Movie Review - Thudarum. Review on Thudarum

Background

Directed by Tharun Moorthy, with a screenplay by him and K.?R. Sunil, Thudarum follows in the tranquil hill town of Perunad, former stuntman Shanmughamknown as Benzlives a modest life as a taxi driver with his wife Lalitha, their children, and his cherished black Ambassador car. Haunted by a past tragedy that ended his film career, Benz finds solace in routine until his son Pavis accidental joyride leads to the cars crash and a father-son fallout. Things spiral when the car is seized by the police for being linked to a drug smuggling case orchestrated by a mechanics assistant. In a desperate attempt to retrieve it, Benz agrees to drive a group of policemen to a wedding celebration, only to be drawn into a grim and morally fraught night in the forest. What unfolds afterward deeply disturbs Benz and begins to unravel a dark, personal truthone that involves deceit, buried secrets, and a body in the trunkleading him down a harrowing path where nothing is as it first seemed. The story builds toward a shocking climax that remains cloaked in mystery and doubt.

Performances

Mohanlal delivers a masterclass, transitioning seamlessly between warmth, vulnerability, rage, and resolve. His quiet domesticity in the first half gives way to breathtaking intensitymost notably in a raw breakdown in a washroom scene.

Shobana, as Lalitha, lends grace and emotional depth; while her screen time is limited, her presence is powerful and meaningful .

The villainsPrakash Varmas CI George and SI Benny Kurian(Binu Pappu)are chilling embodiments of institutional evil, with Varmas serpent-like calmness standing out.

Direction, Writing & Structure

Tharun Moorthy, known for his thoughtful realism delivers this as a more commercial offering. He sets a deliberate, slow-burning pacedrawing viewers into Shanmughams world before unleashing tense drama. The shift from emotional family drama to merciless revenge thriller is handled with finesse, though some critics note a lack of nuance and overly brutal violence.

Technical Brilliance

Cinematography by Shaji Kumar paints Keralas hills, monsoon-washed roads, and intimate interiors with atmospheric brilliance. Visual metaphorsrain, puddles, dripping ceilingsmirror the rising emotional tides

Music & Score:

Jakes Bejoys score is subtle yet powerful, soaring in tension sequences while underpinning emotional momentsthough some found it less memorable than his other work.

Editing: Originally by Nishadh Yusuf(late) and Shafeeque V.B. The editing builds tension smoothly, though the nearly 2?hr 45?min runtime spirited some criticism for overstaying its welcome.

Final Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Thudarum is a gripping emotional thriller anchored by Mohanlals performance and atmospheric filmmaking. The films slow build pays off in the second half, delivering a potent mix of personal vengeance and moral reckoning. Despite some script rough edges and pacing issues, it remains a compelling, crowd-pleasing experience.