Rifle Club

Rating - 4/5

A retro style slow burning drama on the backdrop of a hillside Rifle Club.

The story in a nutshell is about the Rifle club and their proud legacy persevered by the successors through the passion of hunting is disrupted by an arm dealer for his personal vengeance.

The writer trio Syam,Dileesh & Suhas has written a visual treat for the audience giving umpteen goosebump moments. Aashiq has effortlessly set background for the storyline that slowly progresses with hilarious dialogues and peak moments complemented with Rex Vijayan's swagging BGM's captivating the viewers to the screen. The first half crawling in few moments gets concealed by an interval punch. The latter half is completely engaging with phenomenal action sequences,Rifles,bloodshed,fire,bullets. The filmmakers pulled off with a spectacular cast giving avenues for their performances.

Startling performances by Dileesh Pothan,Vijayaraghavan,Hanumankind,Vishnu Agastya,Vani Viswanath & Natesh Hegde. Anurag Kashyap has made a kick-ass performance and his contemptuous smile is simply lit. Darshana,Vineeth,Surabhi,Suresh Krishna,Unnimaya,Kiran Peethambaran,Prasant Murali & Sajeev has also made notable performances.

Aashiq Abu has not disheartened the audience by wearing the hat of a DOP. His pioneer effort in capturing the action sequences,the natural lights and beauty of the Western ghats and the period ambience is worth mentioning. Saajan has effortlessly tuned the movie to a complete action packed entertainer. The efforts by Ajayan Chalisssery in giving a retro antique look to the club and sourcing the vehicles deserves appreciation. Action Choreographer Supreme Sundar,Costumes by Mashar Hamsa and the colorist Remesh CP deserves big hugs for their contribution for setting the tone and elevating the movie to a wholesome entertainer.

A must watch entertainer in the theatres to witness a clean masterstroke by Aashiq Abu .

The story begins with actor Shahjahan, who wants to change his romantic image and play a new, raw character. For this, he comes to the club. But the story takes a turn when the family starts to clash with a deadly arms dealer, Dayanand. Shahjahan's relative and his girlfriend flee from Dayanand and take refuge in the club, and this is why the clash begins.

How the elderly members of this club come together to face a formidable opponent like Dayanand and protect the family is the main part of the story. Although the story starts slowly, the tension increases, which keeps the audience hooked until the end.

"Rifle Club" is a family thriller. At first glance, its simple story and the wonderful relationship between the characters are striking. Especially the elderly members of the club are the lifeblood of the story. Their experiences and funny moments make the movie more enjoyable. Vijayaraghavan and Dilesh Pothen's performances were great.

The cinematography is really commendable. The natural beauty of the Western Ghats and the hunting scenes are portrayed very well. The fun evenings at the club or the exciting moments of hunting are also captured very easily.

The second half of the movie felt a bit slow, but it did not spoil the whole experience. Anurag Kashyap was quite scary as Dayanand, but it would have been better if his ruthlessness had been shown more.

Only Malayalam cinema can present a simple story beautifully. This movie is a real example of that. The simpler the story, the more extraordinary its cinematography is. I liked the location, action, BGM, climax. Apart from that, the acting of all the characters is Yes, it is. A must watch for those who like action movies.

Aashiq Abu proves his naysayers wrong and bounces back with an extremely stylish, no-nonsense actioner filled with fun one-liners. Yes, this is definitely style-over-substance but when it's tastefully done, I'm not complaining. In the conventional sense, this may also be Abu's most "entertaining" film yet, though it may not feel all that original. That's beside the point here, as the cast (every single one of them) is firing on all cylinders-be it with guns or puns. It's almost like the writers (Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Karunakaran, Suhas-especially, the former) wanted to shed their "always realistic and grounded" tag and come up with an all-round engaging film that's mostly about guns and the humans wielding them.

