The initial portions of the latest Tharun Moorthy film, Thudarum, are very simple, similar to something like Drishyam, where you see the banter-humor between the characters played by Mohanlal and Shobana. And in those areas, there are far too many references to Mohanlal’s movies, but with a trolling sense of humor. The mention of the beard is already out there. In the film, we have many more such self-deprecating humor from the star, mainly in the first half. To be honest, I even got worried whether this would end up like a Good, Bad, Ugly where the references would exceed the limit and become a creation strictly for the fans. But the second half has a major shift, and we see the character of Shanmugham going through tough terrains, and the packaging of the second half is a really smart one as it approaches a generic revenge zone with an intent to celebrate the actor.
Shanmugham is a Taxi driver, and he lives with his wife, Lalitha, and his two kids. He used to be a stunt man back in the day in Madras, and it was there he met Lalitha. Shanmugham loves his Ambassador car very much, and he doesn’t even let anyone drive that. The happy middle-class life of Shanmugham met with a crisis when his car was taken into custody by the police as part of a case. Shanmugham’s efforts to get his car back and the things he had to go through in that process are what we see in Thudarum.
Prior to the release of the film, Tharun Moorthy was trying really hard to reduce the anticipation around the film as many interpreted a Drishyam-like twist in the tale, seeing some of the shots in the trailer. Well, Tharun is not a man of twists, and if you look at his movies, it is predominantly driven by emotions. So, yes. Similar to Drishyam, there is a drastic tone shift happening in Thudarum. But I would say it feels more like a Bhramaram-ish version of Drishyam. Like, what if there was a beetle inside the head of George Kutti? Thudarum keeps its central character in a grounded zone for the most part, and even his past life is not necessarily glorified.
Thudarum, in many ways, feels like a solid example of how you celebrate an actor with the help of a solid story that can squeeze out the best from him. The drama element in the story, which has tragic incidents, is not something we have not seen. And the story here is something about the misuse of power by people in power. Even though, in its entirety, the film is not making its hero a Khureshi-Ab’raam, Tharun Moorthy infuses enough heroics that feels believable because of the subtle character exposition we get in the lighter parts of the movie. Some of the drama inside the family, like the one between the father and son, felt a bit forceful, but at a later stage, we sort of realize the relevance of that tussle.
If it was those funny, self-spoofing references we get to see in the first half, the second half of the movie goes after some of the celebrated Mohanlal theatrics, and it blends smoothly with the story. Shaji Kumar uses tighter frames to intensify the tension in the atmosphere, and he uses silhouettes and shadows extensively in the second half, which gives that part of the film a gritty and unpredictable dynamic. The editing of the movie was done by the late Nishadh Yusuf and Shafeeque V. B., and I feel the cuts had a massive impact in presenting the other version of Shanmugham. The folk elements in the background score by Jakes Bejoy enhance the overall intensity of the second half of this film.
Mohanlal gets to do a character that is actually celebrating his entire filmography. From the playful version we all adore to the slightly over-the-top avatar and even that glitter in the eyes we see when he does something psychopathic, Tharun Moorthy is giving Mohanlal a vast canvas to perform. And the decision to end the movie by stating “Mohanlal Thudarum” felt like an apt description. Shobana, as Lalitha, has the required chemistry to be that equal partner of Shanmugham. Even though her screen time is less in the second half of the movie, there are scenes where she does manage to score. Binu Pappu, in my opinion, has got his best character in his career through this movie as SI Benny. From a seemingly funny cop to being an adamant egoistic one, he depicts the character’s brutal side superbly on screen.
The real surprise package for me came in the form of Prakash Varma. If any of you don’t know, Prakash Varma is easily the biggest name among Indian advertisement directors, and his Nirvana films are responsible for the iconic ZooZoo ads of Vodafone. Prakash Varma, as the remorseless antagonist, was superb. His body language and that soft yet intimidating way of saying lines really help the movie create agitation against that character in the minds of the audience. Since he is a fresh face, the unfamiliarity also gives the movie an advantage. Maniyan Pilla Raju, Irshad, Farhaan Faasil, Thomas Mathew, Arsha Chandini Baiju, etc., are the other names in the star cast of this movie.
I would call Thudarum one of the finest Fan-service films. It mocks the hero for his bad choices in his career, and then it celebrates him for what he is to the audience by creating a genuinely good story. The melodrama-heavy ending portions of the movie are lingering on to the sentiments for a bit too long. But the script by Tharun and KR Sunil adds nuances to the story through moments like the smile we see on Shanmugham’s face when he sees three women who know the reality in one frame.
Thudarum, in many ways, feels like a solid example of how you celebrate an actor with the help of a solid story that can squeeze out the best from him.
Green: Recommended Content
Orange: The In-Between Ones
Red: Not Recommended
