Malayalam cinema audiences turned out in large numbers on Thursday, May 14, as ‘Athiradi’, starring Tovino Thomas and Basil Joseph, hit theatres worldwide. The action-comedy, which reunites the duo after their widely celebrated collaboration in ‘Minnal Murali’, has already triggered a wave of reactions across social media platforms following paid premiere shows on Wednesday.

Cinemas reported packed early morning screenings as fans gathered to witness the much-anticipated campus entertainer. Initial chatter online suggests an upbeat reception, with viewers praising the film’s humour, energy and unexpected cameo moments.

‘Athiradi’ X reviews

One user on X wrote, "A lively campus entertainer packed with humor, clever payoffs, and a crowd-pleasing climax.”

Another user wrote, “Athiradi is a complete mass entertainer! Brilliant performances, top-notch action, and a gripping storyline.”

A few of the responses, however, were less favourable.

A reunion with a twist

Unlike their earlier superhero outing, Tovino and Basil share the screen purely as actors this time. Basil plays Samkutty, an earnest college student desperate to revive a once-famed campus fest that had been banned years earlier. Tovino, meanwhile, appears as a calm-spoken but intimidating figure whose arrival alters the campus dynamic and pushes the narrative into a blend of comedy, chaos and action. 

About ‘Athiradi’

Running 2 hours and 37 minutes, the film marks the directorial debut of Arun Anirudhan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Paulson Skaria. What begins as a playful campus rivalry soon escalates into larger conflicts that raise the stakes significantly.

The project is jointly backed by producers Dr Ananthu S and Basil Joseph, with Tovino and Sameer Thahir serving as co-producers. Music is composed by Vishnu Vijay, and cinematography is handled by Samuel Henry.

The film also features Riya Shibu, Shaan Rahman, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Zarin Shihab, Shelvin James and Santhivila Dinesh in key roles. Early viewers have highlighted surprise guest appearances as one of the film’s talking points.

Tovino’s upcoming project

Even as ‘Athiradi’ opens strongly, Tovino is already drawing attention for his next film, ‘Gracias El Clasico’, co-starring Nazriya Nazim. The project recently made headlines after unveiling its poster during an El Clasico clash in Spain.