Latest news with #KhalidRahman
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
When the silver screen gives space to tribal land struggles
In Khalid Rahman's Unda (2019), a police officer from Kerala, played by Mammootty, who is given the responsibility of leading a team of officers to ensure that elections are conducted smoothly in Maoist-hit areas of Chhattisgarh, says to a tribal boy, 'This is your land, do not die'. Kerala has a strong, eventful, and often forgotten history of land struggles by tribal societies. While often sidelined, these struggles occasionally get its hands bloody (or find itself bleeding) and land a blow on the conscience of mainstream society, becoming the topic of intellectual discussions for a while, after which they again move to the shadows. However, once in a while, the Malayalam movie industry takes note of these events with either subtle nods inside a story or by creating an entire movie around such events. Three movies, different perspectives While Ranjan Pramod's Photographer (2006), K.M. Kamal's Pada (2022) and the recently released Narivetta by Anuraj Manohar effectively do only what the events themselves did — that is, nudge these issues into discourse for a short while — by etching them permanently in film however makes sure that the struggles of some of the most exploited communities are not forgotten. All three of the movies mentioned above are centred on or framed against the backdrop of the struggle of tribal communities in Kerala for autonomy over their own land, and how the State responded. In Narivetta, which is based on the true events surrounding the Muthanga protests and subsequent police shootings and brutalities, theprotagonist finds himself being a complicit part of the state machinery that is working to put out a peaceful protest by tribals for land that was promised to them. In Photographer, starring Mohanlal, the protagonist encounters a tribal boy facing police violence in a forest area. This was also based on the Muthanga incident detailed in Narivetta. In Pada, the makers revisit the actions of the 'Ayyankali Pada' — the youth organisation of the Kerala Communist Party formed under Maoist ideologies by former members of a Marxist-Leninist organisation that was dissolved in 1991. Pada shows how four members of the Ayyankali Pada held the collector of the Palakkad district hostage in response to amendments made to the Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) (KST) Act, 1975, in 1996. The KST Act deemed all tribal lands in the possession of non-tribal people through sale, lease, mortgage or by force after 1960 illegal, giving way for tribal people to take back their land. But it was never implemented in the way it was envisioned. In 1993, the Kerala High Court ordered the State government to implement the Act within six months, but that too went unfulfilled with the State asking for continuous extensions. And finally in 1996, the the Left-led government under E.K. Nayanar passed an amendment making transactions of tribal land made till 1986 legal. While Pada is an immediate response to the amendment, events of Narivetta take place after years of unfulfilled promises regarding the question of tribal land. While it can be criticised that the movie took the spotlight away from the struggling tribal people and gave it to the protagonist (highlighting his 'saviour complex'), it manages to disturb the blissful existence of the comfort class, much like Vetri Maaran with his Visaaranai and Viduthalai. Lesser-valued lives While it is commendable that movie makers choose to portray such events and bring them back to public discourse, there is a line that distinguishes genuine representation from mere tools for character building. Arousing sympathy in the audience for the downtrodden can easily slip away into re-establishing class politics. What Narivetta fails to do is break away from the idea of the need for a saviour to help bring up the downtrodden. It is necessary here to note another police movie that came out in Malayalam, a slow burner, that can describe the Muthanga incident in an even powerful way than Sikshayum (2022) by Rajeev Ravi is a simple tale of a group of policemen going out of their home turf in search of the accused who got away with a jewellery store heist. But the lead actor played by Asif Ali is plagued by his past, a montage that the movie opens with, where he shoots down a protester from an advancing group in a forest area. While the movie contains the disclaimer that the events are fictional, the protest can be compared to the Muthanga incident. But what Kuttavum Sikhshayum does is wrap up the whole conflict in a monologue before entering the climax, where the police officer opines how the killing, from the bullet that he fired, has vanished now, with no evidence and no one held responsible. The character played by Alencier, a subordinate to the protagonist, listens silently as the protagonist describes how protesters pelting stones forced the then-young officer to shoot, and how his aim went at the protester's chest rather than his legs, how higher officials saved him from any serious actions save enforced leave and how he is still tormented by the act. Alencier then breaks the fourth wall and stares at the audience for a split second, maybe to remind them of the killing, asking them how it got swept under the rug. Near the end of the movie, the protagonist once again, with a gun in his hand, comes face to face with a person who could pose harm to him. But the police officer does not shoot. Struggle for property has been a part of human life ever since nomadic hunter gatherers decided to settle down and cultivate the land around them. And for tribal people, who co-exist with 'modern' society, this struggle is not just for stability, but for existence. And cinema has its own way of reminding society of these struggles.
