User reviews

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.

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.

Rating - 4/5

A retro style slow burning drama on the backdrop of a hillside Rifle Club.

The story in a nutshell is about the Rifle club and their proud legacy persevered by the successors through the passion of hunting is disrupted by an arm dealer for his personal vengeance.

The writer trio Syam,Dileesh & Suhas has written a visual treat for the audience giving umpteen goosebump moments. Aashiq has effortlessly set background for the storyline that slowly progresses with hilarious dialogues and peak moments complemented with Rex Vijayan's swagging BGM's captivating the viewers to the screen. The first half crawling in few moments gets concealed by an interval punch. The latter half is completely engaging with phenomenal action sequences,Rifles,bloodshed,fire,bullets. The filmmakers pulled off with a spectacular cast giving avenues for their performances.

Startling performances by Dileesh Pothan,Vijayaraghavan,Hanumankind,Vishnu Agastya,Vani Viswanath & Natesh Hegde. Anurag Kashyap has made a kick-ass performance and his contemptuous smile is simply lit. Darshana,Vineeth,Surabhi,Suresh Krishna,Unnimaya,Kiran Peethambaran,Prasant Murali & Sajeev has also made notable performances.

Aashiq Abu has not disheartened the audience by wearing the hat of a DOP. His pioneer effort in capturing the action sequences,the natural lights and beauty of the Western ghats and the period ambience is worth mentioning. Saajan has effortlessly tuned the movie to a complete action packed entertainer. The efforts by Ajayan Chalisssery in giving a retro antique look to the club and sourcing the vehicles deserves appreciation. Action Choreographer Supreme Sundar,Costumes by Mashar Hamsa and the colorist Remesh CP deserves big hugs for their contribution for setting the tone and elevating the movie to a wholesome entertainer.

A must watch entertainer in the theatres to witness a clean masterstroke by Aashiq Abu .

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.

Simple story, excellent making, stylish characters, super performances and bucket load of bullets!!!! Fun movie !!! No one character in this movie disappoints. All are awesome. Hanumankind did a good job on debut... Most others are well known performers and they did not let us down. The golden colour grading works well. The comedy suble and part of genuine conversations. Background score by Rex is top notch. Only problem is the movie might not work in other markets as it does not have a star nor has any masala in it. Might pickup if WOM is good. This will be a hit in OTT anyway... Will be a cult movie.

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.

The film was great and I had a blast watching it. Nearly every aspect was very well done. The main performances especially from dileesh pothen and anurag kashyap are great. The side actors like vani vishwanath and vijayaraghavan provide good support. Vineeth Kumar has a good role. Some of the side actors are just alright. The much hyped Hanumankind was just alright and you can tell he's never acted in a film before. The music, cinematography, and editing are all great. The film goes in a very fast pace and you won't notice the time flying by. The only major problem is the dialogues which sound completely out of place some times. Whenever dileesh pothen says a double meaning joke, he literally says "double meaning double meaning" right after. That completely ruins the joke. There is a scene where dileesh pothen says dialogues in pure malayalam and another character translates them into english. If the audience needs to understand every word, they can just turn on subtitles right? Otherwise the film is a simple and well done film that you will definitely enjoy.

Rifle Club has a never seen before backdrop which can get people curious about the movie. It had a large ensemble cast, which showed great potential but went underutilised. Although Syam Pushkaran-Dileesh Nair-Suhas trio has done a decent job, I expected more from my favorite new gen writers.

One request to Ashiq Abu team, Please stop casting Unnimaya Prasad in your every movie. She is capable of handling smaller roles like the one she did in Parava. But not a meatier one.

It was nice to see Vaani Viswanath back in action. But some scenes felt forced. And this is not applicable to just her, but others as well. These days, some fil makers are trying to inject women empowerment into their movies. I am all for it but it should feel natural or realistic.

Mahima Nambiar's character tying her husband to a chair in RDX movie is one scene that felt natural.

Surabhi Lakshmi's kissing, Darshana and Unnimaya's interactions, Ponnamma Babu's scene, The thing by the young girl in the end... All these scenes felt forced.

Hanumankind deserves an applause for handling his role with control. It was a surprise to see him like that. Anurag Kashyap was okay. Nothing much. Dileesh Pothan did good, but the language doesn't suit him.

There were some talks about the armory but we don't get to see anything. Anurag's character is set up in a way which we would expect something more than what he does. The clash between Dileesh Pothan and Godjo is left unexplored.

