Rifle Club hits OTT: The gripping star-studded Western adventure from Kerala to release on Netflix

Dubai: Director Ashiq Abu’s Rifle Club, a Malayalam gangster western set against the lush backdrop of Kerala, is all set to stream on Netflix following its December theatrical release on January 16.

The whacky film is a riotous spectacle of guns, guts, and audacious storytelling, blending Western influences with local flavor in a way that feels both thrilling and original.

Rifle Club dives into the tumultuous world of a gun-owning hunting clan in Wayanad, disrupted by a vengeful gangster, Dayanand Bare, played with wild abandon by Anurag Kashyap. Kashyap’s character—a morally bankrupt arms dealer seeking revenge for his son’s death—dominates the screen with his eccentricity, including scenes where he embarks on bloody missions in flashy American-flag-themed boxers.

“When they announced the movie, I went to Aashiq Abu’s Instagram page and wrote, ‘Do you want a Hindi-speaking actor?’ on his post. That’s how it all started,” Kashyap revealed during an earlier interview with Gulf News. For the enfant terrible of Bollywood, taking on this role was both a challenge and a creative leap.

“I’ve had weight gain post-COVID, and I’m not ashamed to put it out there. Vanity doesn’t exist in Malayalam cinema,” he said, reflecting on the industry’s focus on substance over style.

The film’s ensemble cast, including Vijayaraghavan, Dileesh Pothan, Darshana Rajendran, and Unnimaya Prasad, elevates the narrative with standout performances.

From the stoic patriarch rallying his family against invaders to the women of the Rifle Club proving just as lethal as their male counterparts, each character leaves a lasting impression. Kashyap praised the script’s sharp writing, especially the audacity of lines like his character telling his son, “Who gave you the first line, or your first girl, your first foreign girl? I will give you your first kill. But just wait till I come there.”

Kashyap’s seamless delivery of emotionally charged lines in Malayalam has impressed audiences, but he admitted he took the plunge without hearing the full script.

“I trusted Sham and Aashiq. They’ve been written off, just like I have. But that bond as filmmakers made me jump in blindly.”

Kashyap’s fearless portrayal, paired with the camaraderie and collaborative spirit of Malayalam cinema, makes Rifle Club an intriguing watch.