The film was officially announced in April 2023 and principal photography commenced in May 2023 in Vellikulam. The filming wrapped up in August 2023. The music was composed by Jakes Bejoy, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Renadive and Shyam Sasidharan. Antony was released on 1 December 2023.
Plot
Antony Anthrapper is a ruthless gangster who accidentally kills a local goon named Xavier and becomes the guardian of Xavier's daughter, Ann Maria, an aggressive college student trained in MMA. Antony and Maria's presence in each others' lives reforms their violent ways until a forgotten foe named Tarzan arrives to finish them. Antony and Maria set out to overcome the threat using violent ways to lead a peaceful life.
Antony was theatrically released on 1 December 2023 in Malayalam.[15][16] The theatrical distribution rights were acquired by Dream Big Films.[14]
Reception
Critical response
Anjana George of The Times of India gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Antony is a soulful Malayalam movie, resonating with the charm of yesteryear cinema. The characters evoke emotions with depth and nuances, crafting a gripping story. It transcends a mere bloodshedding drama, portraying a tale of love, redemption, and the sense of belonging."[17] Sanjith Sridharan of OTTPlay gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Antony follows the typical Joshiy-film template, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It has enough fresh elements to keep the audience hooked to the relationship between Antony and Ann Maria, even when the rest is predictable."[18]
Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Despite having a plot that is bound to captivate Malayali audiences, Joshiy's film, starring Joju George and Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead roles, falls flat due to sloppy writing."[19] Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express gave 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "One can't dismiss a few satisfyingly cathartic situations where Joju and Kalyani use their fists to teach some lessons to a few distasteful characters. But, again, when the rest of the material is so tiringly predictable, what's the point?"[20]
Princy Alexander of Onmanorama wrote, "Antony following the stereotype of a broken boy turning goon is one of the drawbacks of this Joshiy directorial, though the makers have tried to add a whiff of freshness by including an unusual relationship in the picture."[21] Shilpa Nair Anand of The Hindu wrote, "Antony is a typical Joshiy film; there is action, plenty of it, and emotions spread over two hours and twenty-odd minutes. But there are also points when it feels longer."[22]
