Thanmathra

Perhaps love can conquer everything - but not Alzheimer's. At a time when crass commercials rule Malayalam cinema, Blessy has been successful to deliver a film with the right sensitivity and restraint required when sketching an intimate portrait of a man doomed by Alzheimer disease.

If further proof is required that Mohanlal is India's finest actor, watch him in Thanmatra as Ramesan Nair. His anguish, agony and anxiety as he dreams big about his son, but gets inflicted by Alzheimer. The actor is mesmerizing and has given his best-ever performance since Vanaprastham and re-invents the idiom of acting once more with feeling.

Ramesan (Mohanlal) is an officer at the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram who has a 9 to 5 job in which he is honest, hardworking and goes by the rule book. His happy family consists of wife Lekha (Meera Vasudev), teenage son Manu who is preparing for the crucial 12th standard exams and a little daughter.

Ramesan is a good husband and the perfect dad for his children. His colleagues and friends envy them and the way Ramesan guides his son Manu who is an all rounder in sports, cultural activities and is the best student in school. Joseph (Jagathy Sreekumar), a colleague is Ramesan's friend, philosopher and guide who get things done.

Ramesan's big dream is to see his son prepare for civil service exams and get an IAS, something which he was not able to achieve in spite of being a very bright student himself. Ramesan slowly discovers that he often forgets small things in life and consults a doctor (Pratap Pothen) who dismisses it off as tension seen in parents about their ward's exams and future!

But one day life turns topsy-turvy in a bizarre incident at office; Ramesan is hospitalized and is diagnosed for Alzheimer's disease that causes loss of memory, intellectual decline, changes in personality and behavior and an increased dependence on others. The rest of the film is how Lekha, Ramesan's father (Nedumudi Venu) and especially Manu faces this big crisis as Ramesan takes voluntary retirement and goes back to his ancestral home where he was born and brought up.

Thanmatra asserts that Blessy is a path-breaking writer-director, one to be admired and concerned about. He has been able to convey an individual coping with his middle-class urban life suddenly devastated by a dreaded disease. Blessy has also brought out the relationship of Ramesan with his father as well as his son and in the end when Manu is being interviewed by the Civil Service board he says it all- "My father has been my biggest inspiration".

Above all, it is Mohanlal's performance which is the major highlight of the film. Meera Vasudev is simply terrific as Lekha who gives love and support to her husband till the end. The chemistry between the lead pair is touching and honest. Arjun as Manu is the scene stealer and has the making of a good actor. Jagathy Sreekumar and Nedumudi Venu have once again proved that they are the best. Kaithapuram's lyrics and Mohan Sitara's music creates the right mood. Sethu Sriram's camera work is marvelous.

Thanmatra is an intelligent, insightful and unconventional film. It is a touching, thought-provoking drama for sophisticated audiences. ...i have some hope in Malayalam cinema now...excellent characters, remarkable situations and one of the finest, most dramatic scores ever written, this film manages to inspire and uplift just about any viewer.The major reason why so every people like this movie is the feeling it evokes inside it's viewers.about mouth publicity is outstanding everyone likes it . Without a doubt it is an excellent movie, but this movie just blew me away. If you haven't seen it go for it... see what is effortless acting & natural acting lalettan make us proud again . I AM PROUD TO BE A LALFAN I wont let out anything about the movie climax, because i had hate to spoil such a movie for you guys. But one recommendation I give, is watch and relax while it blows you away. MOHANLA Genius actor ever in Indian cinema and one best actor in world! Well thats all I have to say,

THANMATHRA - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENT MOVIE WATCH IT WITH YOUR FAMILY ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR FATHER.

Verdict: Brilliant

I am a big fan of Malayalam movies and off late most of what is churned out is mindless comedy or violence. Blessy's Thanmathra is a well made movie with a good theme. There are several movies on Alzheimer's patients and if you were to hear the theme from someone the response is likely to be, "so what's new? " What makes this movie good are.. Strong actors- Mohanlal, Manu, Jagathy, Meera, Nedumudi; Good direction- Well woven story, seamless progression, good technical knowledge of Alzheimer's.(Loss of recent memory and preservation of past memory. Mohanlal remembers the Sukumaran Nair of his childhood, but not his father- in-law with the same name...Going to his 'Appachy's' house for 'unniappam' etc); Music - Melodious songs, good background score.

The subtitled quote in the end though seemed profound somehow didn't blend well with the end. Could have done without it I think. I strongly recommend watching this movie

Thanmathra It has got all -technology and art. Nice camera-which does not prick eyes. Nice music-especially the first song its like a cool breeze. Excellent acting by all-its like everybody worth an award. Brilliant direction-Blessy 5 star for that.

I think the boy 'Manu' is the hero of the movie and Mohanlal is just a character.The heroine Meera Vasudev is good. Her smile is soo beautiful. but some thing is there with her dubbing. OK leave it in excuse of her acting.Nedumudi good as always.And the man Jagathy,is there any role in this world which he cannot do. I doubt no. He is such a good actor. The most beautiful gem Mollywood has got.An as all its a GOOD MOVIE. For me Kaazcha caused a lot itching-unwanted scenes, overacting by Mammooty, unnecessary songs,unnecessary characters and of all I blamed Blessy for that because Mammokka is a great actor-but only with a good director. But Now Blessy is really a good director and an excellent legacy tho Indian Cinema.

The first show started at 10.30. There was no such explosive crowds infront of the theater as for naran. The film started with huge applause and jai's to lalettan. The film shows the correct picture of a normal family in an interesting way. The film started with a small touching sentiment's between lal and his son.And all other scenes were pleasant. But when it began to reach the midst of the film...situations changed... The villain came.."Alzeimers disease"!!!! Then the scenes were out of control. I tried my level best not to cry aloud. In many occasions I closed my eyes for long time....and tears shed. No Lal fans can see the situation of mohanlal at that time

A father who loves his family very much...who need to make his son an IAS officer....who is known as the brilliant father in the son's school...suddenly changed liked a small child who doesn't know even to write or talk...But his wish to make his son an IAS officer was hidden somewhere in his mind... The last scene was a suspense which no lal fans expected...That scene make us completely out of control... In a scene Mohanlal even came out from the office bathroom in only Jetty (underwear). In another scene One man will beat him cruely and he cries like a little child.....When Jagathy and Nedumudy drinks tea, Lal was looking at their tea glass , for giving him also tea.. And many scenes more.....And sure The film will be taken by family audience from tomorrow itself. And the National award is confimed to lal and lal only

Finally comes a movie that makes you laugh, think, cry and above all makes you feel that you didn't waste your time seeing another stupid Malayalam movie. Everything is underplayed here in an era where Malayalam movie makers think that a malayali wants every masala played out loud in Malayalam movies. I agree, they like it in other language movies. But we don't want our movies spoiled. To say that Blessy's direction is excellent will be a gross understatement. He has made a movie close to his heart by defying the box office trends. Once again we are fortunate to see laleettan in full form(Maybe after Narasimham)...with not a bit of acting...like olden days ..just Ramesan Nair..,the character he is portraying..Kudos....I would like to watch the movie again just to see the innocent look on Ramesan's face.