Thudarum

So Lalettan is a retired stunt master/fighter. A million scenes dedicated to reiterate this particular point...this is the first half. Then tragedy strikes and answers to the pre interval build ups...beating the baddies to pulp. This is being touted as vintage Mohan Lal and blah blah blah. Every scene written to squeeze out the past Lalettan looks forced and fake just like the photoshopped images on the walls. Shobhana is added to mishmash,again to evoke the late 80s vibe, nothing special. Jakes Bejoy here decided to run a riot on the viewers eardrums...songs are pleasing but bgm is loud and jarring. The new villain makes his presence felt. Overrated.

I donno how to describe my feelings after watching this movie.

Movie started with laying some emotional attachments and funny family scenes that are entirely different from the actual plot of the movie. First half was nicely done to give an attachment with the characters. It even had many references and comedy scenes inspired from social media.

After the first half script is taking an unexpected turn that no one is gonna predict. Even minute expressions from mohanlal is conveying a lot. Some scenes from police station kinda reminded me of Drishyam. One actor who should be appreciated as much as mohanlal is the antagonist Prakash Varma. He was brilliant and deserves a punch in the face. His mannerisms were top notch and makes every viewer angry without any heavy gimmick.

Director Tharun moorthy is definitely one of the best filmmaker in mollywood right now. His best is yet to come.

THUDARUM IS THE ULTIMATE BAAAP OF EMPURAAN - and I mean that with full respect! Seriously! I know comparing this flick to Empuraan is like comparing pizza to pazham pori - totally different leagues, but that pure OG Lalettan kick you get walking out? Had. To. Say. It! This movie? It's a whole vibe, so much to unpack, so many moments that made me wanna whistle and hoot in the theatre. Gotta hand it to MOHANLAL a.k.a. Benzz! He's just there, straight-up owning the director's vision like a total thug (gunda). And when George gets a taste of that? Pure satisfaction for us all!

That ending though - "MOHANLAL THUDARUM" just blazed across the screen, and it leaves you stepping out thinking, damn, Benzz could've gone full beast mode on that fool George! I know "Empuraan" sometimes felt like Lalettan's sheer aura swallowed the story a bit, but here? Total opposite! It ain't about some chest-thumping end, but you'll connect with Mohanlal's journey, feel that satisfaction deep down. And even that message about honor killings? They slipped it in there smooth, you know. Massy impact.

"Thudarum" is the perfect fanboy feast - balancing that classy touch with some hardcore mass moments, throwing in hilarious Lalettan references without being cheesy, just hitting that sweet spot. For example, we can say Pulimurugan, Bhramaram, and Drishyam, and this film's got the best of all three: a great family drama with some cool massy thriller moments. Can you believe it? This is Lalettan's 3rd release in just 4 months! After the visual spectacle of Barroz 3D and the epic slow-burn Empuraan, he drops Thudarum - and HOLY MOLY, THIS IS BOSS LEVEL! Director Tharun Moorthy gave Lalettan the ULTIMATE terrain - mass swag, acting chops, everything.

The story is simple, just like we saw in the trailer. Shanmugham (Lalettan, who else would it be?), a middle-class taxi anna who loves his ride. He lives with his wife Lalitha (Shobana, still ruling!), whom he met during his action hero days in Madras. Life's cruising along - UNTIL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SNATCHES HIS RIDE! Now, Shanmugham's on a MISSION: GET HIS BABY BACK, and the chaos that follows? Sounds simple, right? But trust me, it's gonna be fire.

The first half is pure nostalgia with Lalettan references and light-hearted fun that's all warm and fuzzy right up to the intermission. But that one sequence? Seriously next level. The temple festival, the forest visuals playing against everything else - pure cinematic class with a mass connect. The hunt for his car in the second half turns into a full-on police showdown, power games with a sweet payback - all backed by an incredible BGM by THE Jakes Bejoy, who is on fire. Plus, there are these two awesome action scenes, just Mohanlal being totally badass - pure, unadulterated Mohanlal-esque dynamism. Nothing beats the sheer panache of our protagonist in a well-draped mundu. Honestly, those 'Empuraan' suits? I'll take Lalettan in a mundu any day.

FINAL VERDICT? Even if the initial pacing feels leisurely or some emotional beats don't quite land for you, stay with it. I promise you the second half, the moment Lalettan shifts gears and that incredible score driving the action, any minor flaws become insignificant. THUDARUM IS A RIDE YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT MISS!

