Anupama Chopra reviews "Thudarum," the latest Malayalam action thriller starring Mohanlal and directed by Tharun Moorthy. In this review for The Hollywood Reporter India, Anupama examines how the film fits into what she considers a legitimate subgenre in Indian cinema - Mohanlal playing an ordinary man who unwittingly gets embroiled in horrific circumstances and must save his family at all costs. She analyzes how the legendary actor brings finesse to the familiar beats of transformation from everyday taxi driver to avenging angel, comparing the film's approach to Jeethu's Drishyam movies. Anupama discusses the performances of Mohanlal as Ben, Shobana as his wife, and the particularly sinister Prakash as the antagonist police officer, noting their chemistry and conviction throughout the narrative.
The review highlights how director Tharun, working from a story by KR, effectively uses the forest setting as a metaphor for Ben's entrapment, creating suspenseful moments in the pre-interval portion. Anupama notes the film's use of elephant metaphors and pop culture references, including nods to Mohanlal's past films and meta-commentary about Malayalam cinema stars. While she finds the second half devolving into a straightforward revenge saga with unnecessary police brutality, she praises Jake's music and the overall fan service elements. Despite its predictable storytelling in parts, Anupama concludes that "Thudarum" works because it's essentially Mohanlal creating his own subgenre. The film is available to watch on JioHotstar.
