Thudarum

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.

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.

I took a leave from my job to watch this movie with just average expectations, the film shocked me from minute 1itself. Brilliant music, story telling, direction, acting, all 10/10 with very little flaws. The film was not at all lagging and was exciting throughout, with quirky one liners from both shobana and mohanlal. The one negative i noticed was the fact that the climax was a bit rushed, but still the film managed to be entertaining thoughout. Good supporting roles from binu pappu, and ali. WELL WORTH THE MONEY. INFACT I MIGHT EVEN GO SEE IT A SECOND TIME

Hats off to tharun moorthy and kr sunil.

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.

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.