IPyaarCinema

Written and directed by debutante Abhishan Jeevinth, Tourist Family confidently wears its sweetness on its sleeve. Tourist Family unfolds as a character study. Set largely within a colony bustling with residents of varied temperaments and traits, the film offers a vivid cross-section of humanity, bound together by one underlying thread: a quiet benevolence nestled within flesh and blood. Emotionally, the film hits the right notes. Whether it's the death of an old lady, a teary father-son moment, or a speech from an ignored resident of the colony, these scenes are heartfelt and relatable, especially for middle-class viewers who've lived through similar realities.

Sasikumar delivers a grounded performance as Dharmadas. His restrained expressions, quiet strength, and believable reactions pull you into his world. Simran was pretty good as the wife, Vasanthi, and the groundedness of that character looked believable on screen. Mithun Jai Shankar performs well as the elder son, while Yogi Babu, M. S. Bhaskar, Ramesh Thilak, and others are apt.

Tourist Family is a well-made emotional drama. The performances, especially Sasikumar's, and the right mix of emotions and fun parts work well for the movie.

Director Tharun Moorthy delivers a heartfelt story in Thudarum, a film that blends personal struggle with social commentary. Here, he focuses on the resilience of an ordinary man against the backdrop of a flawed system, weaving a narrative that is both specific and universally. The script by KR Sunil and Tharun Moorthy is well-written and tight, giving every character its due importance and also cleverly tying in the varying incidents and information they reveal in the first half of the film. While the first half of the movie is slower, the second half picks up pace with its twists and turns, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

Mohanlal delivers a deeply empathetic performance, portraying Shanmugham with sensitivity. In his hands, the character becomes not just a victim of circumstance, but a symbol of quiet resistance. Prakash Varma is a revelation as a shrewd, calculating officer. His portrayal is so convincing that it evokes genuine anger from the audience, which speaks volumes about his performance. Shobhana, Binu Pappu, Thomas Mathew, and the rest of the supporting cast also do a neat job in their respective roles.

Thudarum is a well-made drama that rewards viewers who appreciate slow-burn storytelling.

The first half of Jaat successfully has an entertaining build-up. Interestingly, Sunny Deol's character locks horns with Randeep Hooda's Ranatunga over a meager thing like a 'sorry.' The manner in which he reaches Randeep's character is not only intense but also evokes some laughter. There is also a sense of mystery attached to the character who suddenly turns messiah for the villagers of Mootupali.

The filmmaker doesn't hold back when it comes to graphic content. From beheadings and severed fingers to gunshots and atrocities against women, 'Jaat' can be quite triggering at times.

Sunny Deol as the quintessential mass hero does well as usual. Randeep Hooda is an astounding complement to Sunny Deol's larger-than-life heroism. The actor is menacing and ruthless which is needed from his character. Regena Cassandra and Saiyami Kher do complete justice to their characters. Viineet Kumar Siingh as Somulu, Ranatunga's bad boy brother, blends into the tone of negativeness in the movie well, a role he hasn't been seen doing till now.

It's a full-on, South-infused entertainer that delivers exactly what it promises.