Scroll.in
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Start the week with a film: Why ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana' is and isn't about boxing
Alappuzha Gymkhana isn't only about boxing. The Malayalam comedy has many scenes that showcase the sport. But Khalid Rahman's hugely enjoyable movie is equally about friendship, self-realisation and the true meaning of victory. Out on Sony LIV after a blockbuster run in Kerala, Alappuzha Gymkhana revolves around the teenagers Jojo, Shanavas, DJ, Valuth and Cheruth. Only Shanavas has passed the 12th standard examination. Jojo (Naslen), the informal group leader, suggests getting into college through the sports quota. Why not boxing? How hard can landing punches be? At the Alappuzha Gymkhana that offers boxing lessons, an attempt to get a discount flops. Will you muscles grow in instalments too, the manager wants to know. The humour flows naturally and easily in Rahman's screenplay, co-written with Sreeni Saseendran. Alappuzha Gymkhana has the shooting-the-breeze quality that is often in found in the better Malayalam buddy dramas, but without the moralising or hand-wringing that is inserted into such films to give its characters a reality check. Under the strict coach Anthony (Lukman Avaran), Jojo, Cheruth (Franco Francis) and Valuth (Sandeep Pradeep) become competent enough to participate in a district-level competition. Other boxers join the group, leading to new friendships and expanding Jojo's universe. There's delightful camaraderie but also excellent displays of pugilistic skills as the competition gets underway. The adolescents look and sound credible as they size up their opponents. The battles within the ring are highly convincing. Through the presence of female boxers, Alappuzha Gymkhana makes its points about redefining masculinity and acknowledging women in sports without shouting from the rooftops. Ratheesh Ravi's hilarious dialogue is punchy without being in your face. They are delivered by an excellent cast, led from the front by Naslen, the actor from Home (2021) and Premalu (2024). Jojo is the kind of youthful dreamer whose journey towards finding his place within and beyond the ring is often side-tracked by women, other contestants and every available stimulus. The contact sport of boxing becomes an apt metaphor for Jojo's evolution. Khalid Rahman draws connections between ambition and reality, landing jabs and taking blows on the chin, in a manner that appears easy-going but is always rigorously plotted and staged. Play
News18
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Naslen's Alappuzha Gymkhana Lands On OTT After Theatrical Success
Last Updated: The film also features actors like Lukman Avaran, Sandeep Pradeep, Ganapathi, Kottayam Nazeer, Shine Tom Chacko and Abu Salim in significant roles. Alappuzha Gymkhana, the Malayalam sports drama film featuring Naslen in the titular role, emerged as a box-office success upon its release in April this year. Helmed by Khalid Rahman, the film minted Rs 44.25 crore, net in India, as per making it one of Mollywood's most profitable hits this year. Did you miss watching on the big screens? Well, need not worry are the film will be coming to the OTT platforms soon. Following a successful theatrical run, the film is preparing for its digital debut. Several rumours have been circulating about which streaming giant has got the rights, with names like Amazon Prime and JioHotstar in the running. Now, the film is released on the streaming giant SonyLIV in five languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. The film also features Lukman Avaran, Sandeep Pradeep, Ganapathi, Kottayam Nazeer, Shine Tom Chacko and Abu Salim in significant roles. It follows the story of five friends from Alappuzha who take up boxing to get college admission through the sports quota after failing their 12th-grade examinations. The story explores their friendship, relationships, and individual journeys as they navigate the world of boxing. While it incorporates elements of a sports drama, the film deviates from the typical underdog narrative, exploring the diverse motivations and approaches of the characters within the boxing world. The screenplay of the film is written by Khalid Rahman and Sreeni Saseendran. It is backed by Khalid Rahman, Jobin George, Subeesh Kannanchery and Sameer Karat under Plan B Motion Pictures and Reelistic Studios. Speaking about the making of the film, director Rahman earlier told OTTPlay, 'What I felt would be the most thrilling part of creating this film was having to bring in a group of young people and collaborate with them. It is not a boxing film centred on a particular actor or celebrity. There is a group of young actors who I could shape in any way I wanted. They would also devote their time and energy to the project, which was an advantage I noticed before making the film. And everything turned out well." Apart from this, several other Malayalam films have also been released on OTT this week, including Thudarum, Pattth, Big Ben and Bromance among others. First Published:
