Alappuzha Gymkhana

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Adarsh T Laughter in every punch 👊 It's crisp, to the point, and genuinely just out there to have fun. There's nothing particularly exciting in the story, but the screenplay brings enough flair and flavour to keep things moving. One word review: engaging. Budget: 12 crore. Worldwide Gross: 72.15 crore. India Net: 44.25 crore. Overseas Gross: 20 crore. Return on Investment ROI 32.27 crore. Verdict: Blockbuster. In Boxing, dodging a punch is probably as important as landing one. Filmmaker Khalid Rahman clearly knows a thing or two about this evasion technique, which he portrays so well in the elegantly staged boxing bouts in his fifth film, Alappuzha Gymkhana. Like a skilled boxer, he also gently evades the genre compulsions of making a sports movie, especially one that revolves around boxing. In doing so, he also breaks the expectations associated with him after the inventive Thallumaala. It is not surprising, though, for all his five films have hardly anything in common.The attempts to break cliches in a sports movie is an endeavour fraught with risks, for it also means not going along that easy path with an endless supply of emotional highs and cheap thrills. Alappuzha Gymkhana does not deliver much of the latter but makes up with a relatable tale that spares a thought for those not cut out to win. The film is written in such a way as to make us think that we wouldn’t want it any other way. The opening scene of Jojo Johnson (Naslen) and his gang, who have all failed in class twelve, celebrating their failure and planning for the next move, in a way, sets the tone for the film. The easy camaraderie and humour between this band of friends, making it seem like they have all grown up together, drives a good part of the film. They give and take friendly jabs and spiritedly fall together into the same hole they have dug for themselves. The decision to learn boxing to secure enough grace marks for higher studies happens to be one such decision. They are at that stage in life where mistakes are bound to be made while trying to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. The film reflects that spirit, and this probably aids it in staying clear of the generic paths. While the guys take much of the screen space, evidently less effort has gone into penning the female characters — except that of boxer Natasha (Anagha Maya Ravi), who reminds one of ‘Dancing Rose’ from Pa. Ranjith’sSarpatta Parambarai by almost turning the boxing ring into a dance floor. Jimshi Khalid’s camera turns the boxing bouts into a visual treat, with editor Nishadh Yusuf, who passed away in his prime, turning out one last memorable work. For a boxing film, not much blood is spilt on the screen. There is more fun and joy than blood in the film. Vishnu Vijay, who lent part of the magic to Thallumaala, has created songs that gel well with the mood of the boxing training and matches. Naslen has taken remarkable strides from being the puffs-loving boy of Thanneer Mathan Dinangal to anchoring a film partly on the strength of his performance. But almost all of the youngsters — be it rapper Baby Jean or Ganapathi or Sandeep Pradeep or Franco Francis or Shiva Hariharan or Anagha — have pulled off performances that make the film an engaging watch. This might also be one of the reasons why the film works when it subverts the typical expectations from a hero or a climax.Alappuzha Gymkhana will be remembered more for the artful dodges it made than the punches it landed. Sometimes, you don’t need a punch to make an impact. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/17/25 Full Review arvind s When Khalid Rahman is at the helm, one can always expect something different/unique. He has a filmography that is unparalleled. Alappuzha Gymkhana is a sports comedy that you have never seen the likes of before (at least in Indian cinema). It is not an underdog story that you would think it will be, and that is the best part. A group of friends in Alappuzha decide to take up boxing as a sport to gain admission into college under the sports quota. They enroll at the Alappuzha Gymkhana under coach Joshua to make the State Championship. Khalid Rahman has the knack of making a movie that stays with you much after it ends. He crafts brilliant moments with memorable characters. Naslen leads the pack as Jojo, a boy who aspires to do something to shine in front of others (especially in front of his multiple crushes). Naslen's performance is noteworthy as he plays a more confident version of his usual characters. Naslen is joined by a group of interesting characters played by Ganapathi (Manjummel Boys), Sandeep Pradeep (Falimy), Franco Francis (Thanneer Mathan Dinangal), Baby Jean, Shiva Hariharan (Thrishanku), Shon Joy, Karthik. All these youngsters have their moments onscreen. Lukman Avaran (a frequent Khalid collaborator) plays Joshua, their coach. Is there any role that he cannot do? Because he is phenomenal in this as their short-tempered coach! What I really loved about this movie is how Khalid Rahman doesn't have a hero moment or an underdog beating all odds to come out on top. It is not that kind of a movie. The boxing 🥊 choreography is top notch and engaging. With the actors actually throwing the punches, the element of realism is maintained. And this is backed up by some of the best BGM work done in Malayalam cinema. Alappuzha Gymkhana may not be groundbreaking cinema but it is a movie that will find more takers, and get more love as the days progress. Khalid Rahman does get something right every time and that cannot be explained in words. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Alappuzha Gymkhana

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