What in the world did I experience on Saturday night? Khalid Rahman's "Thallumaala" is so fresh for a Malayalam movie that I felt someone just exploded a huge packet of glitter over the whole hooting and clapping audience in the packed Grand Hyatt Vox Cinemas here in Dubai and at the same time felt that there's a whole load of Pop Rocks candy crackling like crazy in my mouth! Truly saying, Thallumaala is an over the top crazy fun ride from start to finish. It's a bumpy ride for sure. But that's fine. Suppose you are speeding over a road hump unexpectedly and suddenly find yourself in the air for a few seconds. The feeling you get, the sheer adrenaline rush it creates is probably what you feel for most of the movie's duration. A Roller coaster ride would also be a great example!
First of all, let me put it out there that this movie isn't for everyone. I'm sure the makers hope that everyone will watch and enjoy this, but I feel this is aimed at the today's Gen Alpha youth and to all of us Boomers, Millenials, Gen X, Gen Z.....who still maintain a mental youthfullness till the day we die! Count me in! Apart from the youth, people with an open mind and exposure to International movies of all kinds as well as our own Bollywood and other South & North Indian movie industries, might enjoy this innovative film making for sure. An "open mind" being the keyword here because if you accept what the west or others do with this unique genre and then look down on our own similar effort, then what's the point! But then, not every movie is for everyone.
Staying true to it's title, which means Chain of Fights/Ballad of Brawls, Thallumaala is a non stop fight fest interlaced with songs and a very thin thread of a story. Story is by Muhsin Parari and Screeeplay by Muhsin & Ashraf Hamza. Yes it's a very basic thread about finding friends through fights and settling score after score but the screenplay and the other departments makes sure that this is top notch International style film making. No time for a breather! A very risky attempt by the team due to the story line made around the fights. But it payed off as Muhsin manages to build up the pressure until all hell breaks loose.
Set in the Malabar area of Kerala (Malappuram), It's about two internet celebrities, a marriage , a fight during the marriage ceremony that propels the protagonist to fame on social media, more and more fights and related incidents. The non-linear editing style by Nishadh Yusuf is brilliant. I am sure he had a lot of fun as well as crazy days/nights editing this movie! Divided into chapters, Director Khalid Rahman takes us into the past and present lives of the characters. Cinephiles will lap it up. Others might have a hard time connecting the dots! Thallumaala is deep in the pit of madness as those "Edgar Wright" movies like Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Baby Driver etc. Edgar Wright's "Last Night in Soho" was a twisted movie! It was a good watch. "Thor:Ragnarok" also popped up in my mind as there is an insane use of colour in the movie. I could also see a bit of the popular Japanese Anime and Manga style in the spectacularly created "Theatre fight", which according to me was the best of the 6 to 7 other action sequences. Action choreography which is the main highlight of Thallumaala is by Supreme Sundar. Which also brings me to the astounding cinematography by Jimshi Khalid. Brilliantly executed shots and angles for regular scenes, songs and action. Sound was a very important part of this movie. Vishnu Govind was the Sound Designer. Songs are a variety here and there are plenty of them, with music by Vishnu Vijay. They don't always land and at times are a speed breaker for the fast paced narrative but it's all part of the "Chain", uneven at times but strongly connected. Most songs are current chart toppers. Especially "Ole Melody" and "Kannil Pettole".
Hip-hop/Rap culture has slowly sprung up in many parts of Kerala and Thallumaala also uses those effectively. For those who are interested in knowing about Kerala Hip-hop artists, check out the 2021 KAPPA TV documentary, "Southside - Kerala's Rising Hip Hop Culture". It is available on Youtube.
Tovino Thomas. Now this is one brilliant actor. Never allowing himself to be typecast, every movie and role that he chooses is vastly different. Donning both villainous and hero roles with aplomb. I really wanted his superhero origin movie "Minnal Murali" to be a theatre release when it came out. Yes, it did receive accolades from all over the world due to the Netflix release, but predominantly it was a movie made for the big screen. Awaiting MM2. His last two movies didn't exactly set the box-office on fire, but "Vaashi" was quite a decent watch with both Tovino and Keerthi as lawyers giving out very good performances while "Dear Friend" was just a breeze. An easy watch but it didn't take you anywhere.
In this one, as Manavaalan Wazim, Tovino was on fire! Charming to the max, he exuded so much energy. He even took the effort to train hard to deliver very good dance performances. Weight reduction, body training are all evident when you see a youthful Wazim and then later on a mature one. He exceled in his performance as well as in action and dance.
This is another winner for Shine Tom Chacko as Reji (S. I of Police). With a wry smile yet menacing, Shine has to just show himself on screen and you are hooked, convinced and in for a ride with his character. This man has immense screen presence. Always a pleasure to see him perform. A natural!
