Sreeni, a bald 31-year-old college faculty, finds it hard to get a girl to love or marry him. All his attempts at finding love always leave him in despair. Will he ever find his match?
The film deals with a subject that isn't the least funny - body shaming. Sreeni's bald head and simple looks have always made an impact on his love life. His problem is solved comically through the first half of the movie. In the second half, you stop laughing and realise the consequences of body shaming someone in a public space.
Thamasha breaks the cliche of the world against body factors such a "being too fat" or "being bald". Unlike in a lot of movies where the actors give long and unrealistic motivational speeches to uplift the movie, Thamaasha manages to say a lot without raising its voice. Its strength comes from its actors, whose quirks and subtle facial expressions do most of the talking. The film also raises questions against the unwanted and mindless body shaming that is happening in the social media on our lives. Director Ashraf, who also wrote the script, has done an excellent job. The way little reactions are at first written funnily and the way the film shifts focus to a serious issue in the second act is really beautiful. Songs by Rex and Shahabaz Aman are also beautiful.
Vinay fort's marvellous performance as Sreenivasan with the thinning hairline and his innocent expressions are the backbone of the film. Chinnu Nair, who comes in the second half of the film, excels as Chinnu. She played the character like a natural. Someone else may have made it over dramatic. Grace Antony, Navas Vallikkunnu and Divyaprabha are all quite touching and effortless that you feel with them.
Compared to many other films in Malayalam that have explored body shaming, Thamaasha drives home its message in a much more loud and clear manner. All in all, it is a one simple, perfect and eye-opening take on body shamming.
