Thudarum Movie Review: A Simple Story Carried by Mohanlal’s Stellar Performance
Release Date: April 26, 2025
Starring: Mohanlal, Arjun Ashokan, Shobana
Director: Tharun Moorthy
Producers: M. Renjith
Music: Jakes Bejoy
Cinematography: Shaji Kumar
Editing: Nishadh Yusuf, Shafeeque V. B.
Rating: 2.5/5
Introduction:
Following the massive buzz around L2: Empuraan, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal returns with Thudarum, a small-scale emotional drama. Released simultaneously in Telugu and Malayalam, this film offers a much quieter, more grounded experience compared to his recent larger-than-life ventures. Let’s see how it fares.
Story:
Benz (Mohanlal) is a humble taxi driver whose pride and joy is his black Ambassador car. His family life with wife Lalitha (Shobana), son Pavan (Thomas Mathew), and daughter (Amritha Varshini) is simple yet satisfying. But his peaceful existence is disrupted when an unfortunate accident damages his car, leading to its misuse by a mechanic involved in shady dealings.
When Benz seeks help from police officer Benny (Binu Pappu), things take an unexpected turn after intervention by CI George Mathen (Prakash Varma). What starts as a simple request spirals into a mysterious journey involving a wedding trip, a journey into a deserted forest, and a series of shocking events. The true intentions of the officers and the fate awaiting Benz unfold as the story progresses.
Plus Points:
- Mohanlal yet again proves why he’s considered a legend. His portrayal of Benz—a common man battling extraordinary situations—is deeply touching. His natural and subtle performance pulls the audience straight into his character’s life.
- The second half gives Mohanlal more room to shine, especially as emotions rise and secrets unravel.
- Prakash Varma is terrific as the cunning CI George Mathen. His menacing portrayal brings a genuine sense of threat to the story.
- Shobana, despite her limited screen time, adds grace and warmth to the film, while the supporting cast including Binu Pappu and Thomas Mathew deliver commendable performances.
Minus Points:
- The biggest drawback is the predictability of the storyline. Experienced viewers might find the plot and twists easy to anticipate.
- The first half drags in parts, lacking the grip needed to fully engage the audience early on. Even after the midpoint, the film takes its time to build momentum again.
- Although the movie deliberately avoids commercial elements like mass action or punch dialogues, the slow narrative might leave some viewers feeling a bit disconnected.
- Some moments might feel repetitive for fans familiar with this genre. A more inventive screenplay could have given Thudarum a much-needed edge.
- The Telugu version suffers from glaring errors, including spelling mistakes in the credits and inconsistent title usage, which show a clear lack of attention to detail.
Technical Aspects:
- Tharun Moorthy directs with sincerity, but struggles to maintain a gripping pace throughout.
- Shaji Kumar’s visuals are effective, capturing the emotional undertones and landscapes beautifully.
- Jakes Bejoy’s music supports the narrative well without overpowering the scenes, particularly with an emotionally resonant background score.
- Editing by Nishadh Yusuf and Shafeeque V. B. could have been sharper, especially in the slower portions of the first half.
- Production values are respectable, though the Telugu dubbing team could have taken more care with the presentation.
Verdict:
Thudarum stands out for Mohanlal’s heartfelt performance and a few strong moments, but is let down by its predictable story, uneven pacing, and lack of gripping drama. It’s a decent watch for those who enjoy slow-burn emotional dramas or are fans of Mohanlal’s acting prowess. However, mainstream audiences expecting a gripping thriller or emotional rollercoaster may find it underwhelming.
Final Rating: 2.5/5
