Athiradi Twitter review: Netizens call Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph's Malayalam movie 'a well-made entertainer'. Cameo wins heart

Athiradi, starring Tovino Thomas and Basil Joseph, finally hit theatres on May 14, and social media is already buzzing with reactions. Marking the duo’s reunion after Minnal Murali, the film opened to packed cinema halls and energetic first-day-first-show responses. Written by Arun, who earlier co-wrote Minnal Murali and Padayottam, along with Paulson Skaria of Kathal - The Core and Neymar fame, the film is jointly produced by Tovino and Sameer Thahir. From comedy and action to emotional moments and surprise cameos, fans seem to have plenty to talk about.

Netizens review the Malayalam movie Athiradi

Many viewers described Athiradi as a complete “theatre padam”, praising its crowd-friendly moments and festive atmosphere. Several social media users felt the film delivered exactly what audiences expect from a big-screen entertainer, especially when watched with a lively crowd.





The chemistry between Tovino Thomas and Basil Joseph has also become one of the most talked-about aspects of the film. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), fans said the actors slipped comfortably into their dynamic, reminding viewers why their collaboration in Minnal Murali was so widely loved. Many reviews pointed out that the humour and emotional scenes worked mainly because of the natural camaraderie between the two leads.



One X user wrote, "#Athiradi WINNER. A decent first half followed by a Good Second half. Beyond the fun elements, the emotional portions also worked quite well.” The user also praised the performances of Basil, Tovino, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Riya Shibu while calling the cameo response “absolutely earth-shattering."




Another viewer described the movie as “a proper fun entertainer,” though they felt the background score could have been stronger in certain portions. The BGM, in fact, received mixed reactions online. While many praised the score during Tovino’s mass scenes and interval block, a few felt it lacked impact in some emotional stretches.



Several users also appreciated the film’s second half more than the first. According to early reactions, the emotional scenes blended well with the comedy, romance and campus drama. Fans particularly enjoyed the interval sequence, which has already emerged as one of the film’s biggest highlights.

A review shared on X called the movie an “Average College Drama” but appreciated the cast performances, technical quality and comic moments. The user gave special mention to the cameo appearance and rated the film 3 out of 5 stars.



Another reaction read, "A fun filled film with neatly written screenplay, Tovino & Basil performance was excellent.” The viewer added that the scenes involving Vineeth, Shaan and Tovino worked well, though the final act felt “a bit stretched.” Despite its flaws, the user said they personally enjoyed the film and called it a “Popcorn entertaining film.”

One of the users labelled Athiradi a “jam-packed entertainer with literally no dull moments,” adding that the movie successfully balanced humour with emotional connection. The performances of Tovino, Basil, Riya and Vineeth received repeated praise across reviews.

More about Athiradi

Directed by debutant Arun Anirudhan, Athiradi revolves around the return of a once-popular college fest. Basil Joseph plays Samkutty, a student determined to revive the celebration, while Tovino appears as a soft-spoken yet dangerous goon whose entry changes everything. What begins as a campus conflict slowly turns into a larger mix of action, comedy and chaos.

Meanwhile, Tovino Thomas will next be seen alongside Nazriya Nazim in Gracias El Clasico, a project that recently grabbed attention for unveiling its poster during an El Clasico football match between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Stay tuned!