Thudarum

Thudarum, a recent Malayalam crime thriller, arrived with considerable hype, promising a gripping narrative powered by stalwarts like Mohanlal and Shobhana. While the film delivers in patches-showcasing stellar performances and technical finesse-it struggles to rise above a formulaic storyline and inconsistent direction, ultimately feeling like a missed opportunity to transcend genre conventions.

The writing lacks freshness, making key twists feel telegraphed and diluting suspense. However, the cast elevates the material. Mohanlal brings his trademark gravitas to the role, though it's far from his most challenging. The real scene-stealer is the anti-hero, portrayed with chilling charisma, whose layered performance adds much-needed intrigue. Shobhana, in a limited role, impresses with her poise and emotional depth, leaving viewers wishing her character had more screen time.

Technically, Thudarum shines. The cinematography is atmospheric, using shadows and tight frames to amplify tension, while the background score (BGM) complements the gritty tone with pulsating rhythms. That said, the direction falters in pacing, with sluggish stretches disrupting momentum. The film's inability to balance style with substance becomes evident as it progresses, relying too heavily on star power rather than narrative innovation.

Thudarum is a watchable yet uneven experience. While Mohanlal's presence, the anti-hero's magnetic performance, and Shobhana's brilliance anchor the film, the derivative script and lackluster direction hold it back. The technical prowess and gripping BGM make it visually and aurally engaging, but the overhyped project never fully transcends its mediocrity. For die-hard fans of the cast, it's a decent one-time watch; for others, it's a reminder that even a stellar ensemble can't salvage a story that plays it too safe.

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!

First of all, what an intense performance by Mohanlal, the performer. I'll hop aboard that train and exclaim how much of Thudarum reminds me of some of his other "thrillers" with oodles of sentiment thrown in. Yeah, this ain't no ordinary family drama, like they advertised. After the first act which does a decent job of trolling Lalettan's recent filmography, has a lot of meta references (that non-mallus will struggle to relate with), and sets up his background and family dynamic (his equation with Shobana is still a treat to watch, and Tharun Moorthy made the right casting call there). But boyyyy, do we already know there's more to Shanmughan (or "Benz", as he's lovingly called) than what initially meets the eye.

There's more than enough in the screenplay to make every fan of Mohanlal (the actor, i.e.) leave the cinema halls with a high. And when Benz is matched up against an antagonist like CI George Mathan (played by a freshly cast Prakash Varma), there's no way we wouldn't see Lalettan in BEAST mode, subtly and otherwise. Binu Pappu also rises to the occasion in one of his meanest efforts so far, as SI Benny. The aura around the first 30-40 minutes is one of familial bonding, friendships, and mostly what Benz does for a living. But by the time the credits roll, you'd have forgotten how jolly-good those moments were, and how much has changed in Benz's life since then.

The fight scenes (yes, this has a few) are in the not-bad-not-great category. They have a specific purpose to serve, and not just a means to showcase Mohanlal's massy side. Jakes Bejoy keeps it sweet and toned down in the first half, but goes crazy in the second (..for good reason!). DoP Shaji Kumar effectively uses the landscape of the terrain to convey the core elements of the story, while also giving the Mark-I Ambassador car a distinct persona. The visual effects work is pretty solid, especially the portions depicting a landslide.

On the flip side, I feel there's still work to be done on Tharun Moorthy's end when it comes to dialogue-writing. I'm willing to let that slide this time, given he carried the responsibility of presenting both sides of Lalettan that we all love (switching between 'cute' and 'massy'). As a filmmaker, third time's the charm for Tharun, indeed!

P. S. Good work on the title cards.

Thudarum starts with a warm and feel-good vibe, perfect for a family watch. It was very exciting to see Mohanlal and Shobana sharing the screen again after a long time, and the humour part worked out almost 90% well.

The movie smoothly moves into the main story without any confusion. It catches our attention quickly and makes us think about what could happen next. The small reference jokes here and there also worked nicely, giving us some good laughs.

As the movie goes on, it slowly changes its tone and becomes more serious, making us curious about what is really happening. The interval block was very interesting and left a lot of questions in our minds, which made the second half even more exciting.

In the second half, the background music (BGM) really lifts the screenplay, especially during the emotional scenes. It was a treat to see a different side of Mohanlal after a long time - his performance alone is worth the ticket price.

The songs in the movie are energetic and catchy, and I believe every song will become a hit soon. Though the story is something we have seen many times before, Mohanlal's amazing acting makes it feel fresh and different.

At times, the movie reminded me of Drishyam, especially during scenes where the family faces brutal situations. Even small details like eye movements and camera shots were carefully done.

There are also a few action scenes, and the BGM during those moments was just perfect. Every actor in the movie did a decent job and played their roles nicely.

Overall, Thudarum is a well-made, emotional, and thrilling family movie that is definitely worth a watch!

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.