First of all, what an intense performance by Mohanlal, the performer. I'll hop aboard that train and exclaim how much of Thudarum reminds me of some of his other "thrillers" with oodles of sentiment thrown in. Yeah, this ain't no ordinary family drama, like they advertised. After the first act which does a decent job of trolling Lalettan's recent filmography, has a lot of meta references (that non-mallus will struggle to relate with), and sets up his background and family dynamic (his equation with Shobana is still a treat to watch, and Tharun Moorthy made the right casting call there). But boyyyy, do we already know there's more to Shanmughan (or "Benz", as he's lovingly called) than what initially meets the eye.

There's more than enough in the screenplay to make every fan of Mohanlal (the actor, i.e.) leave the cinema halls with a high. And when Benz is matched up against an antagonist like CI George Mathan (played by a freshly cast Prakash Varma), there's no way we wouldn't see Lalettan in BEAST mode, subtly and otherwise. Binu Pappu also rises to the occasion in one of his meanest efforts so far, as SI Benny. The aura around the first 30-40 minutes is one of familial bonding, friendships, and mostly what Benz does for a living. But by the time the credits roll, you'd have forgotten how jolly-good those moments were, and how much has changed in Benz's life since then.

The fight scenes (yes, this has a few) are in the not-bad-not-great category. They have a specific purpose to serve, and not just a means to showcase Mohanlal's massy side. Jakes Bejoy keeps it sweet and toned down in the first half, but goes crazy in the second (..for good reason!). DoP Shaji Kumar effectively uses the landscape of the terrain to convey the core elements of the story, while also giving the Mark-I Ambassador car a distinct persona. The visual effects work is pretty solid, especially the portions depicting a landslide.

On the flip side, I feel there's still work to be done on Tharun Moorthy's end when it comes to dialogue-writing. I'm willing to let that slide this time, given he carried the responsibility of presenting both sides of Lalettan that we all love (switching between 'cute' and 'massy'). As a filmmaker, third time's the charm for Tharun, indeed!

P. S. Good work on the title cards.

After Drushyam, I don't recall Mohanlal acting in another family thriller. He's mostly been focusing on pan-Indian or big action dramas like L2: Empuraan. While he's done a few suspense thrillers here and there, they didn't really fall into the family thriller category. Now, after several years, he's back in that space with Thudarum. I wouldn't compare it to Drushyam-even though many are drawing parallels-because this one has a unique story and a completely different screenplay. Still, it comfortably fits under the "family thriller" label.

What's impressive is that Thudarum, made on a modest budget of around 30 crore, has already grossed over 200 crore. That kind of success clearly comes down to its strong story, direction, and screenplay.

Thanks to OTT platforms, I've recently been watching more Malayalam films, and honestly, the Malayalam industry feels like the Korean film industry of India. There's a clear focus on storytelling and screenplay rather than just star power. Thudarum is another solid example of that quality. Of course, having a star like Mohanlal helps-it definitely contributed to the film's reach and collections.

The film follows Benz, a taxi driver leading a simple life. He was once a stunt double in films, but after an accident involving a close friend, he had to leave that line of work. Now, a misunderstanding leads to his beloved taxi being seized by the police. Despite his repeated pleas, a stubborn officer, SI Benny, refuses to return the car. But Benz is determined to get it back, no matter what. That determination kicks off a series of unexpected events that shape the rest of the story-something you'll want to experience firsthand.

True to the spirit of Malayalam cinema, Thudarum offers depth-both in characters and in the multi-layered screenplay. Each character feels real and well-developed, and the layered storytelling keeps you hooked throughout.

Mohanlal is fantastic. He completely disappears into the role of Benz. Whether it's helplessness, frustration, quiet rage, or subtle emotion, he nails every shade. There are some commercial touches too-action scenes and fights-but they feel believable because Benz is established as a former stuntman. Shobana, who plays his wife, is excellent as always. But the real surprise is Prakash Varma as CI George Mathan. I can't say too much without spoiling things, but his performance is one of the highlights.

Tharun Moorthy's direction is top-notch, and the music adds to the film's atmosphere. Editing by Nishadh and Shafeeque is sharp and crucial for a film like this-it keeps the pace tight without losing emotional depth.

Overall, Thudarum is another gem from the Malayalam industry. And with Mohanlal leading the way, the film strikes a balance between class and mass appeal. Both kinds of audiences will find something to enjoy here.