Thammudu

Thammudu Movie Review: A stylised action saga weighed down by overblown melodrama.

Story: A massive factory explosion in Vizag leaves several families devastated. IAS officer Jhansi Kiranmayee (Laya Gorty), who is leading the investigation, resists pressure from powerful industrialist Azarwal (Saurabh Sachdeva) to alter the official report. While Jhansi travels to Ambara Gundem, a tribal village, to attend a family ritual, Azarwal's men track her down and launch an attack. Amidst this turmoil arrive Jay (Nithiin), a skilled archer seeking redemption from his inner conflict, and Chitra (Varsha Bollamma), his childhood friend. As Jay's relationship with Jhansi comes to light, he must navigate a treacherous night filled with danger and emotional reckoning.

Review: Thammudu, directed by Venu Sriram, begins on a compelling note, anchored in a solid premise of familial bonds, systemic injustice and personal ambition. However, as the narrative progresses, it tumbles down a rabbit hole of exaggerated drama and logic-defying twists, never quite recovering its footing.

Despite the backdrop of scenic tribal landscapes and crisp visuals, the writing fails to support the story's ambition. The screenplay struggles to weave together its emotional core - the brother-sister bond and Jay's dream of winning an archery gold medal - into a cohesive, convincing arc. What starts as a grounded emotional tale soon spirals into overstuffed spectacle, with an overzealous attempt to be unique that ultimately backfires.

Nithiin delivers a committed performance as Jay, and Varsha Bollamma and Laya (in a welcome return) lend sincerity to their roles. Saurabh Sachdeva as the antagonist with a special condition plays an interesting role, and brings intensity to the screen. Yet, much of the film's emotional potential is diluted by TV-serial-like interactions and melodramatic sequences that feel misplaced. Ironically, it is Ratna (Sapthami Gowda), a relatively underplayed character, who leaves the most lasting impression.

All the actors try their best to breathe life into their roles, but the film's insistence on doing too much, combined with poor sequencing and a lack of narrative clarity, proves costly. The adventure, though grand in scale, often feels detached from reality and far-fetched in execution.

On the technical front, the film is visually appealing, with cinematographer KV Guhan capturing the tribal locales with flair. Ajaneesh Loknath's background score is atmospheric but rarely elevates the emotional beats. The action choreography is stylised, though several sequences stretch believability, further distancing the viewer from the story's emotional core.

Thammudu had all the ingredients for a stirring emotional-action drama, but in trying too hard to be everything, it ends up being less than the sum of its parts. A film that had the potential to hit the bullseye sadly misses the mark.

Verdict: Below Average.

Rod Rod Rod Pro Max is a chaotic mess that fails on nearly every level. The plot is incomprehensible, bouncing between bizarre action scenes and cringe-worthy dialogue that feels written by an AI gone rogue. The acting is wooden, with characters showing less emotion than cardboard cutouts. The CGI looks like it was rendered on a calculator, and the sound design is equally atrocious-random explosions, distorted voices, and an overused stock soundtrack. The movie tries to be funny but lands no jokes, making the two-hour runtime feel like a punishment. Even the title is ridiculous. It's hard to believe this ever got greenlit. Avoid this film at all costs unless you're looking for a masterclass in how not to make a movie.

Such a bad movie. Gosh, I tolerate some crap but this was ultimately unbearable. Overacting, bad cast, exponentially bad graphics, can't express enough how disappointed I was. Can't even put finger on one thing that could lead me to say otherwise, the plot was all over the place, cast and storyline were not coordinated.

Don't waste time on this, I regret wasting my time on it.

This script is poorly written, and I honestly wonder what convinced the producer to go with such a story. It feels like a disservice to the cinema industry and is quite disappointing overall. Quality storytelling is essential for our industry to thrive, and this kind of work undermines the efforts of talented filmmakers.

Nithiin is the hero of the movie, and he shouldn't accept such a weak script. Choosing this kind of project could seriously damage his career and reputation. Talented actors like him deserve roles that showcase their skills and contribute positively to their legacy. I hope he considers more meaningful scripts in the future to maintain his standing in the industry.

The plot and characters definitely had potential, but sadly, that's where it stops. The story doesn't develop well, and there's no real connection to the conflict-it just feels flat. The screenplay is stuck in the past with outdated style, no proper flow, and a good dose of clichés. At times, it's not just boring-it's mildly annoying. The direction, too, feels like it's from another decade.

Laya and a few of the female actors give solid performances, but the child artist doesn't really land it. Nithin is decent in the action scenes, but when it comes to acting-especially emotional moments-it doesn't quite work. The rest of the male cast is just okay.

Cinematography is fine, nothing special. Music doesn't help much either. Production values are decent, but not enough to save the film.