5 Movie References You Definitely Noticed (And Laughed At) In Mohanlal's Thudarum

Thudarum, the gritty Malayalam crime thriller directed by Tharun Moorthy, is not just drawing crowds for its suspenseful storytelling and powerhouse performances; it’s also winning hearts with its clever cinematic winks and nostalgic callbacks.

As the film enjoys a successful run in theatres, fans are beginning to pick up on a string of sly references sprinkled throughout, especially aimed at die-hard Malayalam cinema lovers.

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While the emotional core of Thudarum revolves around Shanmugham (played by Mohanlal), a humble taxi driver whose life spirals after a drug bust, the film doesn’t shy away from having a bit of fun with itself.

From iconic dialogue callbacks to visual homages, here are five movie references you might have missed—or maybe caught and grinned at smugly.

Spoiler Alert

1. “Avande ummande garbapathrathinnayalum njan avane pokkum” — The Mammootty Callback

Let’s start strong. When Mohanlal’s Shanmugham sets off on a furious mission to track down the person who hid ganja in his beloved Ambassador, he drops this explosive line from Big B that’s straight out of Mammootty’s legendary tirade.

It’s the kind of intense one-liner that hits hard and lands heavy. But here? Delivered with that “I’ve had” fire in his eyes, it’s not just a threat, it’s cinematic gold layered with nostalgia, subtle trolling. You could almost hear Mammootty fans cheering from the back rows.

2. “Kurach kanji edukatte” — Mohanlal Trolls… Mohanlal

In a moment of low-key brilliance, Shanmugham’s wife Lalitha (played by Shobana) asks him if he’d like “a little kanji” before sleep, trolling him.

The dialogue itself seems harmless until you remember Odiyan. Yes, that scene. Mohanlal’s much-memed line from Odiyan gets an accidental resurrection here, except this time, it’s delivered with a wink and a nudge.

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You can almost hear the background Twitter noise: “He said the thing! He said it!” This one feels like Mohanlal giving the internet exactly what it didn’t know it needed.

3. “Vettiyitta vaazhathand pole ingane Kidakkathe” — Marakkar Echoes

In another brilliant exchange, Lalitha tells Shanmugham off with this sharp line— “Don’t lie around like a dried banana leaf.”

This isn’t just marital sarcasm; it’s a straight lift from Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea. The dialogue originally showcased Mohanlal’s world-weary protagonist.

Here, it gets a second life in a domestic squabble, and it works beautifully. In a film steeped in tension, this moment lands with the lightness of a well-placed inside joke.

4. “Kann Kandath Nijam”— Recalls Malaikottai Vaaliban 

Another Malaikottai Vaaliban reference slips in when Mohanlal mutters “Kann Kandath Nijam (I am the unseen truth).

This line, once delivered in a philosophical context, now drips with sarcasm and dramatic irony. Classic Mohanlal—layering meaning with the context.

5. “Shaanthamee Rathriyil” — The Johnny Walker Throwback

This was a full-circle moment. In a scene involving a casual drink and a loose groove attending a wedding, Mohanlal cheekily recreates Mammootty’s iconic boozy dance step from the cult classic Johnny Walker song “Shaanthamee Rathriyil.”

Whether it was an intentional tribute or a playful jab (we’ll let the fans fight that one out), the scene is dripping with nostalgic swagger. And yes, the moustache and beard almost dance too, Jum Ta Jum Ta Jum Ta Jum…