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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Fahadh Faasil and Naslen team up for Tharun Moorthy's next thriller ‘Torpedo'
The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Fahadh Faasil, Premalu star Naslen, Arjun Das, and Ganapathi. The exciting collaboration of talents has already stirred anticipation among fans of Malayalam cinema. Produced by Ashiq Usman, Torpedo will feature cinematography by Jimshi Khalid and music by the much-celebrated Sushin Shyam, further elevating expectations. Tharun Moorthy, who shot to fame with his debut Operation Java and earned national recognition for Saudi Vellakka, continues to craft stories that blend realism with entertainment. With Torpedo, he seems set to deliver yet another riveting cinematic experience. As the buzz builds and the powerhouse combo of Fahadh and Naslen gets ready to set the screen ablaze, Torpedo is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Malayalam films on the horizon.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Mohanlal's 'Thudarum' to stream on JioHotstar from May 30
Written by KR Sunil, Thudarum tells the story of 'Benz' Shanmugham, a cab driver in a small Kerala town. He enjoys a peaceful life with his wife Lalitha and their two children, Pavi and Pavithra. His cherished black Ambassador car becomes the catalyst for a series of unforeseen events, starting with a joyride gone wrong and the car being seized by the police. What follows is a gripping chain of incidents that lead to a major twist at the interval, leaving viewers stunned. Though Thudarum is fundamentally a revenge thriller, it is filled with emotional family moments that endear Benz and his loved ones to the audience. Vintage Mohanlal returns Tharun Moorthy, known for Saudi Vellakka and Operation Java, has co-written the screenplay and ensures that his collaboration with Mohanlal shines. Fans have lauded the director for bringing back the vintage Mohanlal a perfect blend of the loveable family man and the fierce avenger. In the film's first half, nostalgic nods to the actor's earlier classics bring a wave of sentimentality, while the second half is dominated by raw action and intense performances.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Mohanlal's ‘Thudarum' based on a true story? Here's what we know
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Anyone who has watched Mohanlal and Tharun Moorthy's recent crime drama movie 'Thudarum' may doubt whether it's based on the Kevin murder case , as the story deals with honor killing. Based on a true story? After the critically acclaimed 'Operation Java' and 'Saudi Vellakka,' director Tharun Moorthy returns with 'Thudarum,' a gripping revenge drama that stars Mohanlal, Shobana, and newcomer Prakash Varma. The film, which has now completed 25 successful days in theaters, has sparked discussion due to its premise — a revenge saga rooted in honor killing. This has led to speculation that Thudarum is inspired by the real-life 2018 Kevin murder case from Kerala. Tharun Moorthy responds However, director Tharun Moorthy has firmly clarified that 'Thudarum' is not based on any individual's life, including Kevin's. 'It is not based on anyone's personal life.' Thudarum - Official Teaser The 'Operation Java' director told OTTplay that they have referred to the documentation of honor killings that happened in Kerala and have not tried to recreate real incidents. According to Tharun Moorthy, they tried to understand the emotional arcs and mental conflicts involved in such honor killings. He emphasized that 'Thudarum' is entirely fictional and was only shaped by generic reference material to ensure authenticity in portraying the emotional weight of such a tragedy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo What is the Kevin murder case? For context, Kevin, a 24-year-old Dalit Christian, was abducted and murdered by the family of his upper-caste wife in Kottayam, Kerala, in 2018. The incident, widely condemned and legally recognized as an honor killing, shook the conscience of the state. About 'Thudarum' In Thudarum, Mohanlal plays 'Benz' Shanmugham, a man seeking justice after his stepson is killed by a high-ranking police officer named George Sir (played by Prakash Varma) in a chilling act of honor-based violence. Shobana plays the mother, caught between grief and resilience. Strong box office performance Thudarum has now grossed Rs 114.80 crore across all languages. As per the Sacnilk website, on day 25 (May 19, 2025), it pulled in Rs 1.50 crore in India. The film had a solid start, collecting Rs 5.25 crore on its opening day and Rs 51.4 crore in its first week alone — most of it from the original Malayalam version. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Malayalam director Tharun Moorthy Interview: We knew ‘Thudarum' will strike a chord with the audience
It is a hatrick for Tharun Moorthy. After the commercially and critically-acclaimed Operation Java and Saudi Vellakka, the filmmaker has scored big at the box office with Thudarum, headlined by Mohanlal and Shobana. Despite a predictable storyline, Tharun managed to draw in the crowds with the setting, treatment of the narrative and some incredible performances. Thudarum is the story of a common man, 'Benz' Shanmughan (Mohanlal), a former fight master in the film industry, whose life is thrown into disarray. Tharun believes he was destined to do the film because producer M Renjith had been trying to make this film for around 12 years with Mohanlal and the film was taken up by six directors in these years. 'I had written my first two films and was not sure if another person's story might excite me. So I had decided that if I didn't connect with the story I would not make it. But I loved the story [by KR Sunil],' says Tharun. A self-confessed Mohanlal fan, was he worried about meeting the expectations of the actor's fans? 