre-climax, the kidnapping drama involving singer Vineeth Sreenivasan begins. Kuttan’s gang kidnaps him to stop the college fest, and Sam Kutty’s batch steps in to rescue him.

Direction and Storytelling

Director Arun Anirudhan builds the story around a college setting and mixes love, comedy, action, and emotions. The film is clearly aimed at young audiences. However, campus-based films usually give strong importance to love and friendship. In Athiradi, those elements do not get enough weight, which feels disappointing.

The idea of the hero facing villainy from outside the campus works to some extent. Tovino Thomas’ entry as Kuttan and the way Sam Kutty becomes his enemy without directly intending to are interesting. The build-up given to Kuttan also creates curiosity.

However, after that point, the story does not move in a way that matches audience expectations. Several scenes feel weak, and the lack of strong comedy makes them less effective. This issue continues until the end.

Athiradi Movie Review: Performances

Basil Joseph looks convincing as Sam Kutty. His attitude, body language, and performance suit the role. He has already proved his strength in comedy, and his character is designed reasonably well in this film. However, the lack of strength in the story reduces the impact of his performance.

Tovino Thomas plays Kuttan, but the role does not carry the power that audiences may expect from him. The character gets a strong introduction, but the writing does not allow it to grow effectively.

Riya Shibu, who plays the heroine, has limited scope. Her role exists in the story, but it does not add much value to the narrative.

Cinematography and Visuals

Samuel Henry’s cinematography is good. The college atmosphere and action-comedy mood are captured neatly. The visuals support the tone of the film and help maintain the campus feel.

Music and Background Score

Vishnu Vijay’s background score is decent. It works in parts and supports some key scenes. However, the music does not become a major strength of the film.

Technical Aspects

Chaman Chacko’s editing feels average. The film could have been sharper, especially in the weaker portions. The production quality is decent, and the film has the scale expected from a commercial campus entertainer.

Athiradi Movie Review: Overall Verdict

When audiences hear that Athiradi stars Basil Joseph, they may expect strong comedy. But that level of humour is missing here. The film brings a few smiles in some places, mainly because of Basil’s look and body language. However, the writing and narration do not create the same impact.

Athiradi Movie Review Verdict: The film has a promising campus backdrop and a few interesting moments, but weak comedy and an underwhelming screenplay stop it from becoming a fully engaging action-comedy.

FAQs on Athiradi Movie Review

Where can I watch Athiradi?

Athiradi is streaming on Sony LIV from June 19.

What is Athiradi about?

Athiradi follows Sam Kutty, who joins an engineering college to revive a banned college fest and clear the blame placed on his elder brother Joseph.

Who are the main actors in Athiradi?

The film stars Basil Joseph, Tovino Thomas, and Riya Shibu in key roles.

Who directed Athiradi?

Athiradi is directed by Arun Anirudhan.

What genre is Athiradi?

Athiradi is an action-comedy with a college campus backdrop.

Is Athiradi available in multiple languages?

Yes, Athiradi is available in five languages on Sony LIV.

How is Basil Joseph’s performance in Athiradi?

Basil Joseph performs well with his look, attitude, and body language. However, the weak writing limits the overall impact of his role.

How is Tovino Thomas’ role in Athiradi?

Tovino Thomas’ character gets an interesting build-up, but the role does not deliver the power expected from him.

What is the final verdict on Athiradi?

Athiradi has a decent premise and a few engaging moments, but weak comedy and ordinary narration make it a mixed watch.

Disclaimer

This review is based on the content, performances, technical aspects, and overall presentation of the film. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Viewer opinions may vary.

Have you watched Athiradi on Sony LIV? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know how you found Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas in the film.

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