Athi Bheekara Kaamukan: A Promising Premise Undermined by Weak Characters
The Malayalam film industry, known for its nuanced storytelling, occasionally delivers a film that fails to live up to its initial promise. Athi Bheekara Kaamukan, released on 14 November 2025, finds itself in this very category. This Comedy, Fantasy & Romance film, with a runtime of 2 hours and 7 minutes, has managed to secure a disappointing 2.0 rating from both critics and users, signaling a significant disconnect with its audience.
A Story of a Man-Child and an Inconvenient Love
The plot revolves around Arjun, a 26-year-old character portrayed by Lukman Avaran. In a rather unconventional move, Arjun is sent back to college by his mother. It is within this academic setting that he develops feelings for his female friend, Anu, played by Drishya Reghunath. The central conflict arises when Arjun makes the startling discovery that Anu is already engaged to someone else. This revelation sends his life into a tailspin, but the narrative struggles to make the audience empathize with his plight.
The core issue, as highlighted in the review, is the protagonist's characterization. Arjun is depicted as a petulant and aimless man-child who seems to believe that love is an entitlement he deserves. His reaction to the 'love failure' feels disproportionate and unearned, especially when compared to the personality established in the film's first half. This inconsistency points to a fundamental flaw in the writing by Sujai Mohanraj and the overall direction by Nithin CC and Gautham Thaniyil.
Redeeming Features in a Sea of Flaws
Despite its overarching weaknesses, Athi Bheekara Kaamukan is not entirely without merit. The film deserves credit for avoiding a clichéd, predictable resolution for its central couple, a trap many romantic comedies fall into. Furthermore, the script consciously steers clear of outright misogyny, which was a potential pitfall given the protagonist's problematic outlook.
The performance by Manohari Joy as Arjun's mother is a standout element. Her portrayal is heartfelt, and the mother-son moments provide some of the film's few genuine emotional beats. Her character was well-written, offering a glimpse of what the film could have been. On the technical front, Bibin Ashok's musical tracks are genuinely enjoyable and add value to the viewing experience.
Outdated Tropes and a Disappointing Verdict
One of the film's most significant missteps is its reliance on outdated narrative devices. The repetitive montage of Arjun drinking every night after his heartbreak feels like an unnecessary throwback to early-2000s Malayalam cinema, a trope that modern audiences find tiresome and uninspired.
The character of Anu is also poorly served by the writing. She often mistakes blatant flirting for simple friendship, which adds to the overall frustration with the characterizations. While the film had an interesting premise until the point of the 'confession,' it quickly loses its footing thereafter.
In conclusion, Athi Bheekara Kaamukan is a disappointing watch. It is widely considered one of Lukman's weaker performances, hampered by a script that fails to provide grounded, relatable characters. The film struggles to rise above its weak characterisations and outdated tropes, making it a difficult recommendation despite its few redeeming moments.
