Special Chit Chat With Siva Balaji, Madhumitha | Sri Rama Navami

Just two months after the release of L2: Empuraan, Mohanlal is back with another project, Thudarum, which hit theaters yesterday in Malayalam and today in Telugu. While the initial buzz is modest in Telugu-speaking regions, the film has witnessed a phenomenal response in Kerala, setting a new record by selling over 4 lakh tickets in a single day on BookMyShow.

A major highlight of Thudarum is the reunion of senior actress Shobana with Mohanlal, portraying his wife on-screen after nearly two decades. Their chemistry has been warmly received, adding a nostalgic charm to the film.

From its very first show, Thudarum has garnered highly positive reviews, with strong word of mouth fueling its box office performance. Some early viewers are even drawing bold comparisons to the iconic Drishyam series, setting high expectations for the film’s long-term success.

Thudarum is a gripping family thriller centered around Benz (Mohanlal), a simple man who rents out his old black Ambassador car to make a living. His family — his wife, son, and daughter — is his entire world. However, an unexpected incident draws him into a crime he did not commit. What initially appears to be a small favor to the police spirals into a nightmare, putting his loved ones in grave danger and tarnishing his reputation. As the stakes rise, Benz’s journey from helpless victim to a man driven by revenge unfolds through a series of unpredictable twists.

The first 40 minutes of the film adopt a relatively slow pace, building the world and characters carefully. However, director Tarun Moorthy expertly accelerates the narrative from the pre-interval sequence, crafting a tense, emotionally charged thriller around the theme of honor killings. While the major twist may feel somewhat predictable halfway through, the final reveal delivers a Sukumar-style shocker that leaves a lasting impact.

Technically, Thudarum shines with Jakes Bejoy’s powerful background score heightening the tension at crucial moments. Combined with stellar performances from the entire cast, the film cements itself as a compelling addition to Malayalam cinema’s tradition of intense crime thrillers.