'There was pressure. But, thankfully, majority of his fans stood by my vision. I had interacted with his fans' associations on this account. But the challenge I had was dealing with those who were misleading the audience with fan-made posters and imaginary content. We were all confident about the content. Even though we did not expect this level of success, we knew the film will strike a chord with the audience. We aimed at presenting a free-flowing narrative, from scene 1 to 92,' he says. Tharun is quick to point out that there has been no deliberate attempt to bring vintage Mohanlal on screen, referring to the buzz around the film ever since filming started. 'The only thing that Renjith chettan [producer Renjith] told me was that, if possible, let us bring the Mohanlal of Aye Auto in the first half. I tried and even included one of the dialogues from that movie, for instance, the famous line 'Go to your classes.'' Instead of creating a vintage version, the narrative weaved in a range of emotions that Mohanlal has showcased with aplomb throughout his career. 'Mischief, playfulness, romance, affection, love, downfall, fear, fury, revenge.... Shanmughan goes through all these emotions,' he says. His favourite scene? 'The scene were Shanmughan breaks down in the bathroom. I told Lal sir to cry without covering his face and collapse in the space available. We didn't expect him to fall that way. We all were stunned when he did that.' The conversation veers to his comment about 'sleeper cell' fans of Mohanlal that went viral on social media. 'I never expected the comment to become so popular! I had asked my direction team whether the movie would work for the new generation. That's when they mentioned those who have rooted for the actor in spite of his failures. They may not have gone to the theatre for many years and this film is for them, irrespective of their age. They are the sleeper cell fans,' says Tharun with a laugh. The filmmaker observes that he and Sunil were on the same page as the scriptwriters. The toughest to crack was the characters' journey through the forest in a car. 'Sunil had clarity about the mood, the ambience, the climate, and terrain. We had to work a lot on creating the setting — mist, darkness, festival, mystery of the forest...,' Tharun explains. The film was shot over 99 days in Thodupuzha, Palakkad, Kambam, Theni, Chennai, Ranni etc. The talking point of Thudarum has been ad filmmaker Prakash Varma, who nailed it as the menacing antagonist, CI George Mathen. How did he find him? 'Divine intervention, perhaps. I wanted a new face, with a specific look – bald head and thick moustache. Sunil, a friend of Prakash for many years, felt that he might be suitable for that role. He clicked a few pictures of Prakash without his knowledge and sent them to me. Later we convinced him do the role. He didn't want to end up as a liability. So we did an audition and screen test.' Tharun adds that Prakash, who dubbed for the character as well, went through the same process as any new actor would do. What about the way he says 'Hello'? 'That was our suggestion, and he was bang on.' Recently Jakes Bejoy, the film's composer, had mentioned about Tharun's contributions to the film's soundscape, especially 'the metaphorical references in the characters in music and sound' – kombu and chenda for Shanmughan, nagapattu and violin motifs for George, and wolf howl for Benny (Binu Pappu), referring to the characters as a tusker, a snake and a wolf respectively. 'The film has a close connection with forest and so I wanted to relate them to these animals, in accordance with the traits of these characters,' says Tharun. On the film's end note, 'Mohanlal Thudarum' (Mohanlal will continue), Tharun says, 'His story will continue. The character Shanmughan will live on, nursing his wounds. The idea came on the editing table.' He says that much thought went into title design as well. 'Thudarum is written in three ways — initially with no wounds, then with blood and wounds and finally with the sutures. People might probably take note of these only when they re-watch it. Even if they don't, that's ok. These ideas came out of our excitement for the movie.' Mohanlal was simultaneously shooting for Empuraan while acting in Thudarum. 'He slipped into Shanmughan, the common man, from Khureshi Ab'raam, the don, with so much ease. That comes from 47 years of experience.' The filmmaker adds that he chooses to ignore the discussions comparing the two movies. 'I am impressed by the visual scape of Empuraan. The scale at which Raju [actor-director Prithviraj] mounted the movie opened the market for Malayalam cinema in other languages. Empuraan is a big reason for Thudarum getting a big opening and entry into other markets.' The chat is incomplete without mention of Binu Pappu, a mainstay in Tharun's career. 'I think this is his best performance till date.' Tharun has already announced his next project, Torpedo, written by Binu and starring Fahadh Faasil, Arjun Das, Naslen Gafoor and Ganapathi.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Mohanlal's 'Thudarum' becomes 'Thodarum' for Tamil fans - In cinemas from May 9
Following huge success in Kerala, Mohanlal's intense crime drama Thudarum is all set to hit theatres across Tamil Nadu under the title Thodarum. Releasing on 9 May 2025, the film brings a powerful mix of action, family emotion, and suspense to Tamil audiences. Directed by Operation Java filmmaker Tharun Moorthy, Thodarum tells the story of Shanmugham fondly called 'Benz' because of his beloved black Ambassador Mark 1 car. A former film stunt assistant turned taxi driver, Benz lives a quiet life with his family in the hill town of Pathanamthitta. But when his car becomes involved in a police investigation, his peaceful world is turned upside down. What follows is a gripping tale of justice, resilience, and heartbreak, as Shanmugham is forced to fight against a corrupt system. The trailer, already a hit online, promises a grounded and emotional story that fans have come to expect from Tharun Moorthy.