A special shoutout (within the ensemble) must go to Hanumankind-his second-coming scene is just FIERY and Rex Vijayan gives him a fantastic song + score. Anurag Kashyap also does well in his first Malayalam outing, mixing up Malayalam and Hindi in his dialogues. Vishnu Agasthya exudes an enigmatic screen presence, and I'm glad he's playing one of the good guys here after RDX. Dileesh Pothen is solid, getting some of the best lines and a whistleworthy comeback. Vani Viswanath shines among the leading ladies, reminding us of what we were missing all this while. Also, Navani's Kasargod accent (if it was dubbed by her) was jolly good.

At 1h 52m, Rifle Club is not trying to come across as an exercise in detailed, arc-filled writing. Aashiq Abu clearly knows what he's going for, which is to make a very good-looking film that makes you laugh and hoot; his filmography was sorely missing out on something this fun-filled (and gleefully violent) for a long time. I think the team managed to score a winner in that regard. The baddies could've been written a tad better though.

The cinematic work known as Rifle Club can be classified as an action thriller drama genres, and a subgenre of gun fight. The film was directed by Aashiq Abu.

The narrative under scrutiny pertains to the history of the rifle club, an establishment with a long and distinguished history in the realm of firearms. The club boasts a rich tapestry of experiences interwoven with the annals of military history, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of armaments and the pursuit of marksmanship. The club has a considerable number of members. The majority of these individuals are residing at the club. The romantic movie star, Shajahan, would take on the role of the lead actor in an action movie. In order to prepare for his role, he attended the rifle club to practise firing a gun. Subsequently, his cousin and girlfriend followed him to the club, having escaped from a gangster team. The younger son of Daya, a gangster operating within the Mangalore region, was killed by this cousin and girlfriend, albeit without any discernible motive. The older son proceeded in the direction of the club, where he was apprehended by members of the club. He was subsequently shot by the aforementioned members. Subsequently, Daya and his entire cohort proceeded to launch an attack on the club. However, the club members successfully vanquished and killed each and every member of the gang.

The narrative was of adequate quality. The direction exhibited a standard quality. The performances are of a commendable standard, and the musical scores are a notable aspect of the film. A number of visual effects (VFX) scenes appear to deviate from conventional norms, evoking a sense of peculiarity or otherworldliness in their presentation. Nevertheless, it is a film that can be watched on a single time and recommended to others.

"Rifle Club" is a Malayalam film that embraces a vintage style, offering a visually rich and action-packed experience. While it boasts an impressive cast and technical excellence, it falls short in storytelling and leaves an incomplete impact.

Positives:

One of the biggest strengths of Rifle Club is its stellar performances. Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Hanuman Kind, Vishnu Agasthya, Vijayaraghavan, Suresh Krishna, Vani Vishwanath, and Ponnamma Babu deliver strong performances. Among them, Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Hanuman Kind, and Vishnu Agasthya stand out with exceptional screen presence. Hanuman Kind, in particular, brings an effortless swag that elevates the film's vintage charm.

The technical aspects shine in Rifle Club, with excellent cinematography, well-executed action choreography, and an immersive background score. The color tones and camera angles enhance the film's old-school aesthetic, making it visually captivating.

Negatives:

On the downside, the film struggles with weak character writing, particularly for Unnimaya Prasad and Surabhi. Their roles feel forced into the narrative, attempting to create strong feminine leads, but their portrayal and attitude do not blend well with the overall tone of the movie. In contrast, Vani Vishwanath and Ponnamma Babu fit seamlessly into the film's world with their commendable performances.

The biggest letdown is the story itself. It follows a predictable revenge arc, failing to introduce any surprising twists or an impactful climax. While the film maintains a stylish and fast-paced execution, the script lacks depth, preventing it from reaching greatness. The direction is competent but not groundbreaking.

Final Verdict:

Rifle Club is a film that thrives on performances, vintage aesthetics, and stylish action. It delivers an engaging experience but lacks a gripping narrative to make it truly memorable. If you enjoy films driven by strong characters and stylish execution rather than a fresh storyline, this one is worth a watch.