Thudarum Movie Review: Mohanlal’s Emotional Revenge Drama Lacks the Sharpness of Drishyam

umesh kumar

🔥 Is Thudarum the next Drishyam or just another missed opportunity? In this detailed video, we dive into Tharun Moorthy's latest film "Thudarum", starring the legendary Mohanlal. We break down the storyline, performances, cinematography, music, and how it stacks up against Malayalam cinema's high standards.  📌 What works, what doesn’t, and why this revenge drama might leave fans divided – we cover it all!  📽️ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:12 – Plot Overview 02:35 – Performances 04:05 – Direction & Screenplay 06:00 – Technical Aspects 07:30 – Final Verdict

Transcript

00:00Imagine the emotional tension of Drisham, a father's desperate attempt to protect his family.

00:06Now imagine it with none of the cleverness and more brute force.

00:11That, in short, is Thudrum. Mohanlal returns in a role that should have delivered emotional

00:18depth and psychological thrill, but does it land the punch? Or just fizzle out in a predictable

00:25mess? In today's video, we are diving into Thudrum, the latest revenge drama from Tharun

00:32Murthy, and asking, did this film waste its potential? Story Summary

00:38The film follows Shanmugam, or Benz as everyone lovingly calls him, played by Mohanlal. He's a

00:47taxi driver, an extant assistant from the film world, and a deeply devoted family man.

00:53His life revolves around his beloved old car, a Mark 1 ambassador. There's a warm,

01:01nostalgic beginning here, domestic scenes, a strong father-son bond, and a slice-of-life vibe.

01:08But all of that changes when the police sees Benz's car on suspicion of drug smuggling.

01:14He's innocent.

01:15But this small incident becomes the turning point. After some effort and frustration,

01:23Benz gets the car back, but not without strings attached. The same officers who returned it,

01:31played by Prakash Verma and Beenu Pappu, request a favor, a late-night drive through the forest.

01:37What seems like a normal duty turns dark very fast. Why do the cops really need him?

01:45What are they hiding? And how does Benz, the humble father, react when he's cornered and humiliated?

01:54Plot weaknesses predictability. If you've seen Drisham, you'll know how suspense and

02:00intelligence can drive a plot forward. But Thudroom doesn't follow that path.

02:07Once the problem is introduced, the script becomes painfully predictable.

02:13Writers K.A. Sunil and Tharon Moorthy set up a gripping premise, but never explore its potential.

02:20Every scene follows a familiar rhythm, and you can almost guess what's coming next.

02:25And the ending? Well, instead of mind games or smart resolutions, the film leans into outright

02:34violence. Which, honestly, feels like a missed opportunity. There's no twist, no cerebral edge,

02:44just brute force justice. Performances

02:47Now let's talk about performances. Mohanlal, of course, brings his trademark

02:55charisma and screen presence. As Benz, he plays the doting father and every man with ease,

03:03but even he can't rescue the overwritten scenes. His emotional outbursts feel loud and staged at times.

03:11The script doesn't allow him the quiet intensity we loved in Drisham. The supporting cast does a

03:18decent job, but none of them stand out. The villains, though satisfyingly punished by the end,

03:25are paper-thin and predictable. There's no complexity, just clear-cut good versus evil.

03:33Technical strengths

03:34One of the few redeeming aspects of Thudroom lies in its technical execution.

03:41Jake's Bejoy's background score elevates the tension and brings emotional heft where the script lacks.

03:47Shaji Kumar's cinematography is stunning, especially the night scenes in the forest.

03:55The editing by Shafiq VB and Nishad Yusuf is tight, and visually, the film rarely falters.

04:02You can tell that a lot of craftsmanship went into how the movie looks and sounds,

04:07it's the writing that lets it all down.

04:11Direction Final Verdict

04:12This film comes from Tharun Murthy, the same director who gave us the national award-winning

04:19Saudi Vellakka. Expectations were high. But Thudroom feels like a throwback to the 80s and 90s in the

04:27worst way. Yes, it's emotional. Yes, the farthest in angle could move some viewers.

04:35But this isn't the sharp, modern Malayalam cinema we've come to expect.

04:42The film chooses violence over intelligence.

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