Alappuzha Gymkhana Review: A Decent Watch, But Not Quite Khalid Rahman’s Best

With Alappuzha Gymkhana, director Khalid Rahman once again experiments with genre, but the film still carries traces of Thallumaala — It's a decoction of fights and (male)friendships, with a solid dose of Lukman Avaran. (Full disclosure: I’m a certified Lukman fan, so his presence definitely added points for me.)

The film kicks off by introducing five boys fresh out of intermediate school. Their failure to pass the board exam leads them to try a hand at boxing, in order to secure enough grace marks for higher studies.

The intensity and emotional high notes that are a staple for most sports dramas are missing here, aligning with Jojo (Naslen Gafoor)’s laid-back perspective. But this is what I felt was the Khalid Rahman touch - to venture the genre out of its usual trodden paths.

Alappuzha Gymkhana is no underdog story with a grand climax that makes you emotional. It’s funny, light-hearted, and relies on the small moments to engage the audience.

Naslen does the flawed protagonist well, fitting well into the screenplay that allows his co-stars to shine just as much as him. That perhaps, is what makes the movie click.

That said, the first half drags in places, and while the second half picks up pace, some of the turning points in the story don’t quite land as strongly as it could have. The cast, especially in the comedic moments, is on point, but the script doesn’t fully support the story’s progression.

The boxing sequences, however, are a highlight. Anangha Ravi was a delight to watch in the boxing ring, and so was Ganapathi S. Poduval.

If one is to glance at Khalid Rahman’s previous work- be it Unda, or Thallumaala, this seems to be the movie he played safe, and that does pull it a tad back. Still, it’s a film that has enough in it to entertain — whether you're a young Malayali viewer, a non-Malayali following Mollywood, or just someone looking for a breezy watch with family.