Dhoomam (2023)

5/10

thottempudikiranprasad2 July 2023

This movie has got everything right in place but misses the heart of the film... Every thrilling factor introduced in this film with excellent narration and gripping screenplay abruptly ends on a disappointing note... Unlike U-turn this movie has got even better potential with a good underlying message oriented brilliant core concept, but the director's choice of execution turns out as failed opportunity... This movie has got decent amount of twists & turns with non-linear narration to keep the audience engaging, but to end it without giving any proper reasoning is what haunts the audience badly... Fahadh faasil is only one thing which can considered as a positive from the movie, intensity generated through his performance is far better than the real tension in storytelling... Overall: the central idea of the movie deals with hardcore emotions, but unfortunately that is what which lacks and makes it a one time watchable!!

2.25/5.

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7/10

ignore the 2nd half and save yourself

saru202025 June 2023

The first half of the film was very very engaging and it was gripping to the core with a parallel kinda story-telling going back&forth, the interval block of the film was very well made and the film should've probably ended up there itself because the 2nd half was just about knowing the backstory of the vengeance and it was nothing special at all.

The problem of the film lies in its sloppy & disengaging screenplay in the 2nd part and the enemy of this film is its BGM since the bgm maker has done a poor job of not scoring any bgm at all and most of the sloppy scenes felt sloppy just because they lacked the bgm, there was literally no bgm at all when it was absolutely required.

This is a unique film where if you just watch the first half and walk out, you'll certainly feel like having watched a full movie and if you sit & watch the 2nd half, you'll regret not doing what I said earlier.

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7/10

Watchable Once... Especially on...

sdadsasdasdasdasdasd2 July 2023

Good Screenplay. The movie keeps you engaged throughout. Little long though.

The movie doesn't have any connection like it was explained as in the pre release publicity. Just one scene is about how the Statuary Warning... I don't know who that actress is, but she was the only hot girl in the movie. Jut joking on the outfits used. This is a typical Malayalam type of movie, with little mismatch in Kannada dubbing at times.

Over all, you can watch this movie once. You should wait till the end of the movie for you to like it to an extent. Since this is Hombale Product, you can watch it on OTT post release, but make sure that you watch in one go.

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3/10

A feature-length no-smoking PSA

Jithindurden25 June 2023

A feature-length no-smoking PSA. The amount of preachiness and the way everything is connected to the central theme feels so over the top and yet by the end, it feels like the least of all the problems with the film. The visual grammar of the movie is still a decade ago when South Indian films were successfully experimenting with new genres and little technical missteps were forgiven. I haven't seen his previous films but Pawan Kumar clearly has an issue with directing in Malayalam. His lack of knowledge of the language is pretty obvious in the dialogues and the way the actors are directed. Some of the scenes felt like the sketches my friends used to do in college where they don't know what to do with their bodies after the dialogue is said. Even Fahadh couldn't do anything with this stuff but at the same time, Roshan did terrific despite these circumstances where almost everyone else was terrible.

Corporate greed and lack of ethics are not at all just tied to a single industry like the makers may be thinking to make a movie in this way. Most people are also much more intelligent and knowledgeable about the effects of tobacco and related products than the movie gives them credit for even if there would always be a percentage who'd be always ignorant.

There were so many things in the movie that were so forced, so hammy in the movie but the dumbest of them all should be how it showed that none of the employees or board members of a cigarette company smokes because they supposedly know the problems, first-hand. Are these guys serious? That too in a city like Bangalore?

Even though I've only smoked three times in the last three years, I felt like I should have a smoke to recover from this.

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1/10

Disappointing

FilmFreakNish23 June 2023

After the humongous success of KGF 1&2, and Kaantaara, Hombale Films' two blunders of 2023 are Raghavendra Stores and Dhoomam.

Positives:

1) A few ideas here and there (just a handful of them) 2) Fahadh Faasil and Roshan Mathews' performances

Negatives:

1) Screenplay, dialogues (lazy and horrible) 2) Performances by the rest of the cast (talent and money wasted successfully) 3) Music & BGM 4) Probably the oldest message to convey in today's era 5) Impact made - ZERO

A needless cinema for Pawan, Fahadh and Hombale Films.

Bottom Line - Please save 2.5 hours of your time by not watching this.

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2/10

unnecessarily complicated :(

ngandacinema3 December 2023

The story was very creative and opened our eyes to cruel business ethics, nonetheless, the plot was unnecessarily complicated making it longer than it should have been

DELICIOUS

-Let's appreciate Preetha Jayaraman who handled the photography😃 It's always exciting when a lady is behind the cinematography. The brisk and curious camera movements showed the details that we wanted to see and ignited the thrill of the story

-No complaints when Roshan Mathew is in the house; his haircut alone gave him a young and fresh vibe. The way he talked, walked, and carried himself radiated the wealthy and proud businessman that he was.

