Aavesham is a 2024 Indian Malayalam action comedy film directed by Jithu Madhavan and produced by Nazriya Nazim and Anwar Rasheed. The production is under Fahadh Faasil and Friends and Anwar Rasheed Entertainments. The film stars Fahadh Faasil, Hipzster, Mithun Jai Shankar, and Roshan Shanavas, with supporting roles by Midhutty, Sajin Gopu, and Mansoor Ali Khan. Sushin Shyam composed the music, while Sameer Thahir handled cinematography, and Vivek Harshan did the editing.
Plot Summary
Aju, Bibi, and Shanthan move to Bangalore for their engineering studies and choose BK Hostel for its freedom. They initially enjoy their time but clash with senior student Kutty. After a confrontation, Kutty and his gang beat them but later offer friendship. Feeling humiliated, Aju seeks revenge, leading them to gangster Ranga. Initially disappointed by Ranga's lack of action, they eventually witness his violent retaliation against Kutty during a college event.
Their association with Ranga affects their studies, leading to a near-expulsion. They are later kidnapped by Reddy, Ranga's former boss, who accuses Ranga of identity theft and seeks their help to kill him. The trio eventually decides to sever ties with Ranga, leading to a climactic battle between Ranga and Reddy's gang. Ranga, feeling betrayed, reveals he valued their friendship. In the end, Shanthan passes his exams, while Aju and Bibi do not. Ranga humorously punishes them outside the college.
Cast
- Fahadh Faasil as Ranjith Gangadharan aka Ranga
- Hipster as Aju
- Mithun Jai Shankar as Bibi
- Roshan Shahnavaz as Shanthan
- Sajin Gopu as Ambaan
- Midhutty as Kutty aka Kuttettan
- Pooja Mohanraj as Deepa aka Deepechi
- Mansoor Ali Khan as Reddy
- Krishna Kumar as Nanjappa
- Neeraja Rajendran as Bibi's mother
- Pramod Veliyanad as Ranga's cousin
- Ashish Vidyarthi as College Executive Director (cameo)
Production
Development: Announced in March 2023, Jithu Madhavan's second film stars Fahadh Faasil, who also co-produced it. The film's title, Aavesham, was announced in May 2023. Madhavan wrote the script between December 2022 and February 2023. The film is a standalone, not connected to Madhavan's earlier film, Romancham.
Casting: Fahadh plays Ranga, a Bangalore-based gangster. He features a distinctive look with a handlebar moustache and white attire. Sajin Gopu, Mansoor Ali Khan, and Ashish Vidyarthi have supporting roles, with newcomers Hipzter, Mithun Jai Shankar, Roshan Shanavas, and Midhutty.
Filming: Principal photography started in Bangalore and its outskirts and was completed in November 2023.
Costumes: Designed by Mashar Hamsa, Fahadh’s character mostly wears all-white with gold chains, switching to all-black in the climax. His younger version has a distinct hairstyle inspired by the looks from The Blaze’s "Territory" music video and boxer Naseem Hamed.
Music: Composed by Sushin Shyam, the soundtrack features nine songs by various artists. It was released by Think Music on 19 April 2024.
Release and Reception
Theatrical Release: Aavesham was released on 11 April 2024 during the Eid al-Fitr and Vishu weekend. It was initially scheduled for earlier dates but was postponed to 2024.
Box Office: The film grossed ₹3.9 crores worldwide on its opening day and ₹100 crore worldwide by 23 April 2024, becoming a major commercial success.
Critical Response: The film received highly positive reviews, with praise for its direction, performances (especially Fahadh Faasil and Sajin Gopu), action sequences, cinematography, music, and technical aspects.
Home Media: The film's digital rights were acquired by Amazon Prime Video.
Reviews
- Pinkvilla: 4/5 stars - A wild and entertaining comedy film.
- The Indian Express: 3.5/5 stars - Strong performances make up for narrative flaws.
- The Times of India: 3.5/5 stars - Superb side characters and well-crafted comic timing.
- India Today: 3.5/5 stars - Enjoyable with brilliant action and comedy sequences.
- The Week: 3.5/5 stars - Maintains a celebratory mood throughout.
- Rediff: 3/5 stars - Smooth storytelling with a chilling aftertaste.
- Onmanorama: Perfect for laughter and entertainment.
- The Hindu: Held afloat by Fahadh Faasil's colorful character.