Alappuzha Gymkhana is a Malayalam sports drama with a light-hearted tone, a dash of comedy, and coming-of-age narrative. Directed by Khalid Rahman and produced by Nataraj, and written by B. Lenin and Nataraj, the movie is a humoristic interpretation of five friends struggling to enter college following their inability to pass 12th-grade exams.
With sports quota emerging as the probable option, the group ventures into the arena of boxing as an act of redemption by sheer hard work and brotherhood. Alappuzha Gymkhana boasts Naslen K. Gafoor, Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Sandeep Pradeep, and Anagha Ravi, all acting in this hit sports comedy with a true story. If realistic sports comedies are your cup of tea, Alappuzha Gymkhana will not not disappoint you.
Movie Plot
The movie follows five friends from Alappuzha—Jojo Johnson, David "DJ" John, Shifas "Valthu" Ahammed, Shifas "Cherthu" Ali, and Shanavas—who are at a crossroads after they don't pass their 12th-grade board exams. With dreams of college on the verge of being shattered, Jojo chances upon an unusual route: sports quota admissions. Having been influenced by a bout of boxing, the friends get admitted to the Alappuzha Gymkhana boxing school, trained by Coach Salim.
But not everyone is committed to the cause. Shanavas quits, and DJ goes into wrestling, leaving Jojo, Valthu, and Cherthu to fend for themselves. Their journey becomes more rigorous when they are trained by Antony Joshua, a former student of Coach Salim and an already state-level boxer, who pushes them to their physical limits.
Their journey to the Kerala State Amateur Boxing Championship is the core of the story. Along with their new teammates—Deepak, a self-taught boxer; Kiran, a comeback artist who never gives up; and Christopher, a veteran boxer—the team faces numerous challenges. When they reach the championship, Jojo discovers he has romantic feelings for Natasha, a female boxer, and the team is plagued by failures and personal issues. While the failures in the ring do not work out, Cherthu's victory is an exception, providing a momentary glimmer of hope.
At the end, the team is led to withdraw from the tournament following a series of accidents, although not before a fight-off, where they fight off an ambush using their boxers' skill. The spirits of the team are revived back in Alappuzha when they anticipate returning to the championship next year and Jojo being appointed as a team manager for the first time.
Audience Response
Alappuzha Gymkhana is commended on its creative angle to the genre of sports dramas. Unlike typical underdog sports films, the film is more concerned with its characters, friendships, and the resolve of its protagonists than athletic triumphs per se. Critics have compared its low-stakes, character-driven narrative to such cult favorites as Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused, where individual growth is the focus.
The reality-grounded approach of the film and its focus on day-to-day issues—either academic failure or dealing with the complexities of friendship—has struck a chord with audiences. The acting, especially by Naslen K. Gafoor and Lukman Avaran, has been commended for its authenticity, and Khalid Rahman's direction has been lauded for its tone consistency. It has been termed by critics as a "satisfying joyride" with an "ideal hangout experience," making it enjoyable to view for audiences looking for a story of youthful ambitions, struggle, and transformation.
OTT Release: To Be Announced
While the film's release continues in cinemas, the Alappuzha Gymkhana OTT release is expected to follow after it has had its 30-45 day theatrical run. Stay tuned for more updates on the official OTT release date. Watch other Malayalam OTT releases here.
