Director Khalid Rahman, who made a name for himself with films like ‘Thallumala’, has this time come up with a light-hearted sports drama film “Gymkhana”. The Telugu dubbed version of “Alappuzha Gymkhana”, which has performed well after its release in Malayalam, has now hit the theatres. The film is set in a small town in Alappuzha, Kerala, where five friends — Jojo Johnson (Nasleen) and his friends — who have failed in their Class 12 exams, decide to learn boxing in an attempt to do something different in life. They enroll in the local gymkhana and begin training under a mysterious coach named Anthony Joshua (Lukman Avaran). The film takes a light-hearted look at how these friends take the game seriously or are just passing their time, while also slowly unravelling layers of the coach’s mysterious past. “Gymkhana” is different from traditional sports films — it is neither too serious nor heavy-handed, but instead has a fun mix of humor, youthful exuberance and today’s trending memes. Let’s know the full analysis of this film.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Gymkhana |
| Release Date | April 25, 2025 |
| Language | Telugu (Dubbed from Malayalam) |
| Genre | Sports Drama, Comedy |
| Director | Khalid Rahman |
| Producers | Khalid Rahman, Jobin George, Sameer Karat, Subeesh Kannanchery |
| Main Cast | Naslen, Lukman Avaran, Ganapathy, Baby Jean, Sandeep Pradeep, Franco Francis |
| Music Director | Vishnu Vijay |
| Cinematographer | Jimshi Khalid |
| Editor | Nishadh Yusuf |
| Story Setting | Alappuzha, Kerala |
| Telugu Dub Quality | Decent |
| Runtime | Short and crisp |
| 123telugu.com Rating | 2.75/5 |
Gymkhana Story
The story of the film “Gymkhana” is set in a town called Alappuzha in Kerala, where five youngsters – Jojo Johnson (Nasleen) and his four friends – fail in their 12th class board exams. In this period of despair and confusion, in order to do something different, they take up a new path – boxing. This decision turns out to be a life-changing one for him. He joins the local “Gymkhana” club, where he is trained by Anthony Joshua (Lukman Avaran), a former boxing champion with a mysterious past.
Initially, the five friends don’t take the sport seriously and it turns out to be more of a fun experience. But as they prepare to participate in the “Kerala State Amateur Boxing Championship”, questions arise – are they really serious about boxing or is it just a way to pass time? Along with this, interesting things related to coach Anthony Joshua’s past are also gradually revealed, which adds mystery and depth to the story.
“Gymkhana” is different from traditional sports films. It doesn’t focus on inspirational speeches or battles for big national honours. Instead, it depicts a light-hearted journey of youth, friendship, struggle, humour and self-discovery. The film also makes interesting use of trending memes and famous Telugu dialogues, which provides laughter and entertainment to the audience.
Overall, “Gymkhana” is a different kind of sports comedy that focuses more on fun and capturing the little moments of life than seriousness.
Movie Review
Boxing movies have been made hundreds of times, so it was not easy for director Khalid Rahman to present something new. He has made a commendable effort, even within the limited scope. “Alappuzha Gymkhana” is light and fun in parts, gets straight to the point, and most importantly — it neither becomes preachy nor tries to force patriotism.
The second half of the film is especially great — powerful, full of laughter, action and completely gripping. Khalid Rahman has presented it in a very fresh way, where there is a different feel from the traditional boxing films. Though some fight sequences could have been cut short and Ganapathy’s sudden acceptance of defeat seemed a bit rushed. Still, this film has the same spirit as “Rocky” — making you feel the sweetness of victory even after defeat.
Another big thing is that a film full of fresh faces is giving tough competition to the big superstars this Vishu. “Alappuzha Gymkhana” is not just competing but showing all signs of winning this festival – and honestly, it should.
As far as the performances are concerned, Nasleen, Lukman Avaran, Ganapathy, Baby Jean and all the other actors have given a brilliant performance. Every character is brought to life and their performance brings the film alive. The fight scenes are well choreographed and every punch has a realistic feel.
The story of the film is also quite different. It is quite different from the template usually seen in boxing films. It has a great mix of youthful enthusiasm, friendship, struggle and humor. Also, the film has a perfect use of trending memes and funny dialogues, which make the film even more relatable and entertaining.
The music and technical aspects are also commendable. Vishal Vijay’s music sets the right tone for the film and Jimshi Khalid’s cinematography is visually stunning. Director Khalid Rahman has made this film in a simple yet impressive manner.
On the negatives, the first half of the film falls a bit short. The romance track in particular feels forced, which may turn off some viewers. Some of the romantic comedy scenes in the first half felt unnecessary, while the romance in the second half is handled a little better.
Overall, “Alappuzha Gymkhana” is a great vacation entertainer that offers a great mix of action, humor and a heartfelt story. This film is better than “Love”, may not reach the heights of “Thallumala”, but still delivers a great experience. It gets a rating of 4.25/5 from me. Must watch!
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
“Alappuzha Gymkhana” is a light-hearted sports drama that tells the story of friendship, struggle and self-confidence in a new way. Superb performances, funny humor and powerful fight scenes make the film engaging. Though the first half is a bit irritating with a slow pace and a weak romance track, the second half of the film is thoroughly entertaining and energetic. Despite the new cast, the film leaves a strong impact. Overall, “Alappuzha Gymkhana” is a great vacation entertainer, which can definitely be watched by those in a light mood.