Thudarum

I had high expectations for this movie, but the first half didn't quite live up. The story was somewhat predictable. However, the second half redeemed it, with satisfactory developments.

Highlights 1. Music : Jakes Bejoy's score elevated the scenes, particularly in the second half.

2. Cinematography: Shaji Kumar's visuals were impressive, especially in capturing Mohanlal's presence.

Observations 1. Similarities to Drishyam: The plot felt like a reverse template of Drishyam, with Mohanlal and the police officer standing out.

2. Good performances: The cast delivered solid performances.

Worth a watch.

Rating - 4.25/5

A feel good family drama on its course changing its dynamics onto a nail biting emotional thriller.

The plot of the story is about a taxi driver,leading a peaceful family life in the hillside town of Pathanamthitta was drawn into a series of events surrounding his car which later turns out to be a chaos and tyranny questioning the wellbeing of his family.

The anticipation for watching this movie was higher with the sense of satisfaction and solace received through the rooted storytelling style,core humanitarian values and ideologies that Tharun portrayed through his previous outings, and this time he has absolutely nailed it. K R Sunil's story brought to life through Tharun's narrative template and the six year long wait by Rejaputhra Renjith for handing over the story to the right hands bore fruit today as an absolute peak cinema. Tharun has effortlessly carried the narration from a family drama elevating to a painful emotional thriller thereby proving his mettle to handle distinct genres. He is the modern school of realistic filmmaking and he knows how to move the cards. Stay the same and roar peak wild cinema.

Mohanlal was in his best form and is presented on screen in his complete aura as a middle class family man as cherished by Lalettan fans. This film can be termed as the best example on how actor Mohanlal can be sculpted to perfection when given in perfect hands. Shobana also gave an impeccable performance as a bold and brave lady managing her family and their combo is still a delight to watch even after 30 years. The Kingmaker of Indian ads,the Zoo zoo man,Prakash Varma is the absolute show stealer from start to end. Mind blowing performance with his debut film and the way he carries his character through the subtlety given to the nuanced layers was evident on screen as the film progresses. Binu Pappu has given one of his best performances in this film. Maniyanpillai Raju,Farhaan Faasil & Irshad Ali also made notable performances.

Veteran DOP Shaji Kumar has captured stunning visuals across various terrains perfectly weaved together by Shafique Mohammed Ali with the eternal grace of Nishadh Yusuf. Jakes BGM's that harmonised with the motion pixels elevated the movie giving a persisting painful experience to the viewers bolstered with Vishnu Govind's thoughtful and crystal cut sound design. Lalettan's action sequences is a treat to watch and hats off to Stunt Silva for bringing back Lalettan in the way we wanted.

A must watch film with family in theatres promising a paisa vasool deal and an absolute cinematic gem.

Thudarum, a recent Malayalam crime thriller, arrived with considerable hype, promising a gripping narrative powered by stalwarts like Mohanlal and Shobhana. While the film delivers in patches-showcasing stellar performances and technical finesse-it struggles to rise above a formulaic storyline and inconsistent direction, ultimately feeling like a missed opportunity to transcend genre conventions.

The writing lacks freshness, making key twists feel telegraphed and diluting suspense. However, the cast elevates the material. Mohanlal brings his trademark gravitas to the role, though it's far from his most challenging. The real scene-stealer is the anti-hero, portrayed with chilling charisma, whose layered performance adds much-needed intrigue. Shobhana, in a limited role, impresses with her poise and emotional depth, leaving viewers wishing her character had more screen time.

Technically, Thudarum shines. The cinematography is atmospheric, using shadows and tight frames to amplify tension, while the background score (BGM) complements the gritty tone with pulsating rhythms. That said, the direction falters in pacing, with sluggish stretches disrupting momentum. The film's inability to balance style with substance becomes evident as it progresses, relying too heavily on star power rather than narrative innovation.

Thudarum is a watchable yet uneven experience. While Mohanlal's presence, the anti-hero's magnetic performance, and Shobhana's brilliance anchor the film, the derivative script and lackluster direction hold it back. The technical prowess and gripping BGM make it visually and aurally engaging, but the overhyped project never fully transcends its mediocrity. For die-hard fans of the cast, it's a decent one-time watch; for others, it's a reminder that even a stellar ensemble can't salvage a story that plays it too safe.

This one came to the OTT platform quite fast. The making of Thudarum was unnecessarily lengthy, with fillers that served no purpose than to extend the run-time. The film crawled at a slow pace until the intermission, after which the trajectory becomes too predictable as it turns into nothing more than a classic revenge story. All the build-up? Meh. I barely felt connected to any of the characters, or cared for them at all.

However, the direction, the cinematography and the soundtrack are commendable. Mohanlal as Benz, Prakash Varma as CI George, and Binu Pappu as SI Benny are some of the best performances in recent Mollywood. This one is worth a watch for sure-but I reckon just once.

Thudarum starts with a warm and feel-good vibe, perfect for a family watch. It was very exciting to see Mohanlal and Shobana sharing the screen again after a long time, and the humour part worked out almost 90% well.

The movie smoothly moves into the main story without any confusion. It catches our attention quickly and makes us think about what could happen next. The small reference jokes here and there also worked nicely, giving us some good laughs.

As the movie goes on, it slowly changes its tone and becomes more serious, making us curious about what is really happening. The interval block was very interesting and left a lot of questions in our minds, which made the second half even more exciting.

In the second half, the background music (BGM) really lifts the screenplay, especially during the emotional scenes. It was a treat to see a different side of Mohanlal after a long time - his performance alone is worth the ticket price.

The songs in the movie are energetic and catchy, and I believe every song will become a hit soon. Though the story is something we have seen many times before, Mohanlal's amazing acting makes it feel fresh and different.

At times, the movie reminded me of Drishyam, especially during scenes where the family faces brutal situations. Even small details like eye movements and camera shots were carefully done.

There are also a few action scenes, and the BGM during those moments was just perfect. Every actor in the movie did a decent job and played their roles nicely.

Overall, Thudarum is a well-made, emotional, and thrilling family movie that is definitely worth a watch!