Plot:
Athiradi follows Samkutty, played by Basil Joseph, who joins BCET College with a mission to revive the Arohan fest, which was stopped years ago after a deadly stampede. His goal is connected to his elder brother’s guilt, giving the story its emotional base. The film also introduces Sreekuttan, played by Tovino Thomas, a reformed local don whose entry creates conflict, humour, and nostalgic campus drama.
Overview:
Directed by Arun Anirudhan, Athiradi is a coming-of-age campus drama filled with humour, emotions, friendship, college politics, and festival energy. Though the writing is uneven in parts, the film succeeds in bringing back the warmth of college life and the chaos of youth festivals.
Performances:
Basil Joseph gives a natural and relatable performance as Samkutty, mixing awkwardness, innocence, and charm. Tovino Thomas has strong screen presence as Sreekuttan, though the character becomes predictable. Riya Shibu’s role as Swathi is limited, but she adds quiet emotional value. Vineeth Sreenivasan, Shaan Rahman, and the supporting cast bring humour and liveliness.
Technical Aspects:
Samuel Henry’s cinematography captures the youthful energy of the campus and fest sequences well. The production design makes the college setting feel authentic. Some stylish portions work visually, but a few feel overdone.
Music:
Vishnu Vijay’s music supports the film’s fun and energetic mood, especially during Sreekuttan’s scenes. However, the score sometimes becomes too loud and reduces the impact of softer emotional moments.
Editing:
Chaman Chakko’s editing works well during chaotic and high-energy scenes. However, some transitions and intercut portions feel over-stylized and slightly affect the film’s rhythm.
Positives:
- Strong emotional bond between brothers.
- Basil Joseph’s natural performance.
- Tovino Thomas’ strong screen presence.
- Authentic college and festival atmosphere.
- Humour and nostalgia work well.
Negatives:
- Uneven writing affects the flow.
- Some characters feel underused.
- Sreekuttan’s character is predictable.
- Over-stylized scenes distract at times.
- Emotional depth could have been stronger.
Analysis:
Athiradi works best as a nostalgic campus drama with humour, emotions, and youthful energy. The film has an engaging emotional core built around guilt, friendship, and second chances. While the writing is not consistently strong and some characters needed better depth, the lively college setting and fest sequences make the film enjoyable, especially for theatre audiences.
Bottomline: Heartfelt Drama
Rating: 3.5/10
