Thalavan

The film Thalavan is a cinematic work belonging to the investigation crime thriller drama genres, and was directed by Jis Joy.

The film's narrative is characterised by the recounting of experiences by a retired Dysp in the context of a television programme. He provided a detailed account of a particularly noteworthy incident from his career as a police officer. The incident occurred within the precincts of Cheppanamthotta station, wherein the CI charge was held by Jayashankar and the SI charge was held by Karthik. The relationship between these two police officers is not a positive one. The relationship is characterised by a dynamic interplay of ego dynamics. The relationship is deteriorating on a daily basis. Subsequently, a corpse was discovered in Jayashankar's residence, resulting in his apprehension on suspicion of murder. Karthik was assigned the investigation. Following the granting of bail on health grounds, Jayashankar was permitted to leave prison for a limited period. The two individuals commenced their investigation into the murder, each pursuing a distinct approach in their quest to unravel the enigma. The subsequent investigation revealed that a person named Sijo was in some way connected to the murder. However, Sijo was murdered by an unknown assailant, and both Jayashankar and Karthik were implicated in the crime. However, the subjects in question did indeed abscond, and conducted a well-structured investigation in a collective manner. This information prompts them to seek out Jayashankar's former colleague, who is driven by a desire for retribution for his son's death. It is the contention of the aforementioned individual that Jayashankar was the primary cause of his son's demise.

The narrative was of a high standard, with unexpected plot twists and a commendable direction. The performances are of a commendable standard, particularly those of the protagonists and the antagonist. Furthermore, the musical scores are of a high quality. The film is valuable for a repeated watching and recommendation.

Retired DYSP Udayabhanu narrates the Cheppanamthotta case for a tv series, after being compelled by the reporter. It was a sensational case as it involved CI Jayashankar as the prime accused in the murder of a woman and his subordinate SI Karthik was made the investigation officer. With all the evidences directly pointing at Jayashankar, it is upto Karthik who actually has a rocky work relationship with Jayashankar to be neutral in order to solve the case. In the meantime, Jayashankar gets out on bail to parallely investigate the case. What do the duo reveal in their follow up, forms rest of the story.

Thalavan is indeed a captivating thriller and the investigative procedural has a neat screenplay. The first half starts with introduction of the two main characters and establishes their conflict. The murder is revealed only after this and the director succeeds in maintaining the suspense with Jayashankar getting arrested. It is pretty much an intense first half without any deviation. The second half is where the drama shifts gear with the conspiracy angle setting in and despite their differences, both Jayashankar and Karthik are made to work together. The reveal however did feel stretched too far but then that comes down to the expectations I had, after the first half. I still find it as a compelling watch due to the performances and the entire investigation segment till the third act.

The story builds up nicely and the characters are instantly likeable and also relatable, it is grippy for the most part, but the ending will definitely leave you wanting for more and does not justify the rest of the movie.the story builds up nicely and the characters are instantly likeable and also relatable, it is grippy for the most part, but the ending will definitely leave you wanting for more and does not justify the rest of the movie.the story builds up nicely and the characters are instantly likeable and also relatable, it is grippy for the most part, but the ending will definitely leave you wanting for more and does not justify the rest of the movie.

Jis joy has proved he is not only for the feel good movies, he can deal with thrillers as well. From the start to the end, the movie is very engaging and we will keep searching for that culprit. He gives us various of suspects throughout the movie. I want to mention his casting, which is brilliant and each of them perform upto the mark. This is a comeback of Asif ali, after couple of failures recently. The golden combo of Biju Menon and Asif Ali's once again proved what they are capable of. At the end, I felt like would have better if they chose someone else as the culprit. Felt like the motive behind the murder is not strong enough. But it's not too bad. After all it's a good crime thriller I have watched after a while. I recommend you to watch it in theatres, I guarantee you, you won't disappoint.

With a successful run at the box office, this movie was highly anticipated, and it must be said, it was worth the wait. Two police officers of different ranks become embroiled in a case that garners significant media attention. With the clock ticking to solve the case and their lives at risk, how they handle the situation forms the crux of the story.

Director Jis Joy, usually known for his light-hearted comedy dramas, surprises with a suspense thriller-and he handles it with finesse. The story dives straight into the main plot, quickly engaging the audience. In a genre crowded with investigative and suspense films, it's hard to create one that keeps the audience guessing, but this movie does just that. In a slow yet captivating manner, the suspense is unraveled layer by layer, keeping you hooked.

Biju Menon delivers his serious role with complete conviction, as he always does. Asif Ali proves his versatility once again, brilliantly portraying a no-nonsense, righteous cop. Kottayam Nazeer, with a slight negative shade to his character, also performs well. Mia and Anusree have limited screen time and thus have nothing much to offer. Dileesh Pothan, however, appears somewhat lost, particularly during the news interview scenes.

The editing is sharp, keeping you on the edge of your seat. There are no unnecessary subplots or comedic diversions, which makes the film more relatable. Even the songs play in the background, ensuring they don't disrupt the narrative flow. The climax delivers a shocking yet logical twist, making the movie well worth your time.

No surprises here: this is a well-made thriller that deserves your attention-yet another feather in the cap for Malayalam cinema.

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