BOTTOM LINE No Drishyam, But Fine
RATING 2.5/5
CENSOR U/A, 2h 43m
What is the Film About?
Thudarum revolves around Shanmugam, also known as Benz, played by Mohanlal, and his family. Once a stuntman, Benz now earns a living driving an old Ambassador car. His simple life takes a turn when he travels to Chennai for the funeral of his master. While there, the local police seize his car, leading Benz to plead with the officers to release it. Whether or not Benz succeeds, and the unexpected twists that unfold during his conflict with the authorities, form the core of the story. The movie captures the tussle between an ordinary man and the system with some surprising developments along the way.
Performances
After portraying a larger-than-life role in the action-packed Empuraan, Mohanlal steps back into a grounded, lower middle-class setting. Here, he effortlessly embodies a common man with a cheerful family life. The charm, as with any Mohanlal performance, lies in the film’s world and the subtle quirks he brings to his character. His performance shines especially during fight sequences, where his past as a stuntman is reflected in the way he moves. His approach to drama and emotional scenes carries his trademark intensity. Initially, Benz is depicted as a talkative character, but as the narrative progresses, he becomes increasingly serious and quiet, with a growing sense of frustration and anger. Mohanlal portrays these transitions seamlessly, showcasing his incredible acting skills. As noted, “Mohanlal is a brilliant actor that needs no special mention,” but Thudarum offers a refreshing reminder of his depth as an actor even within a commercial setup.
Shobhana, meanwhile, brings her usual elegance to her role, despite having limited screen time. She delivers her few scenes effortlessly, proving once again that she can command attention with minimal effort, as described: “Shobhana has a few moments and she goes through them without breaking any sweat.”
Analysis
Directed by Tharun Moorty, Thudarum leans heavily into drama, incorporating action primarily towards the climax. For seasoned viewers of Malayalam cinema, the slow start and deliberate pacing of Thudarum will not be surprising. However, for those less accustomed to this style, the film’s first half may feel tedious and slow. The narrative invests a significant amount of time in world-building and introducing characters before diving into the main plot, which only gains momentum around the pre-interval and interval points. The real shift occurs with the arrival of George, whose interactions with Benz re-energize the story. Although the interval block is not particularly striking, it signals that the movie is finally picking up pace.
Post-intermission, the emotional drama blends well with the intrigue, though the suspense itself does not stay gripping for long. Still, the emotional weight, carried largely by Mohanlal’s performance, sustains the film’s momentum. As noted, “The drama, thanks to brilliant Mohanlal, works out,” even if the story itself follows familiar and predictable patterns.
George’s character introduces a refreshing element to the film, providing a strong adversary for Benz. The intense emotional confrontation between George and Benz, combined with the portrayal of cruelty in George’s character, keeps the final half-hour engaging. The action sequences sprinkled throughout the climax are well-executed, and although the ending is predictable, it delivers a satisfying conclusion.
Ultimately, as the review succinctly puts it, “Overall, Thudarum is no Drishyam. What it is is a revenge drama and it goes about it satisfactorily.” The film’s blend of emotion and action in its final hour makes it a decent, if not groundbreaking, one-time watch.
Performances by Other Actors
As is common in Malayalam cinema, Thudarum features a large ensemble cast that helps create a vivid and lived-in world. Among them, Prakash Varma stands out with a performance that nearly steals the spotlight from Mohanlal. Playing CI George, Varma impresses with his debut performance. The review states, “Prakash Varma is excellent. Leave aside the continuous grin, the evilness he brings to the role with going overboard is superb.” His dynamic with Mohanlal elevates several key scenes, adding intensity and tension that keep viewers engaged.
Music and Other Departments
Jakes Bejoy, a familiar name in Malayalam film music, composed the soundtrack and background score for Thudarum. While the songs themselves are forgettable, and even more so due to the “terrible dubbing” in Telugu, the background music does a competent job of enhancing the mood. However, there are moments when the background score overwhelms the dialogues, disrupting the viewing experience.
The cinematography captures the hilly landscapes and rainy ambiance beautifully, providing a natural and picturesque backdrop that complements the realistic tone of the film. Editing, on the other hand, could have been tighter, especially to improve pacing for non-Malayalam speaking audiences who may find the lengthy build-up taxing. The action sequences are choreographed well, adding to the movie’s emotional punch. Unfortunately, the Telugu dubbing quality detracts from the overall experience, as highlighted: “Coming to the dubbing, it’s bad in Telugu.”
Highlights
The main highlights of Thudarum include Mohanlal’s powerful performance, Prakash Varma’s excellent portrayal of CI George, the intriguing pre-interval and interval sequences, and the emotional action-packed final hour.
Drawbacks
The film’s primary drawbacks are its sluggish first half, moments of excessive lag, and a story that ultimately sticks to a “regular routine revenge drama” formula without offering major surprises.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but only “with keeping the right expectations.”