User Reviews

Thondimuthalum Dhriksakshiyum (2017): One of the more prominent film industries of India is found in the state of Kerala and we expect wonders from it every year.But unfortunately,2017 is disappointing with several passable films.Of all the films of Malayalam I have watched this year only Takeoff (Mainly because of Parvathy Menon) and Godha (Because of Wamiqa,Renji and music) impressed but neither of them are masterpieces which I expect.Then I found this gem of a film which is one of the most realistic Indian films I had ever seen.

Plot: It tells the story of a poor couple Prasad (Suraaj Venjarammoodu) and Sreeja (Nimisha Sajayan), eloping from their village, whose lives depend entirely on a necklace adorned by the female counterpart. Unfortunately, during the bus ride away from home, the necklace is stolen. The wife assures everyone on board that the person responsible for the theft is the man seated behind her named Prasad (Fahadh Faasil), who had gulped down the piece of jewelry before anyone else could notice. This causes a lot of bustle, and the man is taken along with the couple into a local police station for questioning, which leads to the events that make up the rest of the film.

My Review: Dileesh Pothan, the director, had released another feature starring Fahad Faasil last year, titled 'Maheshinte Prathikaram' that went on to win several accolades and was both a critical and commercial hit, but I thought it was a confused mess that held a very familiar and clichéd story within itself which is boring.That film is hugely overrated.'Thondimuthalum' is different because here, it works.

Thondimuthalum's plot is so simple that if you heard the plot from some other person,you clearly will ignore this film but it is gonna be your huge mistake.This is one of the situations which proves the popular saying "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover".This is a genuine story presented with total honesty. The characters are real people and there are no real efforts to categorise them into various shades, which is such a delight. The emotions of each character affect us and Dileesh masterfully blends it all in a delightful manner. The viewers are able to connect with the characters on screen, in such a way that not one actor or an extra goes to waste. Most of film happens within the aforementioned police station, where we become empathetic towards the main persons of the film (being the two lovers, the supposed thief, and the police officers) as they become helpless in their own sorry worlds. I guess because of this reason, the film is more of a dark comedy than anything else, because within each laugh is a hint of pain.

There isn't a villain in this picture, not really. Fahad Faasil's character, the man who is accused, is someone for whom we slowly fall for, partly because he's more naughty than cunning. The fact is that he is very clever, and in each and every move he makes, there is a spark of his intelligence.This makes him the victim of several hits and kicks from the officers, which ends up disturbing his accusers, who form a silent bond with him.His entire character justifies in a single line "Never lose hope even in darkest times". He never admits crime and tests the police's intelligence and when they chose stupid ways to close the case,we salute to Fahadh Fasil's role.

The screenplay and dialogues by Sajeev Pazhoor and Shyam Pushkaran are brilliant and carries lot of weight.A particularly hilarious conversation happens when Alencier Ley takes statement from Suraj and Nimisha on how they lost their necklace on the second day in complete contradiction to what they took the first day.Coming to the director,Dileesh Pothan,he definitely deserves the Best Director of 2017 award.Movie plots clearly don't excite director Dileesh Pothan as much as true stories where life had come dizzyingly close to becoming like a movie and then, had fused back with life.This means that a conversation he overhears at a tea shop is more likely to give Pothan a setting for his next picture than a brainstorming session inside a conference room.He chose one of the most simplest plots of 2017 and successfully made the best film of 2017 out of it.

Fahad Faasil gives a career best performance in 'Thondimuthalum', because his expressive eyes convey more to the audience than mere words ever could.I never thought he is such an intensive performer.What an amazing ability he has to transform to the character he plays ! His smile when it writes intermission on the screen is one thing that would be lot discussed in coming days. How he gives a detailed explanation to his cellmate on the finesse a thief should possess was a treat to watch. Even the smallest gestures like where he asks for food to Suraj with handcuffs in his hands but just takes it away when the police comes in evokes laughs. It's safe to say by now that he is at the cusp of entering the greater league of actors we ever had. It takes a lot of conviction for a director to take such a drastic casting call and also a lot of guts and confidence for a popular star to take on such an unconventional role, kudos to both Dileesh Pothan and Fahadh Faasil for their respective decisions.Others also played their roles naturally and Alencier Ley Lopez once again proves he is one of the best actors to play supporting roles without monotony.

