The Times of India
May 13, 2026, 11:53 PM IST
4.0
Campus movies have always had a special charm. The atmosphere, the chaos, the friendships, the celebrations and the youthful energy instantly transports many to the most memorable days of their lives. Athiradi makes good use of this nostalgia by blending humor, emotions, music and mass entertainment into a very enjoyable package full of fun.Set in an engineering college campus, the film stars Sam Basilio Josethe typical Gen Z youth who is constantly belittled by everyone around him. His dream is to revive the university festival that was closed a few years ago after an unfortunate incident. At first glance, Sam appears directionless, as his father jokingly describes him, “a bus without an engine.” But beneath the carefree attitude lies determination, emotion, and a spark that slowly unfolds in the narrative.The film strongly connects with an entire generation that society considers hopeless, lazy, careless, confused or commitment-phobic. As the story progresses, Athiradi gently reminds us that the current generation may be finding life their own way.It runs parallel to Kutta, brilliantly represented Tovino Thomasretired goon trying to rebuild his life through his first music performance by forming a local band for a temple festival. When Sam’s ambitions and Kuttan’s dreams collide, the film turns into a fun rollercoaster filled with hilarious confrontations, touching moments and crowd pleasers.Tovino Thomas and Basil Joseph deliver highly engaging performances with effortless comic timing and emotional depth. Tovino’s Kuttan will easily become one of his most celebrated comic roles, revealing a completely different tone to the actor. Basil, on the other hand, proves once again why he remains one of the most significant performers among today’s young actors.Adding more fun are the appearances Vineeth Sreenivasan and Shaan Rahman like themselves, creating several moments to laugh. Yeo Baby he also steals scenes as a caricatured cop, adding a lot to the film’s situational comedy charm.The film also works well technically. Samuel Henry’s cinematography beautifully captures the vibrant campus atmosphere and festival spirit, while Chamman Chacko’s editing keeps the pace lively. Vishnu Vijay’s music elevates the film’s celebratory mood, effectively supported by Akhil Damodhar’s art direction and Mashar Hamsa’s costumes.Director Arun Anirudhan, known for writing Minnal Murali, makes an impressive debut full of confidence and pride. The film, co-written with Paulson Skaria, may not offer a completely fresh story. Campus politics, festivals, gang feuds and friendship dramas are familiar territory. However, what makes Athiradi work is its energy, humor, emotional connect and unapologetic entertainment value.At the same time, the film has its limitations. Athiradi revolves around male friendship and male emotions, and actors like Zarin Shihab and Riya Shibu are given little to do beyond supporting the heroes. Stronger female characters and more emotional layers elevated the film further.However, despite its familiar set-up, Athiradi is one of the most enjoyable entertainers of recent times: a colorful and laugh-out-loud celebration of youth, friendship, dreams and second chances.-Anjana George