Fahadh Faasil is a gem🙌🏾 No words to say

-It was original that the story was told through the lens of cigarette business companies as we got to witness their cruelty and greed

BLAND

-The entire movie was told through constant flashbacks. It became overwhelming to always have to go back in the past for better understanding😖

-The film was unnecessarily complicated 'cos when Avi and Diya are trapped, they're asked to complete tasks that don't really make sense, and then you keep on wondering how will they ever get out of this mess? Eventually, the movie just ended abruptly, and you're like what???

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9/10

It is gripping , don't forget your thinking cap

sunnnydo26 June 2023

I watched it in Malayalam version in California.

We get uturn kind of vibe. Story is gripping and you will be able to connect the dots if you analyze it in the end. I will not spoil it for you guys. Everything is explained and you will understand it if you think about it a bit.. The rise of one character and downfall of another shown in the song was really good.

Background music was really good as well.

Interval bang is also interesting, unexpected Between interval and climax it gets a little slow, you have to wait patiently.

If entire movie travels at 70mph, climax travels at 100mph, so the sudden change in pace will confuse majority of the audience.

This is one of those movies you have to watch again when it comes to OTT

Enjoy.

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2/10

There is a limit in fooling the audience

appusnikhil1 December 2023

Screenplay plays an important role in a movie and when its not strong then the movie is not gonna be a good one. This one had a sloppy screenplay throughout and I don't understand how the director could make this a 2 hour long flick. Audience gonna sleep for sure.

This movie was a poor choice for Fahadh. Although the film attempted to convey a message, the articulation was lacking, and the creators seemed unaware of that. Atleast they could have concluded this movie way before its original running time. There were some engaging moments in the first half but I felt some artificiality and to be honest for me those moments were not even engaging. Expecting some good movies from Fahadh in the future.

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9/10

Fahadh yet again proves why he is the best

jubyjosej25 June 2023

So much metal is one gun... OMG such a treat to watch. Special hats off to the AC/DC screenplay and such a crisp editing and a note to Pawan's direction.. but yet the winner is just one my dear FAHADH ... THE WAY THIS GUY HAS CARRIED THIS CHARACTER.. A big loud applause.. yes it lacks the masala and the ending xould have been a bit more emotional and dramatic.. u know its part of cinema making... but on all other grounds of cinematics its a pure treat to watch... keeps you glued... Aparna and Roshan have done well... i think fahadh is promoting vineeth yet again well done performance... overall a great watch... brilliant performances.. adressing a social issue ... last a big hi to the story telling technique... Awesome Mausam... good job guys.

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3/10

A complete letdown by the end

Thrishoolin6 July 2023

Starts off good, but by the end becomes unbearable. Did they forget to write the climax? One of the most boring ending you could have. The script saves a big part of the movie. It keeps us engaged for a long time. But ultimately it lets the viewer down.

I didn't expect such a poor movie from Hombale. Acting was ok from everyone. Music was forgettable. Not much in terms of action scenes. It's mostly a thriller. I feel sorry for the people who saw it on the first day with high expectations.

This was like a Kannada-malayalam bilingual movie. But it's not a hit in either of the states. Don't knwo why the big names signed up for this movie.

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5/10

Much needed message!

manchuprasath10 January 2024

Dhoomam delivers solid performances from Fahadh Fasil and Roshan Mathew. The story is great with a much needed message but falls short of an engaging screenplay.

The pace is slow, many predictable portions and poor editing. Jump cuts throught the first half makes the story less appealing. It confuses rather than suspense. The time is also a concern, could have cut short it further.

Music is ok but it does not add to the script.

Suspense holds till the end and the ending is good. Actors are great.

Can be watched for a different story line but as a whole film, it fails to deliver what it intends to.

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1/10

Disappointing

rajiivnag21 December 2023

I was an instant fan of Pawan after Lucia and U turn but this film badly disappoints right from the start. The film tries to forcibly get the viewers attention to a narrative to artificially feel that something thrilling is happening but that isn't the case. The dialogues are repitative and outdated. The scenes were Avinashs wife is asked to smoke bec of a bomb in her body was comical rather than creating some tense moment. Overall Roshan Mathew was the only guy convincing and Fahad was literally wasted in the movie. Anyone could have done this role. All the best to Pawan for future movies and stop too much of non linear writing.

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3/10

The weakest Pawan Kumar film I've seen by far! [+33%]

arungeorge1317 October 2023

Well, I didn't imagine a Pawan Kumar film to be dead from the word go. With a disjointed, non-linear screenplay, Dhoomam fails to deliver on two counts: as a mystery-thriller and a social-message drama. The intentions are good, but the effort clearly lacks conviction. The dialogues carry a dubbed feel and certainly contribute to making the audience feel emotionally distant from its lead characters. Aparna Balamurali's character is present as storytelling bait, and it's predictable from seven miles away.

The truth is, I can trust Pawan Kumar's skills as a storyteller. He did solid work in films such as Lifeu Ishtene, Lucia, and U-Turn. Here, the plot developments are mostly inane, and the thrills are lacking. For a thriller, it also makes the mistake of being over 140 minutes long while having no real tricks up its sleeve. The performances too are nothing to write home about. Ultimately, it ends up being an excessively long "no-smoking" ad cooked with the same level of creativity as the campaigns you see at the beginning of every Indian movie.