Overall, the movie is saved by the nuance in the theme and pretty solid action sequences.

Rifle Club is a Malayalam action movie that tells the story of a couple who accidentally kill the son of a notorious crime boss. To escape his wrath, they seek refuge in a historic rifle club in the Western Ghats. Coincidentally, a famous actor is also at the club, preparing for a hunting role. The plot unfolds as the crime boss tracks them down, leading to a tense showdown.

The film starts off slowly, and at times, it feels like the story is being unnecessarily stretched. However, the last 30 minutes are engaging and deliver the action that was anticipated. For an action movie, it doesn't offer as many action sequences as one might expect, with the final fight scene standing out as the highlight.

The CGI in certain scenes appears unconvincing, which can be distracting. On the positive side, the background music is well-composed, and the film's visual setup, including color schemes, is appealing.

Overall, Rifle Club is an average movie that picks up towards the end. It's a decent one-time watch, especially if you enjoy action films, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking consistent excitement throughout.

It's really commendable how Malayalam movies are trying something out of the box in every chance they get. Be it regular drama, crime-thriller, humor-mystery or even this action-comedy, Malayali films are excelling in every genre.

Rifle Club is a proper Rowdy action film with great cinematography and awesome music.

Story revolves around the famous Rifle Club in 80's Wayanad which is under attack by some goons from Mangalore lead by none other than Anurag Kashyap. The members of the club join hands and guns to save their historical club from getting extinct.

The whole 2 hrs. Of this movie is breathtaking and enjoyable as hell with bullets flying everywhere and background score amplifies the thrill. Striking visuals and humorous exchanges between characters is a treat to watch.

With Anurag Kashyab stealing the limelight for his negative role, I personally liked the character of Avaran played by Dileesh Pothan. His passion towards hunting and love for the club is perfectly portrayed by the actor which is exceptional.

Rifle Club is a blend of action and comedy. The comedic elements are well-executed, and each actor has delivered a solid performance. Surprisingly, Hanumankind steals the show with his swag and remarkable screen presence. The background score is decent and complements the narrative.

I personally enjoyed the first half, as it was engaging and well-paced. The second half, while still good, lacked the same level of intensity. Additionally, the antagonist's character arc could have been developed better.

Overall, it's a decent one-time watch, especially for fans of action-comedy movies....6.5/10.

An adventurous movie with an interesting plot! The movie is about a rifle club family who lives in western ghats from ages wherein every single family member including ladies are skilled shooters n there starts a tug of war between this family rifle club n a gangster when the son of gangster gets killed accidentally by rifle club members when attacked. What makes movie interesting is the way entire rifle club stands united as shooters to save their family from gangster. Movie is very crisp n fun to see the action scenes. Originally a Malayalam movie dubbed in all South Indian languages including Hindi dubbed. Available in Netflix, my ratings 7/10!

Dileesh Pothan gave an excellent nuanced performance.

Tight script by Syam Pushkaran and team. There is no unnecessary fluff in the script which is good. But then again, there is hardly anything in the script if you really look at it.

Aashiq Abu's direction is the winner here. Being a Rex Vijayan fanboy, I had listened to all the songs over and over before watching the movie. Should not have done that.

Nayattu Prarthana is an excellent composition, and is well weaved in into the movie unfolding.

I am yet to like an acting performance from Anurag Kashyap. Did not like this one either, and his role was crucial. This was a casting mistake - may be Aashiq wanted to take gang fights consulation from Anurag. A veteran actor is needed here - not a veteran director.

Mostly a once and done kind of a movie, lot of gun action for a malayalam movie if you look over Marco.

Excellent songs from Rex Vijayan. Good sound work.

Hunting backdrop brought some novelty for a malayalam movie.

I had intended to watch the movie at night, but instead started on it in the evening which means there is light coming into the hall. However, as the day turned to night in the movie, day turned into night in the hall as well - that was interesting.

Imagine Jason Statham starring in a Western film set in Kerala, with a his personality split between ten people of an extended 'family', in which your worth is based on how accurately hit your target. That's what this < 2hr movie was. You can see that a bunch of people got together and thought, lets have fun writing, acting and making this film and it shows. The background music is 🔥

This a mindless revenge film which is as over-the-top and shallow as the other 'commercial films' are but surprisingly is also so much easier to buy into. It is totally nuts and far from perfect, in fact, you might pick out so many things that could and should have been different but you're very likely to enjoy it regardless.

