Review: Emotionally Dense, Packed With Surprises And Tharun Moorthy Brings Old Mohanlal Back
Thudarum Movie Review: In Thudarum, director Tharun Moorthy delivers a compelling, emotionally dense drama that doesn’t just reintroduce the actor Mohanlal to his fans—it restores him. This is the comeback Malayalam cinema has been waiting for, and it is anchored in a script that knows its star’s strengths, and a director who isn’t intimidated by them. Yes. Tharun Moorthy was given a chance to prove his mettle with a big name, and he managed to pull off the movie of the year.
At the heart of Thudarum is Shanmughan, a soft-spoken taxi driver from Ranni who treasures his old Ambassador as if it were family. When the car is impounded by police, a seemingly simple act unleashes a storm of hidden truths, social tension, and emotional reckoning. The narrative is tightly coiled, with layers that unfold like a thriller but land like a tragedy. This is no star-vehicle spectacle. It is a masterclass in restraint, power, and precision, and Mohanlal embraces every beat.
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Moorthy, known for the realism of Operation Java and the emotional subtleties of Saudi Vellakka, takes a genre leap without compromising his signature craftsmanship. He crafts Shanmughan as an everyday man pushed to the edge, not through stylised heroism, but with aching vulnerability. Mohanlal, free from the baggage of stardom, delivers his finest performance since Oppam. He moves between tenderness and fury with grace—sometimes with just a glance or silence. In the second half, as Shanmughan transforms from a passive man to someone burning with righteous defiance, the veteran actor channels the very core of his decades-long legacy.
The film’s emotional spine is reinforced by Jakes Bejoy’s score—never overpowering, always purposeful. Shaji Kumar’s visuals lend the narrative a grand intimacy, with shots soaked in atmosphere and metaphor, from rain-soaked roads to the haunting serenity of forests. Shobana, though underused, adds nostalgia and gravitas. Prakash Varma is a revelation, bringing understated menace that lingers long after.
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What makes Thudarum remarkable is not its twists, but its soul. It speaks to themes of family, identity, and systemic rot without losing sight of entertainment. It’s a film that trusts its audience to feel without over-explaining. And in doing so, it gives us something we don’t often get from a star-led film anymore: authenticity.
More than just a comeback for Mohanlal, Thudarum is a cinematic reaffirmation. It’s the promise that storytelling still matters more than stardom, and that when the two meet with mutual respect, the results are nothing short of unforgettable.
Rating: 4.5/5
