Kathir jokes he's retiring from cricket after 'I'm Game'
Synopsis
Kathir had barely played cricket four times in his life — the last time in school, and that too 'pad cricket'. Yet director Nahas Hidhayath cast him as a cricket team captain in Dulquer Salmaan's 'I'm Game'. At the Chennai pre-release event, Kathir's deadpan announcement of his 'retirement from cricket' was the most honest — and funniest — review of his own performance anyone could give.
Key Takeaways
Actor Kathir joked at the Chennai pre-release event on 1 September that he is 'retiring from cricket' after playing a team captain in 'I'm Game' .
Kathir revealed he had played cricket only about four times in his life, the last time in school as 'pad cricket'.
The Central Board of Film Certification has cleared 'I'm Game' with a UA 16+ certificate; bookings opened at 5 PM .
The film's release was shifted from 20 August to 3 September for a wider multilingual rollout across 5 languages .
Directed by Nahas Hidhayath , the film was shot over 156 days across 100+ locations in South India.
Produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under Wayfarer Films , with music by Jakes Bejoy .
Actor Kathir brought the house down at the pre-release event of Dulquer Salmaan's upcoming action entertainer 'I'm Game' in Chennai on Tuesday, 1 September, quipping that he had decided to retire from cricket after the film — a tongue-in-cheek remark that drew loud laughter from his co-stars seated in the audience.
What Kathir Said
When the anchor pressed him on the joke, Kathir explained with characteristic humour: 'This is like a legacy. I cannot play any better than what I have in this film.' He went on to reveal that director Nahas Hidhayath had cast him as a cricket team captain despite his near-zero experience with the sport. 'I would have played cricket a maximum of four times in my entire life and that too, whatever cricket I played was in school. Even more significantly, it was pad cricket,' Kathir said with a smile. He also admitted asking Nahas whether it was wise to cast someone like him in the role, adding: 'A director can have courage and take risks but not to this extent.'
Censor Clearance and Booking Details
Separately, the Central Board of Film Certification has cleared 'I'm Game' for theatrical release with a UA 16+ certificate. Production house Wayfarer Films announced the development on its social media channels, confirming that bookings opened at 5 PM. The banner wrote: 'No more waiting around — the dice have rolled! I'M GAME has bagged its U/A 16+ certificate and is officially theater-bound.'
From August 20 to September 3: Why the Release Was Pushed
The film was originally slated for a worldwide release on 20 August before the makers opted to shift the date to 3 September. Dulquer Salmaan, in his announcement, framed the postponement as a strategic decision: 'The game gets bigger. The release gets wider. We understand the anticipation and we apologize for the delay, but #imgame will now release worldwide on 3rd September, moving from its earlier release date of 20th August.' He added that the new date came with a wider theatrical rollout across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada, taking the film to audiences across India and beyond.
About the Film
Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, 'I'm Game' marks Dulquer Salmaan's return to Malayalam cinema after a gap. The production was mounted on an ambitious scale, completing an 11-month shooting schedule spanning 156 days across more than 100 locations in South India. The film features an ensemble cast including Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Kathir, Parth Tiwari, and Samyuktha Viswanathan. Music has been composed by Jakes Bejoy, action sequences choreographed by Anbariv Masters, and the film is produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under Wayfarer Films. All eyes are now on the 3 September opening weekend to see whether the expanded release strategy pays off.
Point of View
But it also points to a genuine casting gamble — a lead actor with virtually no cricket background playing a team captain in a film that has cricket at its core. Whether Nahas Hidhayath's direction can paper over that gap will be the first thing critics look for on 3 September. The wider multilingual release is a bet that 'I'm Game' has pan-India commercial appeal beyond Dulquer Salmaan's core Malayalam fanbase — a claim that the opening weekend numbers will either validate or deflate. The 156-day, 100-location shoot signals serious production ambition; execution, as always, is the question.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kathir say he is retiring from cricket?
Kathir said it as a joke at the pre-release event of 'I'm Game' in Chennai on 1 September, humorously implying he had given his best-ever cricket performance in the film and could never top it. He revealed he had played cricket only about four times in his life, all of it in school as 'pad cricket'.
What is 'I'm Game' and when does it release?
'I'm Game' is an action entertainer directed by Nahas Hidhayath and produced by Dulquer Salmaan and Jom Varghese under Wayfarer Films. It releases worldwide on 3 September in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada.
Why was 'I'm Game' postponed from its original release date?
The film was originally scheduled for 20 August but was pushed to 3 September to enable a wider multilingual theatrical release. Dulquer Salmaan said the decision was made to give the film 'the scale, reach, and theatrical platform it truly deserves.'
What censor certificate has 'I'm Game' received?
The Central Board of Film Certification has cleared 'I'm Game' with a UA 16+ certificate, making it eligible for theatrical release. Wayfarer Films confirmed the clearance and announced that bookings opened at 5 PM.
Who is in the cast and crew of 'I'm Game'?
The film stars Dulquer Salmaan, Kathir, Antony Varghese, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Parth Tiwari, and Samyuktha Viswanathan. Music is by Jakes Bejoy and action sequences are choreographed by Anbariv Masters.
