Athiradi (2026) Review: Loud Campus Chaos With Star Power

This Athiradi review looks at a loud Malayalam campus entertainer built on star charisma and festival-sized noise. Directed by Arun Anirudhan, it pairs Basil Joseph with Tovino Thomas in an action comedy about a banned college fest. It is a fun ride in stretches, but not a tidy one.

Athiradi Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Athiradi plot starts with Samkutty, nicknamed SamBoy and played by Basil Joseph. He is a student with energy to burn, and he decides to bring back a college festival that has been banned. The decision is bold, and not everyone on campus is happy about it.

That revival lights a fuse. A fierce rivalry takes shape, and what was meant to be a celebration begins turning into chaos. The film frames this as a clash of egos, with comedy and action driving each escalation.

The script is by Arun Anirudhan and Paulson Skaria. Anirudhan is making his directorial debut, and you can feel a first-time filmmaker's eagerness to throw everything at the screen.

What Works in Athiradi

The biggest strength is the pairing at the centre. Critics have singled out the chemistry and screen presence of Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas, and it is easy to see why. Their scenes crackle when the film lets them play off each other.

• Humour: The Hindu's review says the film keeps you laughing, provided you catch the references. Much of the comedy leans on meme culture, which will land better with some viewers than others.

• Music: Vishnu Vijay's score has been called high-octane, and it matches the festive, rowdy mood.

• Energy: As an action comedy, it favours spectacle and momentum over subtlety. The campus setting gives it a natural excuse for noise, colour and crowds.

The opening stretch is the most assured. It sets up the stakes quickly and gets the rivalry moving without much fuss.

Athiradi Cast and Performances

The Athiradi cast is led by Basil Joseph as Samkutty, who brings his usual jittery, likeable energy to a character built on enthusiasm. Tovino Thomas plays Sreekuttan, known as Kuttan Vellayani or Thotta Kuttan. One Rediff critic says he dominates the screen with sheer presence, and that matches the film's best moments.

The supporting players include:

• Vineeth Sreenivasan, appearing as himself

• Vishnu Agasthya as Joseph Oommen

• Riya Shibu as Swathy R Krishna

• Jeo Baby as SI Manichan Paily

The film is built around its two leads, so the supporting roles mostly serve the main rivalry. Still, the ensemble adds texture to the campus world.

Where Athiradi Stumbles

The screenplay is the weak link. Reviewers describe it as hollow, overstuffed and uneven, and at 156 minutes the length exposes those problems. The News Minute says the film takes off well but fizzles out, which sums up the overall shape.

The humour also leans heavily on meme references, which can feel dated or insider-ish. The same outlet calls the story partly fun but dated in its take on male egos. If you want a sharp campus drama with real emotional weight, this is not it.

Critical reception is mixed to average. Audience scores are modest too, with TMDB showing 6.5 out of 10 from a small number of votes.

Is Athiradi Worth Watching?

Yes, if you want a loud, festive crowd-pleaser and you are already a fan of its leads. Is Athiradi worth watching for the writing? Less so. It works best as an energetic night out rather than a carefully built story.

The Athiradi release date was 14 May 2026, and it is best suited to a big screen with a lively audience. The star chemistry and driving score carry a lot of the weight. Just go in expecting uneven pacing and a second half that runs out of steam.

Fans of action movie reviews and comedy movie reviews on this site will find the mix familiar, though it is more raucous than polished. For more background, see the Athiradi (2026 film) page on Wikipedia).

Who Will Enjoy Athiradi

• Fans of Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas who want to see them share the screen.

• Viewers who enjoy rowdy, meme-heavy Malayalam comedies with plenty of action.

• Audiences looking for a loud, festive group watch rather than a tight drama.

If you like your entertainers with a bit more discipline, try I'm Undercover (2026) Review: A Pickpocket Gang, A Cop In Disguise instead.