In what would have been a breakthrough movie in Malayalam by choice of the canvas of gun violence and the underlying theme of "seige/survival" .. the expectations however turned bitter due to shoddy script, poor direction and less than convincing performance by many except of Anurag Kashyap and to a little extent of Dileesh Pothen.

The firing exchanges were poorly choreographed possibly failing in trying to lift some ideas from well rounded western movies like the Magnificent Seven and others.

The overall theme of "Seige & Survival" is a tried and tested formula with much success right from the legendary 1950 Akiro Kurosowa movie "Seven Samurai". This formula is always amenable to innovation as seen in the 2018 Fahd Fasil movie "Varathan" (the outsider) making the movie a runaway success at the box office.

The beginnings of the movie indicate an existential struggle within the plot & by the director failing to narrate a coherent thread .. this lends an impression to the discerning viewer of watching several disjointed YouTube videos.

The plot picks up momentum after intermission with a lot of fairy tale aggression by gun toting youth against seasoned members of a well rounded rifle club ensconed deep within the jungles of the western ghats where big game hunt is the favourite past time and target practice the hobby.

The principal takeaway from the movie was the great opportunity available to showcase firearms of different categories and calibre which could have ignited in the young generation a passion to pursue shooting and there were fleeting moments where one could enjoy the thrill of clay pigeon/flying target shooting in competitive mode by the club members. That was the only silver lining in the movie apart from the outstanding emote by actor Sri Anurag Kashyap who literally carried the movie on his shoulders. The tactical play of emotions enacted by him in retrieving his seriously wounded son from within the rifle club was a brilliant masterpiece.

The downside in the movie was the excessive gun violence depicted which was unnecessary to drive home the plot and to an extent seemed both faked as well as absurd. How much it will appeal to our benign masses here remains to be seen .. though in my view the movie would get better acceptance in places where gun control laws are lax and anyone desiring to defend himself has access to a personal firearm.

Another noxious aspect was the use of very foul language between a father and a son which could have been edited or moderated appropriately without decreasing the intensity of emotion in that phase of the plot.

The DNA of siege movies is the tactical ingenuity depicted by the heavily outnumbered ones in overcoming their adversaries in the climax of the movie which shoots the thrill factor through the ceiling. The movie to an extent toys with and succeeds as evidenced by the wild cheering that arises in the movie hall.

How can one forget the terminal sequences of action in the movie "Varathan" which nearly filled the eyes of the movie goers with tears of joy by the gratuitous grand finale.

The movie "Rifle Club" ups the antee at the climax but everything appears on expected lines at the end making the movie peter out tamely like firing a blank cartridge when a real one was the necessity.

The movie though fictional and perched in the distant past showcases big game hunt, which is an anathema in our life and times where concerns of wildlife depletion and their habitat loss plague us daily.

Finally I can only say that a brilliant opportunity was lost due to the lack of knowledge of those behind the movie .. which if researched well and taken time to craft would have ended as another landmark movie in Malayalam cinema for such is the strength of the "Seige/Survival" theme in the genre of action movies.

Better luck next time .. ..

It will be interesting to hear the views of the much respected Major Ravi on this movie. We need to look forward to it.

The concept for the Indian regional movie is new but when it comes for the storyline it's poor enough. The story should be strong and more engaging.

It's not enough strong to provide the information about rifle club strongly and the main things characters are so ugly without a josh of attitude as a rifle owner. The runtime should be between 1.3-1.4 hrs. And the background score is not good enough.

They missed the focus on villian and looking towards side characters. It's definitely one time watch movie Story - 4/10 Plot twist - 4/10 Cinematography - 6/10 Vfx - 5/10 Action scenes - 7/10 Villian - 5/10

OVERALL - 6/10.

One of the top five films of 2024. What an experience, It's always good to see some freshness in themes aided by a good technical side and that's what made 'Rifle Club', a unique experience for me.

The movie has an ensemble cast and the casting was perfect. It was good to see Vani Vishwanath on the screen after a long time.

The technical side deserves all the credit for maintaining the ambience of this film. The production design was top-notch and I was surprised when I realised Aashiq did the direction and cinematography simultaneously. That was a brave attempt and he handled it well.

The only negative, I found was the color grading. I don't know why creators go for 'artificiality' when it comes to color grading, we can feel that in the movie and I have noticed this in several movies. Kunchako Boban's 'Pada' was an exception though.

