‘I’m Game’ review: Dulquer Salmaan’s comeback is a gamble on fantasy that pays off in most parts

Plenty of fights, energetic music and a world of excess—at first glance, ‘I’m Game’ can easily pass off as a Telugu or Tamil-style entertainer. Directed by Nahas Hidayath, who made his debut with ‘RDX’, the film initially immerses itself in casinos, high-stakes gambling and an extravagant underworld, centred around a spoiled-brat protagonist who seems perfectly at home in this larger-than-life world. For a Malayali audience accustomed to more grounded storytelling, this unfamiliar setting can initially feel distant, even slightly disorienting.

Yet, the film gradually moves away from the gangster template it appears to embrace in its opening portions. As the first half progresses, its larger-than-life world begins to give way to something far more unusual, with fantasy slowly entering the picture and reshaping our understanding of the story. By the time a crucial character enters the narrative, ‘I’m Game’ has already begun to transform into a different kind of film—one that is less about its initial spectacle and more about the strange, entertaining world it eventually builds. It is this gradual evolution that gives the film much of its charm, turning what initially seems like an ambitious pan-Indian star vehicle into a more distinctive and unexpected experiment.

For Dulquer, the film also marks a significant return to acting in Malayalam cinema. Though he has remained active in the industry as a producer, backing the successful ‘Lokah’ last year, ‘I’m Game’ comes after a three-year gap as an actor in Malayalam. Following the setback of ‘King of Kotha’, his decision to return with a fantasy-driven film is an interesting one, especially given how rarely he has explored the genre in recent years.

At its core, ‘I’m Game’ is an experiment built around an unusual premise. In that sense, it recalls S S Rajamouli’s ‘Eega’, which constructed an entire narrative around an unlikely protagonist, and invested the character with genuine emotional weight. ‘I’m Game’ similarly attempts to discover dramatic and emotional possibilities within an unconventional idea, giving the film an identity beyond its scale and spectacle.

Dulquer’s choice of roles in recent years has reflected a willingness to step outside familiar territory. From ‘King of Kotha’ to ‘Lucky Baskhar’, he has continued to experiment with different shades as an actor, and Dan John gives him another opportunity to inhabit a heightened character. There is an assuredness to his performance, particularly once the writing by Sajeer Baba, Bilal Moidu, and Ismail Aboobacker begins to peel back the layers of his character. The technical departments reinforce the film’s ambitious vision. Jakes Bejoy’s music adds considerable energy to the proceedings, while the cinematography by Jimshi Khalid maintains control despite the film moving across a sprawling and visually extravagant world.

The film’s biggest strength is perhaps its willingness to take a risk. In recent years, Malayalam cinema has explored different facets of fantasy storytelling, from ‘Padakkalam’ to ‘Sarvam Maya’. ‘I’m Game’, however, takes a more unconventional route, venturing into territory rarely attempted in Malayalam cinema. In the hands of less capable technicians, a film this ambitious could easily have turned into a gamble that failed. Instead, it manages to emerge as a winner, largely because of its entertaining and emotional moments, along with performances that keep the proceedings engaging.

Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar and Samyuktha Viswanathan are all a delight to watch. The women characters are given considerable screen presence, but they are not afforded the same agency, which is a missed opportunity. Greater depth and autonomy for these characters could have elevated several scenes and added more weight to the film’s emotional beats.

‘I’m Game’ may not be an immediately accessible fantasy entertainer, but its ambition and willingness to venture into unfamiliar territory work in its favour. What begins as an ostentatious, larger-than-life gangster world gradually develops into something more distinctive, making the film an interesting experiment in Malayalam cinema.