Thudarum

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 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!

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.

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 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.