Naam (2018) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 8 May 2026
Naam (2018) Review
Directed by Joshy Thomas Pallickal, Naam (2018) is a Malayalam comedy film starring Shabareesh Varma, Rahul Madhav, Gayathri Suresh. A group of six guys and three girls who meet in college become thick friends and eventually take their friendship beyond the classroom and the campus. All goes well for the group until they are faced with sudden crisis. The event strengthens the group's bond as they struggle hard to overcome the sit... Our Rating: 1.25/5. Verdict: DISASTER. Released: 11 May 2018. Runtime: 2h 11m.


Naam(2018)
Celebration of Friendship
Malayalam · Comedy
2h 11m · 11 May 2018
Music: Sandeep Mohan, Ashwin Sivadas | DOP: Sudheer Surendran, Karthick Nallamuthu | Writer: Joshy Thomas Pallickal
Ratings
Our Rating
1.25
📖 Story
Naam is a Malayalam drama centered around the lives of a group of friends and their struggles with love, ambition, and personal growth. The narrative explores their intertwined relationships and the challenges they face in balancing dreams with reality. The story delves into themes of friendship, heartbreak, and self-discovery, set against a backdrop of contemporary Kerala.
Naam presents a heartfelt story that resonates with the youth, focusing on relatable characters and their emotional journeys. The screenplay is straightforward, capturing the essence of friendship and love without unnecessary complexity. The pacing in the first half is steady, establishing characters and their motivations effectively, while the second half intensifies the emotional stakes, though at times it tends to drag slightly.
The film's music, composed by Sandeep Mohan and Ashwin Sivadas, complements the narrative well, with songs that blend seamlessly into the story and enhance key moments. The background score is subtle yet impactful, supporting the mood without overwhelming the scenes. Cinematography by Sudheer Surendran and Karthick Nallamuthu captures the scenic locales and intimate moments with clarity, adding to the film's overall appeal.
While the film succeeds in delivering an earnest portrayal of youth and relationships, it occasionally falls into predictable tropes. However, the earnest performances and relatable themes help maintain audience engagement throughout. The songs are melodious and situational, contributing positively to the film's emotional texture.
Shabareesh Varma: Natural and convincing portrayal of a young man navigating friendship and love.
Rahul Madhav: Strong emotional depth, effectively conveying inner conflicts.
Gayathri Suresh: Graceful and expressive, adding charm to the romantic subplot.
Mareena Michael: Energetic and engaging, bringing freshness to her role.
Madan Mohan: Solid supporting role with nuanced expressions.
Aditi Ravi: Good screen presence with a subtle performance.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Relatable and heartfelt story
- ✓Strong performances by lead cast
- ✓Melodious and situational songs
- ✓Effective background score
- ✓Good cinematography capturing moods and locales
Weaknesses
- ✕Predictable screenplay at times
- ✕Second half pacing slightly slow
- ✕Lack of novelty in plot elements
🎬 Direction & Writing
Joshy Thomas Pallickal directs with sincerity, focusing on emotional authenticity and character-driven storytelling. The writing is simple and clear, though it occasionally leans on familiar tropes, but the direction manages to keep the narrative engaging through performances and music.
📰 Critic Reviews
will be biased and in reference with Kahaani. There are a few things that worked really well with Kahaani. Director Sekhar Kammula seems to have avoided such wow-factor scenes to create his own content. 1. Pregnancy: The pregnancy factor helps in audiences travelling with heroine character throughout the movie. The fin…
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 3 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 60% |
| Neutral | 25% |
| Negative | 15% |
Critics
Critics appreciated the film's earnest approach to youth-centric themes and the performances of the lead actors. The music and cinematography were highlighted as key strengths. However, some reviews pointed out the predictability of the plot and uneven pacing in the latter half as drawbacks.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Naam release in theatres?▾
Naam released on 11 May 2018 (2018).
Is Naam a hit or flop?▾
Naam is declared a DISASTER at the box office.
Where to watch Naam online? OTT release date?▾
Naam is available on Prime Video. OTT date will be updated soon.
Who directed Naam?▾
Naam directed by Joshy Thomas Pallickal. Produced by Joshy Thomas Pallickal.
Who are the main cast members of Naam?▾
Naam stars Shabareesh Varma, Rahul Madhav, Gayathri Suresh, Mareena Michael, Madan Mohan.
What is the Tollybo rating for Naam?▾
Tollybo rates Naam 1.25/5. Verdict: DISASTER.
Who composed the music for Naam?▾
Music for Naam composed by Sandeep Mohan, Ashwin Sivadas.
What is the genre and runtime of Naam?▾
Naam — Genre: Comedy, Runtime: 131 minutes, Language: Malayalam.