Technically this movie is very well made without any gloss.Camera-work is realistic and music has a good flow with movie.

So,Thondimuthalum Dhriksakshiyum is easily one of the Top 5 Indian movies of 2017.Dileesh Pothan and Fahadh Faasil deserves Best Director 2017 and Best Actor 2017 respectively.A Must Watch gem of a film.

My Rating 8.5/10

Dileesh Pothan's second venture (after the critically acclaimed 'Maheshinte Prathikaaram') turns out to be yet another excellent character study. The film builds itself up slowly yet steadily, with an assortment of characters each with their unique set of traits and sense of humor. At 2h 15 min, not once does the film feel like a drag. The viewer is constantly kept on toes with each passing scene. Kudos to the excellent casting choices by the crew. 'Thondimothalum Driksakshiyum' boasts of excellent all- round performances from the entire ensemble which comprises of a few seasoned actors such as Fahadh, Suraaj and Alencier while a good number of supporting actors are all newbies, just as in 'Maheshinte Prathikaaram'.

It would seem disparaging if I don't intend to applaud the extremely grounded and realistic portrayals of some of the characters such as the culprit who is handed a punishment of bringing water to the station, the Sub Inspector, some of the Constables, the cop who always walks around in mufti (plain clothes), the Circle Inspector, the shopkeeper and so on. Each character leaves a solid impression on the viewer.

Fahadh's intro is cleverly executed (his expressive eyes convey a lot yet can hide even more!). His character is constructed in a manner that is supposed to leave the viewer slightly baffled. Pothan ensures that he does not spoon-feed the audience in elucidating the various character arcs, instead leaves the job of construing behavioral traits and motives to the viewer. Laugh-out loud moments ensue when Alencier and Fahadh take centrestage during the interrogation scenes. The revelations made are so interestingly packaged that they seem both hilarious and believable at the time.

Suraaj and newcomer Nimisha Sajayan who play Prasad and Sreeja share good on-screen chemistry as a run-away couple who get embroiled in a chain-snatching case where Fahadh's character (another Prasad) is the accused. What's additionally worth noticing is the brilliant social commentary it makes on the side, while the story keeps moving forward. Instances of mob frenzy, caste discrimination, land disputes and scams are also inculcated neatly in the screenplay (penned by Sajeev Pazhoor). Dialogues by National Award Winner Syam Pushkaran are able to strike a chord with the viewer instantly. The initial scenes of how a case is handled at the police station tend to remind the viewer of Nivin Pauly starrer 'Action Hero Biju'. But the similarity is only in the setting; the treatment is completely different.

Rajeev Ravi's cinematography adds a dash of pragmatism to the scenes. The sepia color tone blends with the mood of the flick almost perfectly. Music and BGM by Bijibal is minimal yet effective. It is also quite intriguing to observe that the viewer is able to associate better with the comportment of each central character (especially the victim, the witness, the cop-in-charge and the accused) by the time the credits start to roll. Even the supposed exhibit (a necklace) has a specific purpose. A minimal dose of artsy ambiguity only helps.

Alencier plays A.S.I Chandran to perfection while Suraaj puts on a mature show (unlike what's usually seen of him). Fahadh lends an eerie air to his character retaining a sense of delightful mystery throughout. 'Thondimothalum Driksakshiyum' is a must-watch. Keep shining Pothetta!

When a simple plot is presented with impressive film making skills, then you get movies like Thondimuthalum Dhriksakshiuyum( The mainour & the witness). The film starts off with a normal pace but due to an unexpected event, the movie follows a different direction and ends in a unique way. Malayalam movie makers are day by day improving their skills in screenplay & cinematography and this film proves it to be. The characters in the movie have done a great job especially Fahadh Faasil has given one of the best performances in his career. Another special quality is the fahadh's unique character; he is a thief with a different mindset & has his own philosophy in life. The music has also been uniquely crafted. If you believe a film doesn't win through a simple plot, go check this out.

