I'm Game (film)

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I'm Game
Theaterical release poster
Directed byNahas Hidhayath
Screenplay by
  • Sajeer Baba
  • Ismail Aboobacker
  • Bilal Moidu
Dialogues byAdarsh Sukumaran
Shabas Rasheed
Sajeer Baba
Story byNahas Hidhayath
Produced byDulquer Salmaan
Jom Varghese
Starring
CinematographyJimshi Khalid
Additional Cinematography:
Jomon T. John
Edited byChaman Chacko
Music byJakes Bejoy
Production
company
Distributed bysee below
Release date
  • 3 September 2026 (2026-09-03)
Running time
173 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget₹80 crore[2]
Box office₹48.47 crore[2]

I'm Game is a 2026 Indian Malayalam-language fantasy action film directed by Nahas Hidhayath, who co-wrote the script with Sajeer Baba, Ismail Aboobacker and Bilal Moidu, and produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under the banner of Wayfarer Films. The film stars Dulquer Salmaan, alongside Antony Varghese, Mysskin (in his Malayalam debut), Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir, Vinay Forrt and Parth Tiwari.

Principal photography began in early 2025,[3] and continued from 9 March 2025 to 16 April 2026, spanning over 150 locations across South India.[4] The film's music was composed by Jakes Bejoy with cinematography by Jimshi Khalid and Jomon T. John. It was edited by Chaman Chakko.

I'm Game was released in theatres on 3 September 2026, coinciding with the Janmashtami weekend and received mixed reviews from critics praising Dulquer's performance, technical aspects, action sequences and background score but criticized the screenplay, pacing and predictable narrative. The film underperfomed at the box office.

Plot

Dan John, a wealthy and lazy businessman living in Hyderabad has an intense gambling addiction which leads to his downfall in both business and life. The sheer chaos created by him during a sports betting session leads to a chase, which is followed by a road accident that causes Dan to lose his hand, later replaced with a transplant.

Cast

  • Dulquer Salmaan as Dan John, a businessman and recipient of a hand transplant
  • Antony Varghese as Vignesh "Vicky" Das, a cricketer in Madras Raging Bulls and donor of a hand transplant (Extended cameo appearance)
  • Mysskin as David Abraham, the gambling kingpin and the sponsor of Madras Raging Bulls
  • Kayadu Lohar as Isha, Dan's love interest and physiotherapist (Dubbed by Haritha Balakrishnan)
  • Samyuktha Viswanathan as Tharini, Vicky's love interest
  • Kathir as Jason Antony, the captain of Madras Raging Bulls
  • Vinay Forrt as Freddy, Dan's gambling Agent and friend
  • Jayasudha as Mercy John, Dan's mother
  • Shyamaprasad as John, Dan's father
  • Ashvin Mathew as Dr. Sam Mathew
  • Prabhakar as Balraj Bhai
  • Parth Tiwari as Shaurya, David's right-hand
  • Harshad as Sekhar, David's henchman
  • Varun Pande as Dharam, David's henchman
  • Eldho Mathew as Vicky's friend
  • Midhun Venugopal as Dan's PA
  • Veena Kaladharan as TV Reporter
  • Neeraja Rajendran as Vicky's mother
  • Bilas Chandrahasan as Vicky's father
Cameo appearances

Production

Development

I'm Game was directed by Nahas Hidhayath, who previously directed RDX (2023). The screenplay was jointly written by Sajeer Baba, Bilal Moidu and Ismail Aboobacker, with dialogues by Adarsh Sukumaran and Shabas Rasheed. The film was produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under the banner of Wayfarer Films. The project was initially associated with the working title DQ40, referring to Dulquer Salmaan's 40th film as a lead actor.[5]

The film was described during its production as a sports-based thriller. Its technical crew includes cinematographer Jimshi Khalid, music composer Jakes Bejoy, editor Chaman Chacko and production designer Ajayan Chalissery.[6]

Casting

Dulquer Salmaan was cast in the lead role. The cast also includes Kayadu Lohar, Antony Varghese, Kathir, Mysskin, Vinay Forrt, Parth Tiwari and Samyuktha Viswanathan. Kayadu Lohar was announced as the female lead, while Mysskin joined the film in a prominent role, marking his Malayalam acting debut.[7]

Antony Varghese, who had previously worked with Nahas Hidhayath in RDX, was also part of the principal cast. Mysskin described his character as an antagonist in the film.[8]

Filming

Principal photography commenced in 2025, with the production beginning in Thiruvananthapuram. Antony Varghese and Mysskin attended the film's pooja ceremony marking the beginning of production. Dulquer Salmaan was expected to join the production during a subsequent schedule.[9]

The film was shot over approximately 11 months, covering 156 shooting days across more than 100 locations in South India. Mysskin completed his portions during the production, with the film subsequently moving through its remaining schedules.[10]

Filming wrapped in April 2026, which was announced by Salmaan on his social media pages.[11]

Music

The film's songs and background score are composed by Jakes Bejoy. The first single, "Mazhavillaye" sung by Armaan Malik, was released on 10 August 2026.[12] The second single, "Loser" sung by Salmaan himself was released on 27 August 2026. The full soundtrack was released on 29 August 2026 in the audio launch event, held in Kochi.[13]

Release

I'm Game was released Worldwide on 3 September 2026 in its original Malayalam language, also it was dubbed in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi languages in standard, EPIQ and P[XL] formats. It was originally planned to release on 20 August 2026 on the onam weekend, clashing with Khalifa: The Ruler and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, but was postponed due to unfinished post-production works.[14]

Distribution

Annapurna Studios acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Pen Marudhar acquired the theatrical distribution rights for North India, while Lighter Buddha Films acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Karnataka. Friday Entertainment acquired the theatrical distribution rights in France, Magic Rays in the United Kingdom, Suraya Filem in Malaysia, and myKinoPlex in Germany.