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9/10

New story likers add to your list.

gaganjiopostpaid25 July 2023

Simply , this movie interst very small amount of audience , and it satisfies in their style .

Positives 1. The story itself , it is unique thriller , which gives confusion , excitement, and a reality ending , for director fans or experience likers must watch .

2. Fahadh and Pawan combo , was unexpected interesting , fahadh holds his screen presence and Pawan holds his story and just created awesomeness.

3. The feel of something new and so well mannered screenplay , u just say wow.

Negatives 1. This is not a Negative for me , but it might feel boring for action and entertainment audience, but for new story liters must watch .

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10/10

An engaging story, with remarkable performances

mablethomas-9500329 June 2023

It is interesting that such mixed reviews have come in for Dhoomam. Agree the plotline could have been pulled a little tighter. But the story-telling style is extraordinary and daring if I may say. So hats off to Pawan sir for this. I thoroughly enjoyed it even during my second watch. Not a minute to get bored in the film.

Coming to performances, Fafa is as usual not Fafa . He's just Avinash and you can sense the totality of that character , as he traverses through the various points of this character's graph - his play with body language to showcase frenzy, his survival instincts, the shrewdness of a corporate guy and finally his empathy. Roshan as Sid shines with his performance as a corporate young gun, with swag, attitude and adequate amounts of grey shade to portray that character with such pizazz. He's the find of the decade and an immense talent to be tapped into in future cinema. Other notable performances were of course my favorite Vineeth sir as a corporate figure head who holds grudges, and plays his role neatly to the T. A surprise super performer was Anu Mohan in this film. I absolutely loved his role and how he delivered it, but it could have been longer. One thing I didn't particularly favor in the movie , is the mismatch between the pacing of first half and second half. There's so much in the first half , that the second half feels slower. But it's probably necessary as the second half is very emotional and is the crux of the movie where the emotional angle unfolds. Overall, I would say please watch in theaters, it's an absolutely engaging theme, story-telling and performances. Perhaps Roshan's and Vineeth Sir's first in this particular genre I would say. P. S. I loved the unconventional ending!

Also being a non smoker, on a personal front, this kind of hit deep as a reminder to the number to times I have been exposed to passive smoking.

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10/10

Very nice movie. Never disappoints

mirsusahad10 February 2024

Don't bother about the negative reviews. 100% one-time watchable thriller. After watching this you'll understand why a negative review campaign against this socially relevant movie. It exposes many giants and some naked realities.

Don't miss this one-time watchable thriller, and don't fall for the negative reviews that are part of a smear campaign against this socially conscious film. Dhoomam is a must-watch for all movie lovers.

Ignore the negative reviews that are trying to discredit this socially important film. Dhoomam is a film that you should watch at least once.

And also Fahad Fazil's performance is fantastic.

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10/10

A Masterclass in Thrilling Cinema -

ferdoushabiba5 July 2023

Warning: Spoilers

Prepare to be blown away! This thriller movie is a flawless masterpiece that deserves nothing less than a perfect 10 rating. From start to finish, it encapsulates the very essence of the genre, leaving audiences in awe of its brilliance.

Every aspect of this film is executed with absolute precision. The plot is a meticulously crafted work of art, intricately weaving together a tapestry of suspense, mystery, and unexpected turns. It keeps you guessing at every corner, with a series of mind-bending twists that will leave you breathless. The screenplay is a stroke of genius, delivering sharp dialogue and thought-provoking themes that linger long after the movie ends.

The performances in this movie are nothing short of extraordinary. The cast brings their A-game, delivering performances that are powerful, nuanced, and deeply compelling. The lead actor's portrayal is a revelation, showcasing an astonishing range of emotions and captivating the audience from the first frame to the last. Each supporting actor brings a unique flavor to the film, adding depth and richness to the ensemble. The chemistry between the cast members is palpable, further elevating the overall quality of the performances.

Visually, this film is a treat for the eyes. The cinematography is breathtaking, with stunning shots that capture the essence of each scene. The use of lighting and color is masterful, creating a mood that perfectly complements the tension and atmosphere. Every frame is meticulously composed, enhancing the storytelling and immersing the audience in a world of gripping suspense.

The pacing of the movie is impeccable. It keeps you engaged from beginning to end, never losing momentum or dragging its feet. Each scene is crafted with care, building the suspense to unbearable levels and culminating in explosive climaxes. The director's deft touch ensures that every beat of the story resonates, leaving no room for boredom or predictability.

This film is a rare gem that surpasses expectations. It flawlessly combines all the elements of great cinema: a compelling plot, exceptional performances, breathtaking visuals, and a skillful execution. It takes the thriller genre to new heights, setting a benchmark for future films to aspire to.

In conclusion, this movie deserves nothing less than a perfect 10 rating. It is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat cinematic experience that will leave you in awe. From the first frame to the last, it captivates, surprises, and thrills. If you are a fan of the thriller genre, do not miss this extraordinary piece of cinema. It is a true testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of the silver screen.

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