Thondimuthalum driksakshiyum is one of the best malayalam movies made in recent years that is successful because of its brilliant script and poignant performances from the entire cast. This film is extremely realistic and builds upon situations that we come across in our daily life. The characters are very well-written and well- acted that they stay with us even after the movie ends. Biggest credit must go to Fahadh Faasil for yet another superb performance which is one of the best in his career and the way he changes our view of his character at different points in the story is just wonderful. Suraj Venjarammood shines in a very serious role and proves yet again that he deserves more serious roles like this. The debutant Nimisha Sajayan has also done justice to her character. What made Dileesh Pothan's first film "Maheshinte Prathikaram" successful was the way humour was managed in that movie without any kind of artificiality. That kind of Basheerian humour which arises out of realistic scenarios and without any kind of gimmick is again seen here which makes this film very entertaining. The focus of the script and the intensity is never lost in any part of the film thanks to Pothan. He must also deserve credit for the way so many new actors are used in the police station scenes and the acting by Alencier and other policemen are extremely natural. The script written by Sajeev Pazhoor is tight and never loses focus at any point in the movie. In fact one of the best things about this film is the use of very short dialogues in some crucial scenes which reveals so much about the characters and their motives without useless blabber. I rate this film 10/10 & hoping for more good realistic films like this rather than over-hyped masala movies.

This kind of movies are the way to Indian cinema instead of overhyped movies. Dileep Pothan once again deliver a pure film for the cinema lovers. Recommend for all audience.

So, the first time I watched, I was stunned. Second time I watched with my boyfriend, who is a non-malayali and I laughed so much. Third time, I watched with my Mom, Dad, Brother and Sis-in-Law and we all laughed and cried and commented throughout the movie. Every scene tells a tale. There's plenty to read between the lines and this is one of the finest movies that has come from Mollywood in a long time. It is an experience each time. I wouldn't mind watching it a 100 times more. You'll be gripped throughout the movie. Fantastic and real-time acting as well as plots. This should be translated and re-made in many languages! Satires and ambiguity is weaved throughout the piece. It was a beautiful trip for me!

This is an almost genius piece of film making. Dileesh Pothen's 'Maheshinte Prathikaram' brought Fahad Fazil back into the fold in a big way but it was a movie which grew on me, after being a little underwhelmed by it on first viewing. But here, he grips you from the start and never really lets go till the end credits roll.

Fahad Fazil continues his fine form, but I would consider him to be more of an admirable supporting foil here. The movie's main protagonists are the couple played by Suraj Venjaramoodu and newcomer Nimisha Sajayan. After a realistically humorous mix up on first meet, they have a furtive romance before tying the knot. While traveling in a bus, a thief (Fahad Fazil) is caught in the act of stealing her gold necklace. While she is adamant that she saw him gulping it down, he protests his innocence to the police.

In fact, I would say it is the scenes at the police station that elevates this film to another level completely. The brilliance of the narration is in the way it makes everything seem so utterly realistic, and yet peppy and satirically humorous in its enactment on screen. The police officers here are not black or white, but like most people occupy the gray area in between. While genuinely wanting to help resolve the conflict here, they also cannot help but try to twist things to suit their perspective at various points in the story. The resolution when it eventually comes is probably the best they could have done with this wacky beautiful film.

Performances are uniformly brilliant. Suraj Venjaramoodu has been finally stepping away from his trademark buffoonery act in recent times, but this has to be one of his finest roles. The utter realism he brings to screen of a common man stuck in a little bit of a muddle and trying his best to resolve it is exemplary. Nimisha Sajayan maybe a newcomer, but she seems perfect for this – again a realistic blend of spunk and sass, yet vulnerable to the events around her. Suraj's chemistry, both with her and with Fahad Fazil is another clincher – it couldn't be better. The police officers, led by Alencier Ley, are all obviously fine actors who have got roles to shine and grab the opportunity.

