The Malayalam action-comedy Athiradi hit paid premiere shows on May 13 ahead of its theatrical release on May 14, and early reactions from viewers and film trackers have now started surfacing on social media.
Directed by Arun Anirudhan, the film features Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph, Zarin Shihab, and Riya Shibu in key roles.
Initial reactions on social media largely describe Athiradi as a commercial entertainer featuring humour, emotional moments, and action-packed sequences. Several industry trackers shared their impressions soon after the paid premiere shows concluded on Wednesday night.
Film industry tracker ForumKeralam called Athiradi a “winner” in its early reaction. According to the handle, the film features a decent first half followed by a stronger second half. The tracker noted that the emotional portions worked well alongside the fun elements and also praised the performances of Basil Joseph, Tovino Thomas, Vineeth, and Riya Shibu.
The reaction further mentioned that a cameo appearance received a strong audience response during the screening. At the same time, the handle pointed out that the background score could have been better in certain portions. Overall, the tracker described the film as a “proper fun entertainer.”
Another industry tracker, Friday Matinee, described Athiradi as a well-made entertainer that includes the elements of a commercial potboiler. The handle highlighted the humour, emotional portions, racy cuts, technical aspects, and choreographed fight sequences as positives.
According to the tracker, the film is said to experience a slight dip during the opening portions of the second half before improving later. The climax portions were also said to have worked well during the premiere screenings.
About Athiradi And Its Theatrical Release
Athiradi revolves around Samkutty, an energetic student who revives a banned college festival, eventually triggering intense rivalry and chaos on campus. The film combines college-based conflicts with action and comedy elements.
The film has music composed by Vishnu Vijay, while Samuel Henry handled cinematography and Chaman Chakko worked as editor. The screenplay is written by Paulson Skaria and Arun Anirudhan.
Produced by Dr. Ananthu S and Basil Joseph, the project also has Sameer Thahir and Tovino Thomas attached as co-producers. The film’s action choreography is handled by Action Sandhosh and Phoenix Prabu.
Following the early premiere responses, Athiradi is set for its wider theatrical release across Kerala and other regions on May 14.