Review: Thangalaan - Promising but Fragile

Movie: Thangalaan
Rating: 2.25/5

Cast:  Vikram, Malavika Mohanan, Parbathy Thiruvothu, Pasupathy, Daniel Caltagirone, Harikrishnan Anbudurai and Others

Director: Pa. Ranjith
Produced By: K. E. Gnanavelraja

Release Date: August 15, 2024

Story:

Thangalaan's story takes place in the year 1850 CE in the village of Veppur, located in North Arcot. The protagonist, Thangalaan, serves as the leader of a tribal community and is contracted by the British to find out the gold deposits underneath the land in his village. Aarathi (Malavika Mohanan), a demon/mythical figure, is said to be the savior of the fields that contain gold under the land. Consequently, a fierce conflict arises between Thangalaan's tribe and the forces commanded by Aarathi. The rest of the movie narrates the selfish intentions of the British Empire and how Thangalaan and his tribe eventually over perform them.

Performances:

Vikram excels in the titular role, providing a convincing performance that captivates the audience. His appearance, body language, and use of colloquial expressions establish him as the big plus point of the film, resulting in a remarkable portrayal. Malavika Mohanan also shines in her intense role, demonstrating commendable skill. Additionally, Parvathy Thiruvothu, portraying Vikram's wife, brings elegance to her character. 

What worked for the film:

The foundational framework established by Pa Ranjith is commendable. Additionally, the fight sequences are skillfully crafted and appear authentic in the latter half of the film. The episode of Thangalaan's return after his first successful mission came good. Also, the final revelation part was good. 

What did not work for the film:

Though the film has an exciting plot, the narration or screenplay never provides the required impact. Thangalaan and his tribe face many problems during their search for gold, but those sequences are not properly handled. Hence the emotional impact goes missing. A significant disadvantage of the film lies in its visual effects. The graphics appear unrefined and tend to provoke irritation throughout the viewing experience. Furthermore, the portrayal of Malavika Mohanan's character and her tribe could have been developed more effectively.

Thangalaan Review and Verdict:

Thangalaan's story looks promising on the surface. Despite this, the execution falls short of expectations. This movie’s screenplay is too complex and cannot hold the interest except here and there.