Rifle Club

Although 'Rifle Club' lacks a deeply engaging narrative, Aashiq Abu delivers a cinematic firework that keeps the audience entertained for two hours without a dull moment.

This film cannot claim to have a great script, despite being penned by Shyam Pushkaran, Dileesh Karunakaran, and Suhas. Instead, it presents a fierce backdrop perfect for gunfights, enriched with all the essential elements for an action-packed drama.

Even in the photographs adorning the walls, Sunny and Aziz establish their distinct character presence, adding depth to the narrative.

It is also refreshing to witness the powerful screen presence of Vani Viswanath after a long hiatus. Just two or three impactful scenes highlight how much Malayalam cinema has missed her charisma.

However, Vani Viswanath's dominance in the scenes tends to overshadow Surabhi, Unni Maya, and Darshan, despite their efforts and training with firearms.

For Vijayaraghavan, portraying Kuzhuveli Lonappan posed no significant challenge, and he executed the role of a wheelchair-bound character with finesse.

Among the supporting cast, Vineeth Kumar as romantic star Shahjahan, Kiran Peethambaran as production manager Rappadi, Suresh Krishna as doctor Lazar, and Prashanth Murali as gun-wielding Pallilachan stand out as the most engaging performances.

Dileesh Pothen and Vishnu Agasthya's gun-toting appearances evoke memories of scenes from their own 'O. Baby,' including the presence of a white dog, which also finds its way into 'Rifle Club.'

Hanuman Kind Suraj's performance adds significant mileage to the film, particularly in the thrilling scene where Bheera enters the Rifle Club.

The real fireworks ignite with the entry of Anurag Kashyap, intensifying the action. On one side, Anurag Kashyap and his team unleash bullets from modern firearms, while on the other, Dileesh Pothan's secretary Avaran and his team counter with antique guns. 'Rifle Club' masterfully blends both styles, creating an explosive cinematic experience.

While Dileesh Pothan impresses as Avaran in Kaduvachal, some viewers may feel that Anurag Kashyap wasn't given enough freedom to fully explore his role as Dayanand Bare.

The song 'Gandharva Gaan..' bears resemblance to 'Ratipushpat' from Bhishma Parvat, although its melody and rhythm seem slightly disconnected. Setting this aside, Rex Vijayan's background score is commendable.

Visually, the cinematography outshines even Aashiq Abu's direction, pushing the film's aesthetics several notches higher.

Despite an impressive cast, the abundance of characters in the action sequences sometimes feels overwhelming, making it challenging to focus on individual performances.

If you enjoy gunfights and thrilling sequences akin to Amal Neerad's films, Aashiq Abu's 'Rifle Club' will not disappoint. This is a movie best experienced on the big screen.

Aashiq Abu proves his naysayers wrong and bounces back with an extremely stylish, no-nonsense actioner filled with fun one-liners. Yes, this is definitely style-over-substance but when it's tastefully done, I'm not complaining. In the conventional sense, this may also be Abu's most "entertaining" film yet, though it may not feel all that original. That's beside the point here, as the cast (every single one of them) is firing on all cylinders-be it with guns or puns. It's almost like the writers (Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Karunakaran, Suhas-especially, the former) wanted to shed their "always realistic and grounded" tag and come up with an all-round engaging film that's mostly about guns and the humans wielding them.

A special shoutout (within the ensemble) must go to Hanumankind-his second-coming scene is just FIERY and Rex Vijayan gives him a fantastic song + score. Anurag Kashyap also does well in his first Malayalam outing, mixing up Malayalam and Hindi in his dialogues. Vishnu Agasthya exudes an enigmatic screen presence, and I'm glad he's playing one of the good guys here after RDX. Dileesh Pothen is solid, getting some of the best lines and a whistleworthy comeback. Vani Viswanath shines among the leading ladies, reminding us of what we were missing all this while. Also, Navani's Kasargod accent (if it was dubbed by her) was jolly good.

At 1h 52m, Rifle Club is not trying to come across as an exercise in detailed, arc-filled writing. Aashiq Abu clearly knows what he's going for, which is to make a very good-looking film that makes you laugh and hoot; his filmography was sorely missing out on something this fun-filled (and gleefully violent) for a long time. I think the team managed to score a winner in that regard. The baddies could've been written a tad better though.

Rifle Club is an action-packed tale of guns, vengeance, and family dynamics, centering on a rifle club family and their standoff with a gangster and his sons. The film starts on a slow note, spending time setting up the narrative and introducing a sprawling cast. While this deliberate pace may test some viewers' patience, it lays the groundwork for an explosive second half.

The turning point comes with a series of intense, high-stakes shootouts that showcase thrilling action choreography and keep you at the edge of your seat. However, the large ensemble cast is a double-edged sword; many characters feel underutilized, leaving some subplots half-baked.

Despite its uneven pacing and loose ends, *Rifle Club* delivers an adrenaline-pumping climax that action lovers will enjoy. It's a movie that thrives on its second-half spectacle but could've been more impactful with tighter storytelling and better character focus.

"Rifle Club" is a Malayalam film that embraces a vintage style, offering a visually rich and action-packed experience. While it boasts an impressive cast and technical excellence, it falls short in storytelling and leaves an incomplete impact.

Positives:

One of the biggest strengths of Rifle Club is its stellar performances. Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Hanuman Kind, Vishnu Agasthya, Vijayaraghavan, Suresh Krishna, Vani Vishwanath, and Ponnamma Babu deliver strong performances. Among them, Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Hanuman Kind, and Vishnu Agasthya stand out with exceptional screen presence. Hanuman Kind, in particular, brings an effortless swag that elevates the film's vintage charm.

The technical aspects shine in Rifle Club, with excellent cinematography, well-executed action choreography, and an immersive background score. The color tones and camera angles enhance the film's old-school aesthetic, making it visually captivating.

Negatives:

On the downside, the film struggles with weak character writing, particularly for Unnimaya Prasad and Surabhi. Their roles feel forced into the narrative, attempting to create strong feminine leads, but their portrayal and attitude do not blend well with the overall tone of the movie. In contrast, Vani Vishwanath and Ponnamma Babu fit seamlessly into the film's world with their commendable performances.

The biggest letdown is the story itself. It follows a predictable revenge arc, failing to introduce any surprising twists or an impactful climax. While the film maintains a stylish and fast-paced execution, the script lacks depth, preventing it from reaching greatness. The direction is competent but not groundbreaking.

Final Verdict:

Rifle Club is a film that thrives on performances, vintage aesthetics, and stylish action. It delivers an engaging experience but lacks a gripping narrative to make it truly memorable. If you enjoy films driven by strong characters and stylish execution rather than a fresh storyline, this one is worth a watch.

A stylish fun movie about a bunch of people who finally get their wish to flex their shooting skills in a real way with the guns they love. The few problems for me were that the songs were not that impressive and affected the flow of the film, even though they were well integrated in the script and the film could've had more character development so that we could feel more satisfied with each of them eventually ending up more badass than initially shown. I was so happy to see so many of these actors who most would not initially think to be such badasses having an absolute blast here. Glad to see Vani Vishwanath after so many years reminding everyone why she's been the only real action heroine of Malayalam. This has such a huge ensemble cast that it feels impossible to mention everyone but each had their moment that really stays with you. Really wish this was longer and showcased everyone being cool even more.