Tharun Moorthy’s Thudarum (“To Be Continued”) begins like a family drama but quietly pivots into darker, more menacing territory. This Malayalam-language crime thriller, starring Mohanlal and Shobana, aims to blend old-school emotional storytelling with the grit of modern cinematic technique. It nearly succeeds — but misses greatness by a few predictable turns.
Mohanlal plays Shanmugham, lovingly nicknamed “Benz” by his family and town, a former stuntman turned cab driver with a fierce attachment to his vintage black Ambassador car. The car isn’t just sentimental—it’s a symbol of his past, his pride, and the soul of the life he’s built with his wife Lalitha (Shobana) and children. Trouble begins when the car is impounded by the police over a drug smuggling case that he has no connection to, and his attempts to retrieve it spiral into a chain of events that turn his world upside down.
Moorthy’s opening act is deceptively tranquil. With tender scenes of domestic warmth, quiet humour, and familial camaraderie, he paints an idyllic picture of working-class life in rural Kerala. The director exhibits a deep affection for detail—rituals, relationships, and regional textures are lovingly portrayed. Yet beneath this warmth simmers a slow tension that finally erupts midway into a full-blown revenge thriller.
The film’s tonal shift is abrupt but deliberate. As Shanmugham is drawn deeper into the manipulative games of CI George Mathan (a menacing Prakash Varma) and his subordinate SI Benny (Binu Pappu), the screenplay gradually strips away his innocence. What begins as a father fighting for his dignity becomes a man raging against a deeply corrupt system. While this transition is emotionally compelling, the narrative leans too heavily on tried-and-tested revenge tropes in the latter half. The resolution lacks finesse and, despite its emotional heft, trades nuance for brute force.
That said, Mohanlal’s performance is a force to reckon with. Thudarum reminds us of the actor’s range—the everyday gentleness, the explosive anger, the heartbreak, the dark resolve. His transformation from a doting father to a man driven to the edge is crafted with subtlety and gravitas. Shobana, returning after a hiatus, brings warmth and restrained grace, though her character remains underdeveloped and underutilized.
Prakash Varma deserves praise for portraying one of the most disturbing antagonists Malayalam cinema has seen in recent years. His portrayal of a manipulative and power-drunk cop is terrifying, primarily because it is understated. Binu Pappu complements him well, lending his character a greasy kind of realism.
Technically, the film soars. Shaji Kumar’s cinematography is atmospheric, perfectly capturing both the serenity of domestic life and the looming threat of violence. Jakes Bejoy’s music and background score amplify the film’s emotional beats and heighten its suspense. The edit, by Shafeeque VB and late Nishadh Yusuf, is mostly sharp, though a few indulgent sequences—especially in the final act—could have benefited from trimming.
Notably, the film makes subtle political and cultural commentary. A landslide disaster eerily echoes real-life calamities, and a tragic moment featuring Shanmugham’s son invokes the spirit of TV Eachara Warrier’s historic struggle for justice during the Emergency era. These elements enrich the film, giving it social depth that elevates it above a standard revenge story.
Yet, despite all this, Thudarum does not fully escape its limitations. Some of the dialogues feel rushed or overly sentimental. Slow-motion fight scenes disrupt the film’s pacing. And though the use of symbols like rain and elephants is often effective, they occasionally tip into the theatrical.
Verdict:
Thudarum is not the perfect film fans might have hoped for, but it is undeniably a step in the right direction for both Mohanlal and Tharun Moorthy. It is a story of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary circumstances, executed with moments of poetic beauty and cinematic conviction. Its flaws—predictability, melodrama, and excess—are offset by its emotional sincerity, technical brilliance, and powerful performances.
For those who long to see the return of the vulnerable, emotionally expressive Mohanlal—the Lalettan who once made Malayalis laugh, cry, and rage in equal measure—Thudarum is a welcome return. Flawed but affecting, familiar yet fresh, it lives up to its title: a beginning, not an end.
CINEMA SPICE RATING: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
