One could say that Vismaya Mohanlal’s acting debut was aptly named. Unfortunately though, for a film that calls itself Thudakkam (beginning), it never really takes off. Jude Anthany Joseph’s film wears its heart on its sleeve, its cigarettes (and psychotropic substances) in every other frame, and

One could say that Vismaya Mohanlal’s acting debut was aptly named. Unfortunately though, for a film that calls itself Thudakkam (beginning), it never really takes off. Jude Anthany Joseph’s film wears its heart on its sleeve, its cigarettes (and psychotropic substances) in every other frame, and

One could say that Vismaya Mohanlal’s acting debut was aptly named. Unfortunately though, for a film that calls itself Thudakkam (beginning), it never really takes off. Jude Anthany Joseph’s film wears its heart on its sleeve, its cigarettes (and psychotropic substances) in every other frame, and

One could say that Vismaya Mohanlal’s acting debut was aptly named. Unfortunately though, for a film that calls itself Thudakkam (beginning), it never really takes off.

Jude Anthany Joseph’s film wears its heart on its sleeve, its cigarettes (and psychotropic substances) in every other frame, and its message of women empowerment somewhere beneath an avalanche of awkward dialogue delivery, heavy-handed symbolism, and enough brooding stares to fuel a dozen action thrillers.

Vismaya’s Meenu – and her sky-high saviour complex – deserves its own IMDb credit. She seems to be unable to extend a helping hand every time something goes wrong. To the film's credit, Meenu's trauma responses are handled with surprising sensitivity. Her flashbacks and emotional triggers feel believable, making for some of the few moments where the screenplay slows down long enough to let its protagonist breathe.

Vismaya's performance sometimes struggles to keep pace. Her dialogue delivery is occasionally stiff, with emotional beats landing a lot like rehearsal takes rather than finished scenes.

The supporting cast does much of the heavy lifting. K.B. Ganesh Kumar delivers his dialogue with confidence and injects some much-needed humour into the film. Saikumar, meanwhile, gives a committed performance. However, there are moments where the visual effects or grading make him look oddly AI-generated, an unintentionally distracting detail that pulls you out of the story.

Then there is the antagonist, who seems to have mistaken excessive brooding for character development. His vocabulary largely consists of ominous (and perverted) stares and chain-smoking. The cigarettes that went up in smoke in the film warrant a separate mention in the end credits.

And just when you think you have seen everything, Mr You-Know-Who popped up so suddenly that the theatre erupted in amused laughter.

The film's biggest contradiction lies in its central theme. It wants to be a story of female empowerment, but its execution often feels rooted in a distinctly male gaze. The intentions are admirable; the perspective, less so. The result is a film that has its heart in the right place, but that’s about it.

Thudakkam becomes an assortment of several elements. The action choreography adds martial arts flourishes to otherwise familiar fight sequences, giving them an extra zing. The background score, however, often arrives like an overenthusiastic guest who doesn't know when to leave. Instead of complementing scenes, it frequently overwhelms them.

Thudakkam certainly has something to say. It's just unfortunate that between the endless cigarettes, melodrama, and uneven performances, its voice gets lost.

Film: Thudakkam

Director: Jude Anthany Joseph

Actors: Vismaya Mohanlal, Ashish Joe Antony, Sai Kumar, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Manoj K. Jayan

Rating: 2/5

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