Thudarum (2025) Movie ft. Mohanlal and Shobana
Thudarum brings back Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in a revenge thriller that reminds us why he’s considered one of India’s finest actors. Directed by Tharun and co-written with K.R., this 2025 action thriller reunites the legendary duo of Mohanlal and Shobana after 15 years. The film features strong supporting performances from Prakash, Farhaan, Maniyanpilla, and Binu Pappu.
Plot and Story
Set in the peaceful hill town of Ranni, the story follows Shanmugham (nicknamed Benz), a humble taxi driver who treasures his old Ambassador car above everything else. Once a successful stunt performer, he left the film industry after losing his best friend in a tragic accident. Now he lives quietly with his wife Lalitha (Shobana) and their two children.
The calm life takes a dramatic turn when his son’s friends crash the beloved Ambassador. When the car gets misused for illegal activities, Benz finds himself caught in a dangerous web involving corrupt police officers. What starts as a simple attempt to get his car back becomes a fight for his family’s survival against powerful enemies.
Acting Performances
Mohanlal delivers one of his best performances in recent years. I was impressed by how naturally he portrayed an ordinary man’s transformation into someone fighting for justice. He never overacts or plays it like a typical superstar role, which makes the character feel real and relatable.
Prakash Varma is the film’s biggest surprise as the villainous CI George. Despite being his debut performance, he creates a truly menacing character that you’ll love to hate. His cold, calculating portrayal sent chills down my spine during several scenes.
Shobana brings elegance and grace to her role, though I wished she had more screen time. The chemistry between her and Mohanlal still works beautifully after all these years.
Direction and Technical Work
Tharun Moorthy’s direction takes time to build the world and characters, which some viewers might find slow initially. The first hour focuses on family dynamics before diving into the main conflict. While this approach works for the story’s emotional impact, it requires patience from the audience.
The music by Jakes Bejoy enhances the emotional moments effectively. Songs like Kanmanipoove and Kadha Thudarum add depth to the narrative. The cinematography beautifully captures Kerala’s scenic beauty while maintaining the film’s intimate feel.
What Works Well
The film’s biggest strength is its authentic storytelling. Mohanlal’s restrained performance never feels forced or over-the-top. The supporting cast creates a believable small-town atmosphere that makes you care about these characters.
The technical departments deliver quality work across the board. The background score particularly stands out during emotional and action sequences. The film succeeds in creating genuine tension without relying on unnecessary commercial elements.
Areas That Could Be Better
The pacing is the film’s main weakness. The first act moves quite slowly, and some viewers might lose interest before the story picks up. I felt the film could have been tighter with better editing in the initial portions.
The plot follows familiar patterns that we’ve seen in other revenge dramas. While the execution is solid, the story doesn’t offer many surprises for experienced movie watchers. Some forced action sequences in the latter half felt unrealistic compared to the film’s grounded tone.
Critics and Audience Response
Major critics gave the film positive reviews, with most rating it between 3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars. The Indian Express called it one of the finest Indian revenge thrillers, while Hindustan Times praised Mohanlal’s top-form performance.
Audience response has been largely positive, with the film earning a 7.7/10 on IMDb and 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the Telugu version received mixed reviews, with some critics noting translation issues and cultural barriers.
Box Office Success
Despite mixed critical reception, Thudarum became a blockbuster. The film earned over ₹250 crores worldwide and ranks as the third highest-grossing Malayalam film ever. Made on a budget of ₹28 crores, it proved that good storytelling combined with star power still works at the box office.
The film joined the ₹200 crore club within just 17 days, making it Mohanlal’s second film to achieve this milestone after L2: Empuraan.
OTT Availability
Thudarum is now streaming on JioHotstar in multiple languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada. The film became available online about a month after its theatrical release, following standard industry practices.
Final Thoughts
I found Thudarum to be a solid revenge drama that works primarily because of Mohanlal’s exceptional performance. While the story follows predictable patterns, the authentic character development and technical quality make it worth watching.
The film demands patience, especially in the first half, but rewards viewers with emotional payoff in the later portions. For Mohanlal fans, this is definitely a must-watch that showcases why he remains relevant after decades in cinema.
For general audiences, Thudarum offers decent entertainment value, though it’s not groundbreaking cinema. The film succeeds in creating an engaging emotional journey despite its familiar plot structure.
My Rating: 3.5/5 – A well-made film elevated by outstanding performances, though held back by pacing issues and predictable storytelling.