Kalyani Priyadarshan as Fathima Beevi/Beepathu was pleasant and charming. Though there wasn't much meat in her character arc, she did her part well and I felt both Tovi and Kalyani looked good together.
Lukman Avaran was superb as Jamshi. I have never seen him in such an avatar. He really rocked in the action scenes as well. A terrific actor.
I really enjoyed Swathi Das Prabhu as Sathaar. I'm not sure if I have seen him before. As a sort of a wingman to Wazim, he was very entertaining to watch. He is a freind who is always by Wazim's side. We all have that friend.
Chemban Vinod was in a sort of cameo as Omega Babu. Johny Antony was excellent as Wazim's father. He brought the much needed grounded feel amidst the mayhem. Binu Pappu did his part well. Interesting to know that he was also the Chief Associate Director of the movie.
Director Khalid Rahman's range is incredible. From his debut feel good Romantic comedy movie "Anuraga Karikkin Vellam" to a politically charged black comedy "Unda" to a Black comedy psychological thriller "Love" to Musical Action Comedy "Thallumaala". Each movie is vastly different!
From beginning to end, this was a treat to watch. I have never watched such a movie from the Malayalam film industry, except Maybe LJP's 2015 movie "Double Barrel", which was another stylish over the top movie full of mayhem and confusion! It was a gangster parody movie.
Thallumaala is an offbeat, whacky, zany, chaotic, eccentric and extremely colourful movie! A wafer thin story line (no complaints as I don't always expect epic & intense stories) about Vloggers, Friendship, Romance, songs and very well choreographed fights. Look out for the "Movie Theatre Fight" (the best), "Wedding Fight" and the very creative and hilarious "Car Fight"! There are some sequences shot in Dubai and they look fab! And the use and reference to social media in this movie is spot on, which itself will be an attraction to today's youth and regular social media users. Costuming also needs a loud shout-out. Costume Design was by Mashar Hamsa. The Costume department must have been on a roll while deciding the costumes for this movie. Stylish is underrated here. Colours splashed everywhere, everyone looked uber cool and in sync with the environment that the movie created.
Congrats to Director Khalid Rahman and Producer Ashiq Usman. I read that as of 5 days of it's release, the movie has already collected around 15.2 Crore gross in Kerala and around 32.5 Crore gross worldwide! And also that this is Tovino's biggest hit! So I guess majority audiences have liked and understood what the Director and team were going for.
Thallumaala - Do not think too much into it. Go and have a blast. Probably a rare instance that a movie gets two extreme opinions with no middle ground! Some hate it, most love it. A love hate relationship! Isn't that what life is all about? Habibi, welcome to Ponnani! Enjoy.
First of all, let me put it out there that this movie isn't for everyone. I'm sure the makers hope that everyone will watch and enjoy this, but I feel this is aimed at the today's Gen Alpha youth and to all of us Boomers, Millenials, Gen X, Gen Z.....who still maintain a mental youthfullness till the day we die! Count me in! Apart from the youth, people with an open mind and exposure to International movies of all kinds as well as our own Bollywood and other South & North Indian movie industries, might enjoy this innovative film making for sure. An "open mind" being the keyword here because if you accept what the west or others do with this unique genre and then look down on our own similar effort, then what's the point! But then, not every movie is for everyone.
Staying true to it's title, which means Chain of Fights/Ballad of Brawls, Thallumaala is a non stop fight fest interlaced with songs and a very thin thread of a story. Story is by Muhsin Parari and Screeeplay by Muhsin & Ashraf Hamza. Yes it's a very basic thread about finding friends through fights and settling score after score but the screenplay and the other departments makes sure that this is top notch International style film making. No time for a breather! A very risky attempt by the team due to the story line made around the fights. But it payed off as Muhsin manages to build up the pressure until all hell breaks loose.
Set in the Malabar area of Kerala (Malappuram), It's about two internet celebrities, a marriage , a fight during the marriage ceremony that propels the protagonist to fame on social media, more and more fights and related incidents. The non-linear editing style by Nishadh Yusuf is brilliant. I am sure he had a lot of fun as well as crazy days/nights editing this movie! Divided into chapters, Director Khalid Rahman takes us into the past and present lives of the characters. Cinephiles will lap it up. Others might have a hard time connecting the dots! Thallumaala is deep in the pit of madness as those "Edgar Wright" movies like Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Baby Driver etc. Edgar Wright's "Last Night in Soho" was a twisted movie! It was a good watch. "Thor:Ragnarok" also popped up in my mind as there is an insane use of colour in the movie. I could also see a bit of the popular Japanese Anime and Manga style in the spectacularly created "Theatre fight", which according to me was the best of the 6 to 7 other action sequences. Action choreography which is the main highlight of Thallumaala is by Supreme Sundar. Which also brings me to the astounding cinematography by Jimshi Khalid. Brilliantly executed shots and angles for regular scenes, songs and action. Sound was a very important part of this movie. Vishnu Govind was the Sound Designer. Songs are a variety here and there are plenty of them, with music by Vishnu Vijay. They don't always land and at times are a speed breaker for the fast paced narrative but it's all part of the "Chain", uneven at times but strongly connected. Most songs are current chart toppers. Especially "Ole Melody" and "Kannil Pettole".
