Thudarum Review — Mohanlal’s Powerful Return in a Gripping Malayalam Thriller

Thudarum Review — Mohanlal’s Powerful Return in a Gripping Malayalam Thriller

Introduction

When a name like Mohanlal headlines a Malayalam film, expectations automatically rise. Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy, is one such film that brings the veteran actor back into a story that is equal parts emotional and thrilling. It’s a film that blends sentiment, suspense, and social commentary, offering more than what a typical revenge drama delivers.

The movie follows an ordinary man pushed to extraordinary limits when fate tears through his quiet life. Thudarum asks what happens when justice fails, and a father’s love turns into fury. This review explores every layer of the film — its direction, performances, visuals, and the emotional weight that carries its story. Without revealing too much, this is an analytical take on how Thudarum holds its ground among recent Malayalam thrillers, and why it’s being talked about across audiences.

---

Quick Synopsis

At the heart of Thudarum lies Shanmugham, fondly called “Benz,” played by Mohanlal — a retired stuntman who now drives a vintage Ambassador taxi for a living. His days are peaceful, filled with routine drives, quiet dinners with his wife Lalitha (Shobana), and shared laughter with his stepson, Pavi.

One day, Benz’s cherished car is seized by the police without clear reason. What seems like a small bureaucratic nuisance spirals into chaos when Benz learns that his son has gone missing — and that his car may have been involved in something far more sinister.

As Benz searches for the truth, he’s pulled into a dark web of corruption, deceit, and moral decay. Every revelation takes him deeper into the underbelly of power and privilege, where the law bends for the rich and crushes the helpless. The father in him refuses to yield, even when faced with insurmountable odds.

Without diving into spoilers, the film slowly evolves from a character-driven drama into an edge-of-the-seat crime thriller. The title, Thudarum — which means “it continues” — perfectly mirrors Benz’s journey through grief, vengeance, and reluctant redemption.

---

Direction & Screenplay Analysis

Director Tharun Moorthy handles Thudarum with the calm of a craftsman who knows his world inside out. His screenplay, co-written with K.R. Sunil, takes time to breathe in its first half — allowing the audience to settle into Benz’s world before shaking it apart.

The story structure is deceptively simple. The disappearance of a loved one triggers a father’s quest for truth. But what keeps Thudarum from falling into cliché territory is its attention to emotional realism. Benz isn’t a superhero; he’s a man weighed down by grief and rage. His actions are messy, desperate, human.

The first half focuses on emotional depth — the rhythm of everyday life, the warmth of a family that feels real. When the second half turns darker, the tone shifts sharply into thriller mode. Some might find this shift abrupt, but it’s a deliberate choice that mirrors Benz’s disorientation.

The pacing is deliberate but not slow. Moorthy’s direction keeps tension simmering beneath the surface until it bursts. Dialogues are sharp, understated, and written with emotional intelligence. If there’s a flaw, it lies in a few predictable beats in the second half — the kind of turns familiar to fans of Malayalam revenge dramas. Yet, even those moments feel earned because of the raw honesty behind the storytelling.

---

Performances & Characters

Mohanlal carries Thudarum like only he can — with quiet power. As Benz, he embodies the weariness of an ageing man whose pain is internalized until it can’t be contained. This isn’t a loud performance; it’s one built on silences, glances, and the weight of memory. When Benz finally breaks, the eruption feels both inevitable and heartbreaking.

Shobana brings poise and warmth to her role as Lalitha. Her presence grounds Benz’s world in tenderness. While she doesn’t get as much screen time in the latter half, her character leaves a lasting impression. Their shared chemistry rekindles nostalgia for their classic pairings from the past.

Prakash Varma as CI George Mathan delivers one of the film’s strongest supporting performances. His calm menace contrasts beautifully with Mohanlal’s emotional intensity. The character’s composed cruelty makes him a perfect mirror to Benz’s quiet grief.

The rest of the cast — Thomas Mathew, Farhaan Faasil, and Binu Pappu — fit their roles with conviction. Each adds a layer of authenticity to a story that depends heavily on realism. The relationships feel lived-in, not written.

---

Cinematography, Music & Technical Aspects

Technically, Thudarum is one of the more polished Malayalam thrillers in recent years. Shaji Kumar’s cinematography paints a vivid contrast between the calm of domestic life and the grit of chaos. Early scenes bathe in warm, natural light; later sequences descend into shadow and neon, mirroring Benz’s moral descent.