Reception

Box office

The film grossed ₹4.24 crore at the box office in Kerala on its opening day.[15] The film grossed ₹10 crore net across in its first two days of release in India.[16] The film's global box office reached ₹160 crore.[17]

Critical response

I'm Game received mixed reviews from critics. Tanisha Bhattacharya of NDTV praising Dulquer's performance, technical aspects, action sequences and background score but criticized the screenplay, pacing and predictable narrative.[18] S. R. Praveen of The Hindu noted that while the film begins with a promising and engaging premise, it ultimately squanders its potential by succumbing to familiar narrative tropes and highlighted that despite its intriguing setup, the long runtime and unfulfilled plot threads regarding themes like greed and wealth cause the film to lose its focus.[19]

Gopika Is of The Times of India, awarded the film rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars and noted that while the film attempts to blend action and suspense within a game-centric narrative, it ultimately suffers from a predictable storyline and an uneven pace. While the performance of the lead cast and certain technical elements such as the cinematography received mild appreciation, the reviewer felt the script lacked the depth and tension required to make the thriller engaging throughout its runtime.[20] Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as an ambitious fantasy actioner that falls slightly short of its potential and highlighted Dulquer Salmaan's performance and the film's visual scale, while pointing out pacing issues and an uneven second half that relied too heavily on visual effects over narrative depth.[21]

Audience response

The film received generally positive initial responses from audiences and critics alike, with viewers highlighting Dulquer Salmaan's powerful performance as a strong return to form. Praise was directed toward the film's engaging storyline, high-energy pacing, and technical execution, particularly its action sequences and background score. While a few viewers noted minor pacing flaws in the narrative, the film was largely appreciated for its entertainment value and strong theatrical appeal.[22]

References

  1. "I'm Game (15A)". Irish Film Classification Office. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  2. "Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game Collects Rs 48.47 Crore Globally". Zoom TV. 17 September 2026.
  3. Cyril, Grace (3 May 2025). "Dulquer Salmaan kicks off the filming for I'm Game; Principal photography started". News 18 Kerala.
  4. Sharma, Vinay (16 April 2026). "Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game wraps shoot; Release planned for August 20". Times of India: Entertainment Desk – India.
  5. "Dulquer Salmaan-Nahas Hidhayath film I'm Game begins filming". Cinema Express. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  6. "Dulquer Salmaan-Nahas Hidhayath film I'm Game begins filming". Cinema Express. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  7. "I'm Game: 'Dragon' fame Kayadu Lohar joins Dulquer Salmaan and Nahas Hidhayath's film". The Times of India. December 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  8. "Mysskin completes shooting for Dulquer Salmaan-starrer I'm Game". Cinema Express. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  9. "Dulquer Salmaan-Nahas Hidhayath film I'm Game begins filming". Cinema Express. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  10. "Dulquer Salmaan wraps 156-day shoot of Malayalam film I'm Game". DT Next. 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  11. "Dulquer Salmaan wraps 156-day shoot of Malayalam film I'm Game". DT Next. 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  12. "'Malayalam is one of the most challenging languages': Armaan Malik says 'pronunciation is incredibly nuanced' while making a playback debut with 'Mazhavillaye' for Dulquer Salmaan in 'I'm Game'". The Times of India. 10 August 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  13. "I'm Game: Dulquer Salmaan's actioner follows single hand's revenge after a transplant, avenging its owner? Find out". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  14. "Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game postponed by 2 weeks: Why the release was pushed to September". The Indian Express. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  15. "ഓപ്പണിങ് ഡേയില്‍ കേരള ബോക്‌സ് ഓഫീസില്‍ ഐ ആം ഗെയ്മിനൊപ്പം കട്ടയ്ക്ക് പിടിച്ച് ബെത്‌ലഹേം". DoolNews (in Malayalam). 4 September 2026. Retrieved 6 September 2026.
  16. Jha, Subhash K. (6 September 2026). "Dulquer's 'I'm Game' Struggles To Find Its Footing". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  17. "ആഗോളതലത്തില്‍ ഗംഭീര പ്രകടനം; ദുൽഖറിന്‍റെ 'ഐ ആം ഗെയിം' സക്‌സസ് ട്രെയിലര്‍ പുറത്ത്; വിജയക്കുതിപ്പ് തുടര്‍ന്ന് ചിത്രം". ETV Bharat (in Malayalam). 8 September 2026. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  18. Bhattacharya, Tanisha (3 September 2026). "I'm Game X Review: Some Say Dulquer Salmaan Shines, Others Feel '3-Hour Runtime' Is A Drawback". NDTV. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  19. Praveen, S.R. (4 September 2026). "'I'm Game' movie review: Dulquer Salmaan-starrer squanders a winning idea". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  20. "I'm Game Movie Review: Dulquer Salmaan's supernatural gamble is messy, mad and entertaining". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  21. "I'm Game movie review: Dulquer Salmaan's fantasy actioner is a gamble that nearly pays off". The Indian Express. 3 September 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  22. പൊന്നപ്പന്‍, അബിന്‍ (3 September 2026). "'മലയാളത്തില്‍ ഇതുവരെ കാണാത്ത ഐറ്റം'; ഹോം കമ്മിങ് ദുല്‍ഖര്‍ തൂക്കിയോ? 'ഐ ആം ഗെയിം' ആദ്യ ഷോയ്ക്ക് ശേഷം പ്രേക്ഷകര്‍ പറയുന്നു". Samakalika Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 September 2026.