Movie: Thudakkam
Cast: Vismaya Mohanlal, Ashish Joe Antony, Bobby Kurian, Saikumar, Manoj K. Jayan, K.B. Ganesh, Mohanlal (special appearance)
Director: Jude Anthany Joseph
Streaming Platform: JioHotstar
Mohanlal’s daughter Vismaya Mohanlal makes her silver-screen debut with Thudakkam, in which she plays a pivotal role. The Malayalam survival thriller, which was released in theatres last month, went on to become a box-office success, reportedly grossing over ₹40 crore. The film is now available to stream on JioHotstar, including a Telugu audio option.
So, does Thudakkam deliver the thrills expected from a survival thriller?
What Is the Story About?
Meenu (Vismaya Mohanlal) loses her mother at a young age and is raised by her father Ravi Balachandran (Saikumar), who becomes her sole support. Despite being physically disabled, Ravi stands firmly by his daughter and even trains her in martial arts.
While looking for a job, Meenu also trains young children in martial arts in her hometown. Meanwhile, her father Ravi, who works as a Village Revenue Officer (VRO), is threatened by a few people who want him to grant permissions related to a piece of land.
One day, Meenu travels with her friend Priya to attend a competitive examination, but she suddenly goes missing. Ravi approaches the police, and a search operation begins.
What happened to Meenu? How did she disappear? Will the police find her? What kind of circumstances does she have to face? The answers form the crux of Thudakkam.
How Is the Film?
There is always curiosity when a star kid makes a debut, and expectations are naturally higher when the newcomer comes from the family of an actor as celebrated as Mohanlal. Thudakkam attempts to combine the elements of a survival thriller with a social message.
Director Jude Anthany Joseph, who previously helmed the blockbuster 2018, has largely succeeded in presenting the film as a survival thriller. However, the limited scope of the central plot, unnecessary songs and the slow-paced narrative—often associated with some Malayalam films—act as speed breakers. As a result, a film that could have delivered stronger thrills ends up being just an okay watch.
The director takes considerable time to introduce Meenu and her father and establish their world before getting to the main plot. Perhaps this extended setup also allows the audience to become familiar with Vismaya in her debut role.
The real tension begins once Meenu’s phone is switched off and she becomes unreachable. From this point, the police investigation becomes engaging. The film simultaneously follows the investigation and reveals what happened to Meenu, making the narrative easy for the audience to follow.
The director delivers an unexpected twist around the interval, after which the story gradually transforms into a revenge drama.
The way people around Meenu perceive the incident, along with the discussions surrounding it on social media, reflects contemporary society. The film effectively highlights how even a minor incident involving a woman can be exaggerated and publicly discussed.
Mohanlal’s special appearance is used to reinforce the film’s message. The sequences emphasising how women can overcome challenges by confronting them and standing up for themselves work well. Vismaya’s action sequences, particularly during the climax, provide the film with some genuine thrills.
Although certain portions may remind viewers of the recently released Blast, the film’s focus on women’s empowerment gives these sequences a distinct purpose.
Performances
Vismaya Mohanlal performs well as Meenu. She appears as an ordinary young woman in the first half but gets considerably more scope to shine in the second half. She handles the emotional scenes effectively and also performs convincingly in the action sequences.
Mohanlal’s special appearance is entertaining, while the rest of the cast deliver performances appropriate to their roles.
Aneesh Joy, who plays the antagonist, is particularly effective despite having no dialogue until the end. He manages to create an intimidating presence largely through his expressions and eyes.
Technically, the film is adequate. Although the central idea chosen by Jude Anthany Joseph is relatively small in scope, he succeeds to a considerable extent in developing it into an engaging thriller.
Can You Watch It With Family?
Yes. Thudakkam can be watched with family without any major concerns. The film is now streaming on JioHotstar, with Telugu audio also available.
Strengths
Vismaya Mohanlal’s performance and action sequences
Runtime
Second half
Weaknesses
Slow opening portions
Songs
Slow-paced narration
Verdict: Thudakkam is a survival thriller with a social message that becomes more engaging in its second half. Now streaming on JioHotstar.