Movies like this don't come along often. When they do, they deserve every accolade and recognition they get. A must MUST watch.

Again a beautiful realistic and classic movie from the maheshinte prathikatam fame crew.reallymollywood going to step a new era from fahad and dileesh bond.actually fahad deserve national award as best actor and dileesh as best director for this movie and its bit sure .

This movie breaks the stereotypes where its often said that the film should have an item song, and no story. There was modesty in this film. I couldn't believe that an actor like Fahadh would take such a role. I was so impressed by his performance that I couldn't stop myself from praising him... Loved the story which was so normal and real and the way it was shown on the screen.. Enjoyed watching thia film which I cannot pronounce easily..

As usual Malayalam cinema, delivers on emotions and lifestyle of people. Though it could have been made as a cop-chasing-thief kind of story, it takes its own slow route and grows on you gradually as a feel-good-film. I felt it is slow paced and the run-time could have been reduced.

Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum (2017) : Brief Review -

Fahadh Faasil runs absolute RIOT in Dileesh Pothan's instant classic of human derivation. What a film and what a performance by Fahadh Faasil! This is easily one of the most innovative and exciting storyline came from Malayalam Cinema in the last decade. No hard-core drama, no emotional fetching but all it has got is pure realistic sense of human nature and our law system. Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum is about Prasad and Sreeja who enter wedlock and move to a new place to continue the rest of their lives. Unfortunate events begin to take place after Prasad, a small-time thief, robs Sreeja's gold chain during a bus journey. The police investigation follows only to make things uneasy for everyone included there. A small idea of chain thief could get such a big amount of cinematic content, i wouldn't have believed it if someone has told me but now i believe because I have experienced in the last 125 minutes i spent watching the film. Sajeev Pazhoor's excellent writing deserves all the praise for making every character look rich despite unwell scenarios. At one moment you feel angry at him but later you start loving his wrongdoings, how? That's the power of writing. That's the skills of a writer to grab you completely over the narrative with the help of detailed characterisations. Fahadh Faasil appears little late but what a mind-blowing performance he has given. Absolutely riot. Suraj Venjaramoodu and Nimisha also leave an impact with their adorable chemistry. Lopez sir shines like a star in the crowd, that luminous thing in the sky. Dileesh Pothan has made three films till date and i have seen all three of them, so i have no second thoughts on calling Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum as his Best Film So Far. That's it, that's all i guess. A deserving and real Classic, unlike some of those overrated fanboys material.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

"Maheshinte Prathikaram" released last year was a surprise hit at the Mollywood box office,that registered Dileesh Pothen as a renowned film-director with cult following among the movie-buffs who even managed to come up with a universal term "Pothettan Brilliance'" to point out instances of cinematic excellence in films by Pothen."Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum" was without doubt the most anticipated Malayalam movie of 2017 and I must say Pothen has succeeded in keeping the expectations intact by presenting an equally good film with some genuine performances from the solid cast as its major highlight.

The story-line penned by critically acclaimed screenwriter Sajeev Pazhoor is a balanced mix of offbeat and mainstream elements with the simplicity in narration by Dileesh Pothen,eminent creative direction by Shyam Pushkaran,catchy cinematography by Rajeev Ravi and notable support from the cast combined making it a hearty watch for all the sections of the audience.The police station sequences in the movie in particular deserves a special mention for its originality and realistic treatment of the proceedings.

Fahadh Fazil,Suraj Venjarammood and newcomer Nimsiha Sajayan all were at their best and enacted the roles invested on them impressively.The pick among the cast was real life police officer Sibi Thomas who gave a stellar act in Khakhi that was utterly realistic and authentic.

On the negative side,the pace of the movie was a bit on the lower side for few parts of the story-line and the climax portions weren't as enjoyable as the rest of the presentation.

Overall,"Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum" is a simple film centered around a wafer thin plot that's narrated beautifully by Dileesh and the team.

Good Movie. Everybody acted well in the movie. BGM in the movie was good. The movie was so interesting and thrilling at 1st half. The movie lagged a lot at some scenes at 2nd half. Good Movie.

