Rifle Club review: Aashiq Abu crafts a retro-style movie, elevated with good performances

Filmmaker Aashiq Abu is back with Rifle Club. This time the director has tried something different — a stylish movie with gunshots justifying the title.

After the unsuccessful attempt at making an action entertainer— Gangster (2014)— Aashiq has made a movie, which has the potential to become a success with its stylish filmmaking and a decent run time without lags.

Rifle Club is set in the 90’s in Mangaluru and forest areas of Kannur. The movie gives a retro feel with dance numbers and other properties defining the 90’s. The “Gandharva” song in the beginning itself sets a tone for the movie.

Also Read: Ajith’s ‘Vidaa Muyarchi’ enters last leg of shooting

Synopsis

Rifle Club starts with sequences in Mangaluru in 1991 where Dayanand Bare, a guns dealer (Anurag Kashyap) is hosting a birthday party for his second son. The initial scenes give an impression of Bare’s character and his love towards his two sons.

Soon a tragedy befalls the family, and one of Bare’s sons is affected, setting the stage for revenge. Can Bare and his son kill those people who harmed their loved one? Well, the movie is all about this as more interesting characters are added along.

Bare and his son travel to a forest region in Kannur, searching for the murderer. They arrive at a club called the “Rifle Club,” an association of skilled shooters. On the night of their arrival, the club is hosting actor Shahjahan (Vineeth Kumar).

Several incidents unfold that night, and the writers have crafted a cheesy script filled with adult conversations, double meanings, and other elements that add a sense of realism.

Lonappan (Vijayaraghavan), the oldest member of the club, and his son Avaran (Dileesh Pothan), the club’s secretary, play key roles in the story. Avaran and his team had been out in the forest training Shahjahan for shooting when the shootout at the Rifle Club began. The rest of the story revolves around the intense conflict between Bare’s group and the Rifle Club members, which makes for an engaging watch.

Predictable story wrapped in retro-style

Rifle Club has a predictable story wrapped in retro style, so devolving further into the plot would lead to spoilers. However, art director Ajayan Chalissery elevated the film by nailing the old look for the clubs, cars, and furniture in the Rifle Club. The songs by Rex Vijayan also gave a retro feel to the entire set-up.

Another important aspect is that none of the characters are neither good or bad, but are different shades of grey. While Bare’s gang might seem like the antagonist on a surface level, the Rifle Club members are also flawed, with their own internal conflicts.

Though they disagree on many issues, they remain united. The script includes intriguing elements, such as references to Mammootty’s method acting techniques from his critically acclaimed movie Mrigaya. The hunting scenes and character dialogues, written by Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Nair, and Sharafu, are well-crafted.

Cinematography, another crucial aspect, was handled by Aashiq Abu himself. The frames in the climax scenes, and the hunting portions have come out well.

The actors too have given it their all, and their looks and costumes by Mashar Hamza have added to the overall retro look of the movie.

Also Read: ‘RRR Behind and Beyond’ to release on 20 December

Performances

Rifle Club features a strong mix of veteran and new actors. Ace actor Vijayaraghavan plays Lonappan, the main figure in the club. Despite being wheelchair-bound, he effectively gives directions and also contributes to the movie.

Senior actor Vani Viswanath plays Ittyil, a sharpshooter. Her strong screen presence and chemistry with other actors stand out.

Dileesh Pothan portrays Avaran, Lonappan’s second-in-command. His mannerisms and body language as a tough shooter add depth to the character.

Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap makes his Malayalam debut as Dayanand Bare. His performance as a don seeking revenge is impressive, and his dubbing, a mix of Malayalam and Hindi, works well.

Vishnu Agastya plays Lonappan’s second son, delivering a solid performance as a greedy character who rises to the occasion. His acting follows his stellar work in Sangarsha Ghadana.

Rapper Hanumankind takes on a role as Bare’s son. He delivers a mature performance, proving his talent as an actor.

Unni Maya Prasad and Darshana Rajendran’s chemistry is enjoyable to watch. Both actors perform with ease, showcasing their growing talent.

Final take

Rifle Club offers a unique cinematic experience with a retro feel. The high-quality production is a major highlight, and the strong performances make it an engaging watch.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)