Elsa Angel Rose
No better duo than the iconic Mohanlal and Shobana to bring out the heavenly family atmosphere on screen convincingly, even if it forms a small part of the thriller. From Malayalam movies like ‘Manichitrathazhu’, ‘Minnaram’, and many more, actors Mohanlal and Shobana are a household pair name in Kerala and even for viewers across the globe who enjoy Malayalam movies. Director and screenwriter Tharun Moorthy shared, “All Malayalees love Mohanlal and Shobana, and I recommended that we try Shobana for the role of the wife.” Initially, there was a tad bit of confusion about her schedule, but even before they could think about anyone else, she was on board. IFFI is one of the greatest platforms for regional cinema to gain global attention, recognition and appreciation. When asked for his comments on the opportunity to premiere ‘Thudarum’ to a global audience here at IFFI, director Tharun shared, “Of course, extremely proud as a maker from the Malayalam movie industry, every MOMENTS FROM IFFI RED CARPET Team of My Dad Invented the Vada Pav Tharun Moorthy day we are getting so much exposure, so many reviews are coming from all over the world about our movie.” He further added, “As a maker from the Malayalam industry, I say that we are very rooted to the emotion, more than the magnanimous visuals. We believe in the characters, emotions, and lives.” As the movie premieres in the Indian Panorama section, the director hopes for people to know more about Malayalam cinema and about his filmmaking as well. He said, “I want people to know that a commercial movie can be made where we effortlessly discuss social matters.” Making more commercial movies that are rooted in deep emotions and have an artistic element to them is the director’s interest. The movie ‘Thudarum’ is both a commercial success and widely critically acclaimed, which seems to be an interesting combination.” While conversing about his love for Goa, he expressed his concern, saying, “I had been to Goa in my childhood. At that time, I explored the sea and other places in the area. In 2022, I visited Goa again. Goa has changed a lot recently. When I came in 2022, it was a little calmer, composed, and beautiful. Now, it’s more crowded, with a much busier life. Everything has become commercialised. Don’t lose Goa. Let the beauty come back.” Thudarum is a Malayalam action drama about “Shanmugham”, a taxi driver known as “Benz,” whose peaceful life is shattered when his beloved vintage car is seized by the police under false drug charges. His relentless attempts to get it back led him to uncover a shocking truth: his stepson was murdered by a high-ranking police officer, George, due to a romance with George’s daughter. The f ilm explores Benz’s emotional journey as he seeks justice for his son. The movie is being premiered in the Indian panorama category at the 56th IFFI.
