Athiradi Malayalam Movie

Athiradi Malayalam Movie

Feature Film | 2026 | U | Action, Comedy | 2h 37min
Critics:
Athiradi is a 2026 Indian movie directed by Arun Anirudhan starring Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Riya Shibu. The feature film is produced by Basil Joseph and Dr Ananthu S and the music composed by Vishnu Vijayan.
PLOT:

An energetic student, Samkutty, revives a banned college festival-unleashing a rivalry that turns celebration into chaos

Release Info:
May 14 2026 (India)   
Language: Malayalam
Director: Arun Anirudhan

2.8
Critics
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CRITICAL RESPONSE

The critical reception for Athiradi has largely settled in the mixed-to-average zone, with reviewers praising its energetic campus atmosphere, humour, and star-driven entertainment value while criticizing its weak screenplay and lack of emotional depth. Most critics agree that the film works best as a loud, festive entertainer rather than a tightly written campus drama. A major highlight across reviews is the chemistry and screen presence of Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas. Critics appreciated the film’s vibrant college backdrop, nostalgic flavour, and celebratory mood surrounding the cultural fest narrative. Several reviewers also noted that the climax and emotional portions lend some weight to an otherwise chaotic screenplay. The performances of Basil Joseph and Vishnu Agasthya, along with the festive appeal created by Vineeth Sreenivasan’s presence, received positive mentions. However, the criticism towards the film has been fairly consistent. Many reviewers pointed out that Athiradi relies heavily on vibe, spectacle, meme humour, and Gen-Z references without developing a compelling storyline. The screenplay has been described as hollow, overstuffed, and uneven, with forced humour and emotional beats that do not always land effectively. While the campus chaos and crowd-pleasing moments entertain in parts, several critics felt the film lacked the substance and narrative strength needed to sustain its runtime. Overall, Athiradi is viewed as a harmless one-time watch that succeeds intermittently through humour, nostalgia, and star power, even if its storytelling remains shaky.

Verdict:

A lively but uneven campus entertainer that thrives on energy and performances more than storytelling. Despite its fun atmosphere and crowd-pleasing moments, the film struggles with a thin plot and inconsistent writing.


Reviews (8)

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Cast & Crew Details:
Tovino Thomas in Athiradi Tovino Thomas Sreekuttan
Basil Joseph in Athiradi Basil Joseph Samkutty aka SamBoy
Vineeth Sreenivasan in Athiradi Vineeth Sreenivasan
Riya Shibu in Athiradi Riya Shibu Swathy R Krishna
Shaan Rahman in Athiradi Shaan Rahman
Zarin Shihab in Athiradi Zarin Shihab
Darshana Rajendran in Athiradi Darshana Rajendran
Vishnu Agasthya in Athiradi Vishnu Agasthya

Director: Arun Anirudhan
Producers: Basil Joseph, Dr Ananthu S
Production Companies: Basil Joseph Entertainment, Dr. Ananthu S Entertainment
Music Director: Vishnu Vijayan
Song Lyrics Writer: Suhail Koya
Sound Designer: Nixon George
Cinematographer: Samuel Henry
Editor: Chaman Chakko
Screenplay Writers: Paulson Skaria, Arun Anirudhan
Original Story Writers: Paulson Skaria, Arun Anirudhan

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