Thudarum Review: Mohanlal, at 65, can still carry an action thriller all alone

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 3/5*

Thudarum Review Movie Talkies:

Thudarum may remind one of Drishyam, but it operates in a simpler, more grounded world. It's heavier on action and lighter on thrills, especially when compared to Jeethu Joseph's Malayalam masterpiece. Though Thudarum follows a predictable revenge arc and lacks the layered payoff of Drishyam, as a standalone film, it's a worthwhile watch for Mohanlal fans.

Thudarum Story:

The story revolves around Benz, a devoted family man who’s cherished his black Ambassador for over two decades. When the car gets seized in a drug smuggling case, he visits the police station to reclaim it, but has no luck. Eventually, a senior officer named George hands over the keys and asks Benz for a lift. Overjoyed to have his car back and moved by the officer’s request, Benz agrees. But his joy quickly turns to trauma when he realizes he's unwittingly become part of a murder cover-up. What follows forms the thrilling segment of the film, and it’s best I stop right here.

The screenplay of Thudarum is reasonably engaging, though undeniably stretched. At 2 hours and 44 minutes, the film overshoots what could have been a crisp 2-hour narrative—or at most, 15 minutes more. By the interval, the thrills are minimal, though the cover-up element is decently staged. The writing leans on basic revenge tropes, elevated by intense action sequences. That raises the question: why such a lengthy runtime for a film that clearly isn’t aiming to be a layered thriller like Drishyam, but a straightforward action entertainer?

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Thudarum Cast:

Mohanlal, at 65, continues to impress, convincingly taking down villains with effortless flair. And it’s not just the action—his expressive eyes do much of the talking. Watch for that moment when he glares at George, delivering a chilling, storm-warning look. Shobhana has limited screen time, as do the younger actors Amritha Varshini and Thomas Matthew. Prakash Varma surprises with a convincing turn as the corrupt cop—you genuinely loathe his character. Binu Pappu and Farhaan Faasil are mixed bags, while the supporting cast overall is decent.

Thudarum Movie Review:

Shaji Kumar’s cinematography shines in night scenes and action blocks, and the background score, while passable, doesn’t quite elevate the tension. I expected more from the BGM, but it falls short. The soundtrack isn’t memorable either. That said, Thudarum boasts solid production design that matches its scale. Director Tharun Moorthy delivers an action drama that’s more commercial than classic. So yes, it's a one-time watch—and maybe a touch more, thanks to Mohanlal’s intense action avatar in the final 40 minutes. But to enjoy that, you'll need to endure the slow-burn buildup. All in all, a decent outing that deserve commercial success it received.

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