Every frame of the Ambassador car feels symbolic — it’s more than a vehicle. It’s a memory, a coffin, and a weapon all at once. The car becomes an extension of Benz’s psyche, a container of both love and loss.

The editing by Nishadh Yusuf keeps the film’s rhythm taut. Even when the narrative slows, there’s a quiet tension underneath. The use of silence, particularly in key emotional moments, is powerful.

Jakes Bejoy’s music amplifies this mood beautifully. The background score pulses with dread when needed but also steps back to let emotion breathe. The song Kanmanipoove adds tenderness without breaking tone. The sound design deserves special mention — every hum of the engine, every breath of rain contributes to the film’s immersive texture.

In short, Thudarum is technically seamless — a reminder that Malayalam cinema continues to deliver artistry without excess.

---

Themes & Symbolism

Beneath its thriller exterior, Thudarum is a deeply emotional exploration of fatherhood, justice, and the quiet brutality of grief.

At its core, it’s about a father’s love — not biological, but chosen. Benz’s connection to his stepson is the emotional axis around which everything spins. His journey isn’t just about revenge; it’s about reclaiming dignity when the world strips it away.

The film also delves into systemic corruption — how authority bends morality, and how the powerless are often crushed in silence. The police system, meant to protect, becomes the oppressor. Benz’s fight isn’t only for his son but against a decaying institution that hides its sins behind hierarchy.

Symbolically, the car becomes a powerful metaphor. It represents Benz’s past as a stuntman, his pride, and eventually, his pain. It’s both his freedom and his prison. When the car is taken from him, so is his peace.

(Spoiler alert) The ending reveals that Pavi’s disappearance ties to an honour killing — a grim reminder that certain social evils still thrive beneath modern civility. The twist reframes the story as not just a personal tragedy but a societal one.

The title, Thudarum, meaning “it continues,” captures the haunting reality that cycles of violence and injustice rarely end cleanly. The final scenes leave us with moral ambiguity — Benz finds a form of justice, but at what cost?

---

Audience Reaction & Critical Reception

Upon release, Thudarum sparked intense debate among audiences and critics. Many praised Mohanlal’s restrained yet powerful performance and Tharun Moorthy’s grounded direction. Others pointed out that the second half leans on familiar revenge tropes.

Critics from major outlets like The Times of India highlighted the film’s strong emotional core but noted that “the resolution lacks finesse.” Despite that, the film’s sincerity and craftsmanship won over most viewers. On IMDb, early user ratings hover around 8/10, citing “emotional impact” and “cinematic precision” as major strengths.

Social media reactions were divided but engaged. Some found the film’s pace meditative, while others wanted more action. Reddit discussions show that audiences appreciated the moral complexity, even if the plot felt predictable in parts.

At the box office, Thudarum performed exceptionally well, becoming one of the top-grossing Malayalam films of 2025. Its combination of star power and emotional storytelling made it both a commercial and critical success.

---

Ending Explained

(Spoiler alert)

The final act of Thudarum pulls together the threads of loss, corruption, and revenge. Benz uncovers that his son’s death was the result of an honour killing, orchestrated by a powerful man whose daughter had fallen in love with Pavi. The police covered it up, using Benz’s car to dispose of the body — a literal and symbolic violation of his life.

When Benz learns the truth, his response is both inevitable and tragic. He delivers justice in his own way, reclaiming his dignity but losing the last remnants of peace. The final scene, with Benz driving into the horizon, mirrors the title — life goes on, but not as before.

The “ending explained” isn’t about solving a mystery — it’s about confronting the permanence of loss. Thudarum closes not with resolution, but with continuation — grief doesn’t end; it changes shape.

---

Conclusion

Thudarum is a rare blend of emotional storytelling and taut filmmaking. It may not be flawless, but it’s deeply felt and visually stunning. Mohanlal delivers one of his most mature performances in years, proving that power doesn’t always need volume.

Tharun Moorthy directs with empathy and restraint, trusting his actors and the story’s emotional undercurrents. The result is a film that lingers long after it ends — not because of shocking twists, but because of the quiet ache it leaves behind.

If you’re drawn to Malayalam thrillers that balance realism with cinematic intensity, Thudarum is worth every minute. It’s a film that doesn’t scream its message — it whispers it, and somehow, that makes it echo longer.

Final Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — A haunting, heartfelt thriller that proves Mohanlal still reigns in emotional cinema.

What did you think of Thudarum?

Did the ending feel satisfying, or did it leave you with more questions than answers? Share your thoughts in the comments.