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Alappuzha Gymkhana review: Rises above the formula and charmingly wins
Award winning director Khalid Rahman makes the difference, ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ rises above the formulaic sports-movie themes and charmingly wins with its relatable rooted settings, humour and likable performances.
Alappuzha Gymkhana movie synopsis
Jojo (Naslen) and his friends have failed in their plus-two exams. A chance encounter makes Jojo believe that grace marks from sports can be their shortcut to an academic escape and boxing is their best bet. But reality is different from fiction, as they start training and enter the state championships, they discover the true meaning of sports, sportsmanship, they find their identity and purpose in life as boxing becomes the metaphor that teaches them life lessons.
Writer director Khalid Rahman’s cut above the formulaic sports drama ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ is not exactly about winning, it’s about understanding, realizing the true meaning of a sportsman and coming to terms with your identity/potential. The lazy, carefree dudes in ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ lead by Jojo who enter as zeros for training after the state championship turn heroes in their own right. It may seem like a familiar coming of age phenomenon but its different.
Khalid Rahman engagingly turns the known underdog format into a quirky slice of life sports drama that celebrates acceptance and adores life.
The linear treatment by Rahman that focuses primarily on inner strength is the biggest USP. Using boxing – a sports considered to be male dominated that boosts machoism, Rahman subtly coins the gender roles and gives us a focused female boxer Natasha (Anagha Ravi) against the carefree Jojo and Co.
This moment-oriented movie doesn’t follow the traditional story telling techniques and hence at places especially during the climax it fails to get that overall sweep but overall, the movie’s ability to mirror the confusion/chaos of contemporary youth is commendable.
Performances
Naslen leads the way bringing in the required energy to Jojo and is excellent.
Lukman as Antony Joshuva is a delight.
Baby Jean’s as David John aka DJ is good.
Anagha Ravi as Natasha packs punch.
Ganapathi as Deepak Panikkar makes his presence felt.
Technicalities
A well-crafted movie, Cinematographer Jimshi Khalid makes it more realistic and gives right colours to indoors and outdoors locations as his camera moves as per the theme and captures the emotions rightly. The boxing scenes are excellent. Editing by Nishadh Yusuf is in sync. Vishnu Vijayly’s music blends with the movie.
‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ is a cut above the formulaic sports drama, it’s about-facing challenges in life and throwing the right punches at the right time. A quirky but meaningful coming of age. You don’t get such combo normally.
Going with a favorable three and a half stars – 3.5/5
Made under the banner of Plan B Motion Pictures and Reelistic Studios, ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ is running on Sony LIV from June 13, 2025.
A child born from life & fed by cinema. A filmi keeda from child & a film journalist for the last fifteen years. a father, seeker, foodie who loves crooning bollywood melodies twitter.com/cineblues More By vishal verma