Fast-paced and filled with South Indian flavor, 'Rifle Club' is an exciting movie that mixes action with a Western feel. The intense setting is perfect for thrilling gunfights, backed by strong performances.

Although I don't recognise most of the actors in the movie except Anurag. It was interesting to see Indian grannies and ladies are fighting bad guys in style.

Anurag Kashyap's arrival adds more excitement with modern guns facing off against antique ones, creating a dynamic action scene. While some viewers might think Kashyap's role could be deeper.

Although there are many characters in the action scenes that can feel a bit crowded, 'Rifle Club' is a must-see for fans of gunfights and thrilling moments.

I had a good time watching this movie, thank you for making.

The movie is based on a simple plot where good and bad people are clearly defined from the beginning. The main strength of this movie lies in its cinematic actions, dialogues, acting, and cinematography. The infusion of Western classic influences into a vibrant and colorful setting adds a unique charm, making the experience all the more engaging. One standout feature is the film's refreshing departure from patriarchal norms, which is rare in Indian action movies. Rifle club nicely portrays the equal hunting skills of both men and women within the hunter family, showing their unity and capability. Additionally, the movie captures the essence of family bonding and trust, skillfully woven even into high-intensity action scenes. Worth watching!

The movie is so unrealistic in a very bad way. I mean a guy falls from 7 floors into a garbage dump and is fine without any injuries. A man who keeps mixing food on his plate while delivering a dialogue but never eats one bite. The bad humor, the over the top unrealistic stupid scenes. The fights, the acting...everything about this movie is really bad. More than half an hour, it becomes really hard to watch this movie.

Tamil and Malayalam movies are overhyped these days, with cinema which is neither relatable to Indian public. They are something grotesque, strange and offer anything and everything in the name of art, and the Left Liberal ecosystem hails them as masterpieces.

Personally, I was disappointed with quite a lot of malayalam movies recently, including Avesham, which was joke and cringe humour. But this movie is even more worse. Its like a TV serial made for Old people to watch with their fake teeth in a cold ice glass of water.

Honest review

Good things: 1. As a movie lover, I've seen a lot of films, but this one really stands out because of its characters and their swag. And let's not forget the mind-blowing BGM-it takes every scene to a whole new level.

2. The story is simple, and the concept feels fresh. That's what keeps you hooked till the climax. No twists, no suspense, no overthinking-just sit back and enjoy the drama. Very few filmmakers can pull off this kind of straightforward but entertaining storytelling.

3. The makers have used the 2-hour runtime really well to make you connect with the characters.

Not-so-good things: 1. A hero truly shines when he faces a strong villain. But here, the climax feels underwhelming-it's more like a one-sided fight, which takes away the thrill.

2. Sharing screen space with such talented actors is tough, and it's clear that Hanumankind is trying hard to fit into his role. He has the swag and attitude, but I feel like a different actor might've done better justice to his character.

PURE CINEMA!

This movie is simply fantastic. It starts off slow, carefully developing the characters, which draws you in gradually. As the plot progresses, the pace picks up, and you're completely hooked. The gunfight sequences are perfectly executed, with every bullet shot packing a punch. The ending is a total game-changer, exceeding all expectations. What seemed like a typical action film turns into a masterpiece. For any fan of intense gunfights, this is an absolute gem that shouldn't be missed. It's a thrilling, well-crafted ride from start to finish. Truly entertaining, exciting, and unforgettable!

Rifle club is slick movie. Climax nd bgm borrowed from Gangs of wasseypur which is creation of Anurag kashyap. Only jarring part is Anurag kashyap the actor. As an actor he has nothing to offer and repeats same facial expression in all his movies he has acted so far. He is next Saeed Jaffrey, whom you always expted to say 'paan pesh karoo" even in the role of Sarder patel in Gandhi film. Anurag kashyap is right fit of paan wallah or pot bellied Samosa wala. Directors of two greatest indian movies Sholay and Gangs of Wassypur (GOW) could never deliver another cult movie whether Ramesh sippy or Anurag kashyap. I thought Anurag kashyap will move out of film industry if he does not conviction of directing another movie. I still remember Sneha khanvalkar the music director of Gangs of wasseypur. What a talent and who never compromised. Coming back to Rifle club, exceptfor him all the actors looked the role they were playing. Director has done good job but he was hoping that many would not have watched GOW and catch the bluff.