Alappuzha Gymkhana

First half was too cleshe and not very satisfying to watch. Very few comedy in the movie and chali romantic dialogues. No proper charector development. 2nd half had good vibes but poor direction. Cinematography was good 👍. Overall 2nd half boxing vibes are good but story is stuck between boxing, immature boys & cleshe romance. Can watch it for timepass.

It didnot meet the hype it created before the release. No proper endings for the shot & dialogues. Average bgm and dialogues.

If it was more about the boxing it would have been solid 8 or 9 but it was very disappointing to see such a weak story line.

Khalid Rahman is now officially the Anwar Rasheed of the mid-to-late 2000s, creating bonafide entertainers that'll strike a chord with every audience segment, one way or another. However, as opposed to Anwar Rasheed, who has moved on to production and directs only occasionally, Khalid Rahman is busy cracking bro-code with younger talents, this time around, dealing with an almost fully Gen Z cast. Yes, as many remarked, the plot is basic, and even the overall progression is somewhat minimal. Naslen, though getting the most screentime, is not a solo protagonist here. Each member of the ensemble has specific shoes to fill, both in terms of action, humour, and morale-building.

Not every moment of humour lands smoothly, but they keep getting better, with the second half turning into a truly Khalid Rahman flick. The boxing matches are incredibly shot, and stay unique, given the layering attributed to each character. There's a lot of Ryan Coogler-esque shot composition, especially during the boxing match scenes, where Jimshi Khalid's brilliant frames work in close quarters with the sparring opponents. Kramer Morgenthau's DP work in the last two Creed films also comes across as a significant inspiration; at least, some of the punches are executed like REAL PUNCHES.

I thought Vishnu Vijay went into GOD MODE with his background score, completely stripped away from what I heard in Pani, Pravinkoodu Shaappu, and of course, Thallumaala. They not only elevate all the boxing set pieces, but also manage to send a zappy fire straight into your veins with what unfurls during that final street fight that goes BONKERS! Again, this is the kind of film that benefits from the vibrant reel-ish edit style that Nishadh Yusuf (RIP) was known in the last few years for (..not Kanguva). Vishnu Govind does a fantastic job with the sound design.

Finally, the CAST. I like how all the boys (Naslen, Baby Jean, Sandeep, Ganapathi, Lukman, and the rest) had interesting arcs of their own, which reflected in their fight styles as well as the normal teenager personas (..um, all these dudes are well into their 20s, so kudos to their physical transformations!). Plus, it's not always that a side character's recovery during a boxing match results in a clapworthy "mass" moment. The girls (Noila Francy, Nanda Nishanth, and Anagha Ravi) are all solid too, but since they get comparatively less screentime, we get to know their characters only at a superficial level. I'd love to see more of each of them in Malayalam cinema going forward.

On the whole, I don't have many complaints about what the film offered as a theatrical experience. It's a festival winner by all means, because its Head Chef and team have cooked it with mostly the right ingredients in the right doses.

Alappuzha Gymkhana arrives like a surprise uppercut, smooth in its build-up and explosive in delivery. Director Khalid Rahman crafts a film that blends athletic grit with youthful charm, and the result is a surprisingly entertaining and stylish sports drama that packs in both punches and personality.

Let's start with the casting, absolutely on point. Every character feels like they belong to the world of Gymkhana. There's an authenticity in their performances, and it's crystal clear that the team put in serious off-screen effort, especially in the physically demanding sequences. And boy, does it pay off.

Lukman's entry is nothing short of electric. The pacing of the film suddenly shifts gears the moment he steps in, and from there, the boxing segments become the heartbeat of the movie. His scenes are pure class, intense, calculated, and incredibly engaging. Paired with the BGM that roars through every punch, dodge, and takedown, the boxing sequences achieve a cinematic high. It's no exaggeration to say that the background music is the soul of this movie, not just elevating scenes, but becoming a character in itself. Complete credits go to Vishnu for such an engaging score.

Ganapathi's character truly feels like the hero of the film. With his commanding presence and quiet strength, he anchors the story in a way that draws you in. Speaking of which, while the movie may lack typical "heroic highs" in the early half, Khalid masterfully saves that big punch for the climax, delivering exactly what the audience is waiting for. Though, fair warning, not all jokes land perfectly. A few flat moments break the rhythm, but they're fleeting and forgivable.

Another pleasant surprise is Anagha. She doesn't just appear - she steals the show. Her screen presence and flair light up the film. I just loved watching her moves on ring.

Interestingly, even though Naslen is a fan favorite, he isn't the main focus of the story. Instead, Khalid smartly uses him as the narrator, which brings a fresh touch to the film and allows more attention to be given to the whole group and the world of Gymkhana.

All in all, Alappuzha Gymkhana is a feel-good, festive treat with enough style, sound, and soul to make it one of the finest watches this vishu season. Whether you're here for the action, the style, or just a good cinematic experience, this one's definitely worth a watch.

Alapuzha Gymkhana: released in 2025 and directed by Khalid Rahman. Fun movie! Naslen is a real natural, his comic reactions are instantaneous. Lukman Avaran has done a great job as the boxing coach. Story is of a group of friends who fails 12th, and decides to learn boxing so they can get in the sports quota. The movie is light and fun, the physical transformation of all actors, Ganapathi, Naslen, Lukman is amazing. Everyone acted brilliantly and naturally. Naslen ultimately understands he's more of a team motivator than a boxer. Ganapathi though he's a brilliant boxer, realizes he needs to work on not letting outside threats get to him. Baby Jean was absolutely cool and fun to watch. And cheruthu.

Alappuzha Gymkhana is simply worth watching. The cinematography in the boxing scenes and fights is superb. The music is good. The entire cast delivered a good performance. The movie starts off at a steady pace in the first hour and then becomes entertaining and engaging. The pre-climax and climax are peak moments. It's a comedy-sports movie, and the director has done a great job, reminiscent of Thallumala.

If you enjoyed Thallumala, you might appreciate this film's similar vibe.

Plot :: Jojo Johnson, David "DJ" John, Shifas "Valthu" Ahammed, Shifas "Cherthu" Ali, and Shanavas are five friends from Alappuzha who have just completed their 12th-grade board exams. While Shanavas passes, the rest of the group fails, leaving their prospects of college admission uncertain.