A must watch movie for all Malayalam movie lovers. The reason behind these words are just the experience of the making of this movie. And performance wise the casts done their job very well. Pothettan's brilliance is the single word to explain this movie. My rating for this movie is 8 on 10.

Just like in his previous film, Pothan manages to make the locations into characters that are essential to the story. The transition from the water abundant lush greenery of Alappuzha to the dry lands of Kasargod itself creates a drama that is almost unnoticed till the maker gives hints about it much later. Like the butterfly effect portrayed in "Maheshinte Prathikaram", Pothan visualizes much of his ideas without making it too obvious and asking more from his viewers, without losing the fun of it or making it too intellectual.

The realistic approach of filmmaking in Malayalam films has been mostly gone through the section designated as art or parallel cinema until the last few years, where such films have become more commercially viable. Pothan's films are in the latter category, which combines the realism without losing the market appeal. The combination of Dileesh Pothan and creative director Syam Pushkaran also hides subtle political stands in plain sight. They try to point out a lot of social issues without being overly preachy. The film says a lot about hunger, caste system, identity, and bureaucracy, giving enough space for each of these issues. Full review at http://www.asianfilmvault.com/2017/07/thondimuthalum- driksakshiyum-2017-by.html

The the character evolution of each of the lead cast is excellent. Thanks to excellent casting and direction. Special mention goes to Fahad who could portray the burglar character sweetly. Simple story, nice screenplay and at the end it was hard to tell who is victim or who is effective.

Dileesh Pothan is one of those directors you can blindly trust on. The movie is very real, also unpredictable in some moments. The best thing of this film is it's engaging screenplay. Every scene tells a tale. Some long shots are also there yet you'll be gripped throughout the film.

The movie features a brilliant ensemble cast, Fahadh Faasil is one of them. The film won Best Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Faasil & also Best Film in Malayalam in 65th National Film Awards. Now, you can miss it with your own risk.

Available on DISNEY+ HOTSTAR.

© MandalBros.

Acting wise - 10/10 Fahaad fasil has reached apex in terms of acting & screen presence Me Being a non-south indian,this movie has explained me that it does not matter what your mother toungue is malayalam movies are made for real story telling and delivering the exact emotion and message.

Plain and balanced script with full of great scenes and screenplay.

Director Dileesh Pothan who made an impressive debut with Maheshinte Prathikaram has returned with another charming slice-of-life drama. When newly-wed couple Sreeja (Nimisha Sajayan) & Prasad (Suraj Venjaramoodu) are travelling by bus, a thief (Fahaad Faasil) steals Sreeja's gold chain. However, Sreeja catches him swallowing the gold chain and hands him over to the nearest police station with the help of co-passengers. The rest of the movie narrates what happens thereafter.

Nimisha Sajayan as the housewife who is distraught and angry at her loss along with Suraj Venjaramoodu as the husband driven to his wits, Alencier Ley Lopez as the ASI Chandran on the brink of retirement bring an effortless authenticity to their roles while Fahaad Faasil nails his part as he transforms into a slippery smalltime thief shrouded in mystery.

There is an inherent beauty to the narrative which flows like a gentle stream with minimal gush, yet capable of captivating the viewer with its steady flow. It draws us in very early and makes us totally invested in the story which keeps us wondering what next. The fact that Dileesh is able to bring out the beauty in the banal routines, seamlessly weave in multiple strands which add texture to even minor characters or happenings without disturbing the flow of the main narrative stand testimony to this helmer's confidence and control. He is emerging as a director with a distinct signature style and somebody to look forward to in the future.

Kudos to the director who has marshalled an excellent cast and a brilliant technical team including ace cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, music director Bijibal and others in presenting a simple, subtle, yet absorbing story with a good dose of humour and garnished with just the apt level of thrill and suspense.

TD was the most anticipated malayalam film of 2017 because it comes from the team of maheshinte prathikaram. Dileesh pothans direction was as usual realistic, plot is simple, performance of fahad was superb, suraj's role could have been played by some young actor and rajeev ravi's dop was brilliant. But what makes it underwhelming and gives u a feeling that its not better than MP is its lack of humor. Slow narration and dragged chas e between fahad and suraj tests your patience. Climax is also not satisfactory.

