Thondan Review - Messages galore but what about the movie?

PUBLISHED DATE : 26/May/2017

Thondan Review - Messages galore but what about the movie?

Thondan - Messages galore but what about the movie?

Bharath Vijayakumar


The way the idea for a film germinates should be fascinating and each filmmaker would have his own method for this. With Samuthirakani one would probably think it is the message that strikes first, followed by the dialogues to drive this home. He then maybe tries to string together a plot. Thondan too toes a similar line.


Plot:


The protagonist is an ambulance driver who saves lives and when he is free keeps delivering sermons. Things get a little serious when he locks horns with a political bigwig.

 

Samuthirakani's films are never subtle. The first scene in Thondan is an attempted murder in broad daylight. It could have happened anywhere. But the kind of filmmaker that Samuthirakani is, he ensures that the action takes place right in front of a Gandhi statue. This scene shows that it is not only about the dialogues but even the visuals can be loud.


The film tries to be lighthearted in the earlier portions but the comedy is mostly juvenile. Enters Vikranth whose characterisation lacks any arc whatsoever. He gets introduced as Samuthirakani's friend but the two hardly behave like that. He is introduced as a wastrel and drunkard for whom stalking is the only form of love. He gives more reasons for us to hear lectures from the hero. Every dialgoue that Samuthirakani speaks in the film does make sense and is reflective of the society we live in. But you cannot deny the fact that these come across as sound bytes with no relation to the plot unfolding on screen. There is a monologue in the second half about caste politics, Sri Lankan Tamil issue and the recent Jallikattu episode. It is effective as a monlogue and is quite bold as well. But it pops out of nowhere and leads to nowhere as well. It is like Samuthirakani just served an ace in the middle of a cricket match. How are we supposed to connect to it?

 

The characters in the film are poorly sketched. They operate in two modes – good and bad. But there is not one convincing scene in the film which makes them make this switch. It is all too easy. The last leg of the film is like those numerous mass hero films where the erstwhile terrifying villain is reduced to being a caricature.


Bottomline:


Thondan never really comes together as a film. But as always, the standalone dialogues of Samuthirakani remain the key takeaway.


Rating : 2.5/5

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