Just two months after the release of L2: Empuraan, Mohanlal’s new film Thudarum released yesterday in Malayalam and today in Telugu. While the buzz is relatively low here, in Kerala, the movie set a new record by selling over 4 lakh tickets in a single day on BookMyShow. Another highlight is senior actress Shobana playing Mohanlal’s wife after nearly two decades.
From the very first show, Thudarum has been receiving positive reviews, boosting its word of mouth and box office collections. Some are even boldly comparing it to Drishyam. Let’s see if it truly matches that level.
Thudarum is a family thriller, much like Drishyam. It follows Benz (Mohanlal), who rents out his old black Ambassador car for driving jobs. Family means everything to him — his wife, son, and daughter are his world. One day, an unexpected incident forces Benz to help the police. Against his will, he gets entangled in a crime he didn’t commit. What seems like a small favor turns into a nightmare, turning his life upside down. His loved ones face danger, and society brands him a criminal. As the story unfolds with unpredictable twists, Benz’s thirst for revenge begins, leading to the real story.
The first 40 minutes are relatively slow, but the real twists kick in after that. Director Tarun Moorthy weaves an interesting screenplay around the theme of honor killings, making the narrative gripping from the pre-interval point all the way to the climax. Although the main twist seems guessable midway, the final reveal delivers a Sukumar-style shocker.
Jakes Bejoy’s background score and the strong performances of the actors make Thudarum a decent watch. If you’re a fan of Malayalam-brand crime thrillers, this one is definitely worth checking out.
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