Pink Villa
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Alappuzha Gymkhana OTT Verdict: Box office, Twitter review of Naslen and Anagha Ravi starrer sports film
Alappuzha Gymkhana starring Naslen hit the big screens on April 10, 2025. As the Khalid Rahman directorial made its OTT debut on SonyLIV, netizens have taken to the internet to express their views. Alappuzha Gymkhana Box Office Collection Alappuzha Gymkhana was released in theaters during the Vishu festival this year, clashing with Maranamass and Mammootty's Bazooka. Following the success of Premalu, the actor's film fares well in Kerala and Telugu-speaking states, which were relevant to this movie. Remaining in theaters for 7 to 8 weeks, the movie grossed Rs 64.35 crore at the worldwide box office. The film, considered a super hit, was running successfully until Mohanlal starrer Thudarum made a dent in its run. Alappuzha Gymkhana Twitter reactions More than a month since its theatrical release, Alappuzha Gymkhana has begun streaming online. With the OTT debut, netizens appear to be lauding the sports film. A user on X (formerly Twitter) said, '10 mins into Alappuzha gymkhana and this is going to be an funny adrenaline ride, those who have been to martial arts classes can laugh more harder.' Another user made a similar reaction and said, 'Alappuzha Gymkhana is the best Mollywood film come out this year, even rewatch it gives fresh and excitement. Vishnu Vijay YOU BEAUTY. A well packed maja padammmm.' With mostly rave reactions from netizens, it seems the Khalid Rahman directorial will have a successful viewership in the OTT realm as well. Alappuzha Gymkhana plot and cast Alappuzha Gymkhana features the story of five friends from Alappuzha who have completed their 12th-grade exams. However, when the results arrive, 4 of them fail, which leads them to be uncertain about their college admissions. As the protagonist, Jojo (Naslen), searches for alternatives to gain admission, he figures out that the best way is through a sports quota. Further down the line, boxing seems like the best option for them, and altogether, they engage in it. What follows is how they manage to overcome the struggles in this coming-of-age sports comedy drama, figuring out a newfound passion. In addition to Naslen, the film features an ensemble cast of actors, including Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi, Sandeep Pradeep, Franco Francis, Habish Rahman (Baby Jean), Shiva Hariharan, Anagha Maya Ravi, and many more. Disclaimer: The box office figures are compiled from various sources and our research. The figures can be approximate, and Pinkvilla does not make any claims about the authenticity of the data. However, they are adequately indicative of the box-office performance of the films in question.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Alappuzha Gymkhana OTT release: When and where to watch this Malayalam sports drama
Alappuzha Gymkhana, a Malayalam sports drama, has become a surprise hit, grossing Rs 65 crore worldwide. Directed by Khalid Rahman and starring Naslen, the film follows teenagers who pursue boxing for college admissions, discovering brotherhood and ambition. The film is set for its OTT release on Sony LIV on June 13, streaming in five languages. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Malayalam cinema's winning streak continues with Alappuzha Gymkhana, a gritty underdog sports drama that quietly entered theatres and went on to become one of the year's biggest surprises. Riding on raw performances and an emotionally charged storyline, the film has grossed an impressive Rs 65 crore worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2025, behind only Empuraan and Thudarum. Directed by Khalid Rahman and led by Premalu breakout Naslen, Alappuzha Gymkhana is now gearing up for its OTT release on June 13 via Sony LIV, where it will stream in five in the backwaters of Alappuzha, the story follows five teenagers navigating life after failing their board exams. What begins as a desperate attempt to secure college seats through the sports quota morphs into a stirring journey of brotherhood, boxing, and brutal ambition. As the boys train at the local Gymkhana under coach Salim and later state-level boxer Antony Joshua, they face both internal struggles and external threats that test their loyalty, resolve, and ensemble cast, including Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Anagha Ravi, and others, brings heart and humour to the narrative. Vishnu Vijay's pulsating soundtrack, combined with an emotionally resonant plot, elevates the film beyond a typical sports by Plan B Motion Pictures and Reelistic Studios, Alappuzha Gymkhana is not just a sports film—it's a coming-of-age saga of young men who learn to fight for more than just victory in the ring. With its digital debut slated just eight weeks after its theatrical release, the film is set to find an even wider audience.