Hip-hop/Rap culture has slowly sprung up in many parts of Kerala and Thallumaala also uses those effectively. For those who are interested in knowing about Kerala Hip-hop artists, check out the 2021 KAPPA TV documentary, "Southside - Kerala's Rising Hip Hop Culture". It is available on Youtube.
Tovino Thomas. Now this is one brilliant actor. Never allowing himself to be typecast, every movie and role that he chooses is vastly different. Donning both villainous and hero roles with aplomb. I really wanted his superhero origin movie "Minnal Murali" to be a theatre release when it came out. Yes, it did receive accolades from all over the world due to the Netflix release, but predominantly it was a movie made for the big screen. Awaiting MM2. His last two movies didn't exactly set the box-office on fire, but "Vaashi" was quite a decent watch with both Tovino and Keerthi as lawyers giving out very good performances while "Dear Friend" was just a breeze. An easy watch but it didn't take you anywhere.
In this one, as Manavaalan Wazim, Tovino was on fire! Charming to the max, he exuded so much energy. He even took the effort to train hard to deliver very good dance performances. Weight reduction, body training are all evident when you see a youthful Wazim and then later on a mature one. He exceled in his performance as well as in action and dance.
This is another winner for Shine Tom Chacko as Reji (S. I of Police). With a wry smile yet menacing, Shine has to just show himself on screen and you are hooked, convinced and in for a ride with his character. This man has immense screen presence. Always a pleasure to see him perform. A natural!
Kalyani Priyadarshan as Fathima Beevi/Beepathu was pleasant and charming. Though there wasn't much meat in her character arc, she did her part well and I felt both Tovi and Kalyani looked good together.
Lukman Avaran was superb as Jamshi. I have never seen him in such an avatar. He really rocked in the action scenes as well. A terrific actor.
I really enjoyed Swathi Das Prabhu as Sathaar. I'm not sure if I have seen him before. As a sort of a wingman to Wazim, he was very entertaining to watch. He is a freind who is always by Wazim's side. We all have that friend.
Chemban Vinod was in a sort of cameo as Omega Babu. Johny Antony was excellent as Wazim's father. He brought the much needed grounded feel amidst the mayhem. Binu Pappu did his part well. Interesting to know that he was also the Chief Associate Director of the movie.
Director Khalid Rahman's range is incredible. From his debut feel good Romantic comedy movie "Anuraga Karikkin Vellam" to a politically charged black comedy "Unda" to a Black comedy psychological thriller "Love" to Musical Action Comedy "Thallumaala". Each movie is vastly different!
From beginning to end, this was a treat to watch. I have never watched such a movie from the Malayalam film industry, except Maybe LJP's 2015 movie "Double Barrel", which was another stylish over the top movie full of mayhem and confusion! It was a gangster parody movie.
Thallumaala is an offbeat, whacky, zany, chaotic, eccentric and extremely colourful movie! A wafer thin story line (no complaints as I don't always expect epic & intense stories) about Vloggers, Friendship, Romance, songs and very well choreographed fights. Look out for the "Movie Theatre Fight" (the best), "Wedding Fight" and the very creative and hilarious "Car Fight"! There are some sequences shot in Dubai and they look fab! And the use and reference to social media in this movie is spot on, which itself will be an attraction to today's youth and regular social media users. Costuming also needs a loud shout-out. Costume Design was by Mashar Hamsa. The Costume department must have been on a roll while deciding the costumes for this movie. Stylish is underrated here. Colours splashed everywhere, everyone looked uber cool and in sync with the environment that the movie created.
Congrats to Director Khalid Rahman and Producer Ashiq Usman. I read that as of 5 days of it's release, the movie has already collected around 15.2 Crore gross in Kerala and around 32.5 Crore gross worldwide! And also that this is Tovino's biggest hit! So I guess majority audiences have liked and understood what the Director and team were going for.
Thallumaala - Do not think too much into it. Go and have a blast. Probably a rare instance that a movie gets two extreme opinions with no middle ground! Some hate it, most love it. A love hate relationship! Isn't that what life is all about? Habibi, welcome to Ponnani! Enjoy.