Thudarum

Mollywood star Mohanlal takes a new route with the tiny film Thudarum after acting in the huge and contentious L2: Empuraan. Here is our review of the movie, which was released concurrently in Telugu and Malayalam. For a complete evaluation, continue reading.

Table of Contents

Starring : Mohanlal, Shobana, Prakash Varma, Binu Pappu, Thomas Mathew, Aarsha Chandini Baiju, and others

Director : Tharun Moorthy
Producer : M. Renjith
Music Director : Jakes Bejoy
Cinematographer : Shaji Kumar
Editor : Nishadh Yusuf, Shafeeque V. B.

Story

Middle-class cab driver Shanmugam, also known as Benz (Mohanlal), loves his black Ambassador automobile and treats it nearly like a part of the family. With his daughter (Amritha Varshini), son Pavan (Thomas Mathew), and wife Lalitha (Sobhana), he lives a happy existence. When his vehicle is involved in an accident one day, the technician takes advantage of it for illicit purposes. In an attempt to recover his sole source of income, Benz goes to SI Benny (Binu Pappu). But when CI George Mathen (played by Prakash Varma) steps in, an odd series of events begins. After thereafter, Benz is requested to take the cops to a wedding and then to a remote wooded region where a startling discovery is waiting. What precisely transpired, and are the cops complicit in a darker scheme?

Trailer

Overview

Directed by	Tharun Moorthy
Screenplay by	K. R. Sunil Tharun Moorthy
Story by	K. R. Sunil
Produced by	M. Renjith
Starring	Mohanlal Shobana Prakash Varma Binu Pappu
Cinematography	Shaji Kumar
Edited by	Nishadh Yusuf Shafeeque V. B.
Music by	Jakes Bejoy
Production company	Rejaputhra Visual Media
Distributed by	Rejaputhra Release Aashirvad Release
Release date	25 April 2025
Running time	166 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Review

Once again, Mohanlal is at the top of his game, giving a very complex performance. He effectively immerses viewers in Benz’s little world by capturing the quiet dignity and simplicity of an ordinary man.

His controlled emotions and expressive acting are particularly noticeable in the second half, which serves as a reminder of why he is still regarded as one of the best performers in Indian film. He respects his art, as seen by his dedication to the character and his refusal to play it like a “superstar.”

Prakash Varma is a brilliant, astute cop who is a revelation. His act speaks for itself since his representation is so realistic that it makes the viewer feel angry.

Despite having little on-screen time, Sobhana’s poise and poise make an impression that lasts. Thomas Mathew, Binu Pappu, and the other members of the supporting cast all do admirably in their parts.

The tale doesn’t give much originality and instead rehashed old material. Experienced moviegoers would recognize the plot with ease. To really improve the experience, director Tharun Moorthy and writer K R Sunil should have developed a more complex and surprising storyline.

Even though it establishes the idea, the first half progressively stalls and becomes slow beyond a point. The movie takes a while to gather up speed again, even after the break. Some viewers may become impatient due to this erratic narrative flow.

The film’s avoidance of mass-commercial components such as overblown action sequences and punch banter is admirable, but it also makes some parts feel a little flat.

Conclusion

Overall, Thudarum is a simple vengeance story that is mostly enhanced by Mohanlal’s passionate performance. However, it falls short of its full potential due to its cliched plot, slow pacing, and absence of significant emotional peaks. If you enjoy slow-burning dramas or are a fan of Mohanlal, you should see the movie, but for everyone else, it’s best to have reasonable expectations.