There's nothing to say anything about this movie. Just stop and watch if you like good movies with best actors, writing and screenplay.

The makers (there is a director, creative director and a writer) of Thondimuthalum Driksaakshiyum made a public apology to his highness Pimpinainteasy - the greatest movie watcher of all time, after they found out that he rated their film a 6/10 compared to the average IMDb rating of 8.5/10.

Dear Pimpinainteasy,

we agree wholeheartedly with your concerns about our film. Thondimuthalum suffered from a boring subtlety that tried to draw too much attention to itself. The truth is that we were unable to write a single memorable scene or piece of dialog. The writer is inferior compared to legends like Sreenivasan or Raghunath Paleri. We could not even find good supporting actors. Alancier is a completely unremarkable mediocrity who pales in comparison to greats Innocent, Jagathi or Shangaradi who could have done this role in their sleep. The less said about the other mumbling actors at the police station, the better. They were all fans of Marlon Brando I guess.

The fraud Rajeev Ravi portrays rural Kerala as something that it is clearly not. The truth is we all have a hangover of some Sergio Leone or small town American film. We try to bestow these rural milieus with some kind of nobility and belligerence when the truth is that they are all just dirty backward dungholes. The greenery is not thanks to any commendable Malayali endeavor. It is just an act of nature. The only thing Malayalis can be proud of are the squalor and the ugly buildings.

And the music composers pathetic attempt at imitating Morricone - I know you cringed in the theater when you heard the tuneless whistling rubbish that introduced Fahad's character.

But I am sure you agree that the story was pretty unique. The film had immense potential which we failed to realize. Suraaj Venjaramudu is now an actor worth watching. We will try harder with our next film Pimpin sir.

Best regards,

the makers of Thondimuthalum.

(6/10)

Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (The Mainour and the Witness) - 2017

The story revolves around the newly couple (Prasad & Sreeja), the thief (Fahadh Faasil) and the police station. The thief snatched a gold chain from Sreeja and swallowed, got caught and taken to the nearest police station. This happens on a bus while traveling up to the north. Then, during interrogation, twists and turns come across throughout the story, which is more exciting. Movie's editing is brilliant but felt like a bit long. However, you may mesmerized by the climax scene.

Highly appreciated , succeed to receive numerous awards including few National Awards, is with interesting story and interesting shots like (tracking and chasing), dialogues make you laugh & grin. Opening scene of the movie already, creates an enthusiastic view toward the movie. Truly, recommendable, must-watch movie.

Simple yet profoundly intriguing move. Leaves you with that same intriguing feeling at the end of the movie. Naturally acted.

I watched Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum on Hotstar (Eng. subtitles), based on the numerous excellent reviews and of course I have seen a few good films starring Fahad Faasil as well as Suraj Venjaramoodu's Kollaiyude Sivarathri so I felt this film too must surely be good with such excellent actors.

TD is very realistic, at times perhaps too realistic for comfort such as the police brutality scenes - which are probably worse in real life than what is depicted.

The incident of chain 'snatching' .. it clearly wasn't snatching in TD but a smooth and skilful operation, anyway such crimes are a slice of very real life! The lead up to Nimisha - Sreeja and Prasad - Suraj's romance and marriage against her father's wishes and subsequent developments were portrayed in a matter of fact and very realistic manner just as such events unfold for so many others in life. Nimisha and Suraj are very believable as the couple and Fahad is the perfect slippery smart crook.

The policemen and the police station could be any real taluka level PS, in fact all the sets and the locations seemed entirely real.

TD is like watching a fictional story set in a documentary so to speak because it is all too real.

The camera work, costumes, action shots, the relationships between the various characters, the events that unfold, the settlements, everything is perfect.

The only minus is the length of the film, it dragged a bit in several scenes and could definitely have been much better had it been shorter.

Overall, good cinema and worth watching.