
ApunKaChoice.Com	IndiaExpress.Com CricketZone.Com
Set as Homepage \| Add to favorites

RSS

HOME | MOVIES | Thommante Makkal | Thommante Makkal review

Thommante Makkal
story in pictures
Picture Gallery

'Thommante Makkal' Comedy without substance

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It is a paradox of the first order. The film has nothing much to write home about. But it is enjoying a tremendous run at the box office. Strange indeed is the response of the audience!

The reference here is to the Malayalam movie Thommante Makkal. The Shafi-directed film is a pale imitation of Rafi Meckartin's Thenkashi Pattanam.

However,

it must be said that Shafi has failed to inject the liveliness that was the hallmark of elder brother Rafi's fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable Thenkashi Pattanam.

Thenkashi Pattanam had other advantages over Thommante Makkal. It was backed up by an excellent screenplay and had a plausible story too. To boot, a powerful starcast and delectable comedy lent lustre to Thenkashi Pattanam.

In comparison, Thommanum Makkallum has practically nothing to commend itself. The story is weak. Indeed, there is no story. The screenplay is even worse. Director Shafi has failed where brother Rafi succeeded in style. Still, Thommanum Makkallum has clicked with the audience. This critic is unable to explain the immense popularity which the film is enjoying among the fastidious Kerala audience.

Perhaps, what has appealed to the cine-goer is the light-hearted approach of the director and easy-going enactment by the lead actors, who have tried their level best to make a success of a weak story and screenplay.

It must be said to the credit of megastar Mammootty, Lal and veteran Rajan P. Dev that they have somehow risen above the trite storyline. This is no mean achievement.

Well, the story revolves round Thomman (Rajan P Dev) and his two sons Sivan (Mammootty) and Sathyan (Lal). Thieves by 'profession', the trio create havoc in the village. But one fine morning the 'trimurtis' have a change of heart, deciding to turn a new leaf. They also decide on a change of scene.

So, the threesome pack their meagre belongings and shift to a village in Tamil Nadu. As fate would have it, soon they are forced to do the very things they had vowed to turn their backs on.

The father-sons team believe in drinking life to the lease. So, they fight, sing, dance and let their hair down. Thomman must have his daily draught of booze.

The scenario changes when they cross the path of Thevar, the terror of the terrain they have shifted to. They rush to the rescue of a helpless father (Janardhanan) and their daughters. In the process, Sivan and Sathyan get a chance to wallop the Thevar's goons with their fists of fury. Needless to say, their do-gooder act impresses the daughter of the villain Thevar, who falls for Sivan (Mammootty).

Rest of the movie deals with how Thomman and his sons force a change of heart in the Thevar, of course, bashing up the baddies in the bargain.

A real surprise of the film is some delectable dance steps executed by none other than Mammootty, whose aversion for dance sequences is well known. But surprisingly, here the megastar gives the impression by his body language that he was enjoying the gyrations! The megastar, who is having a dream run on the reel, is impressive even in the comedy scenes, though Lal overshadows him in some sequences. Those who say Mammootty can't dance for nuts and do comedy must watch this film.

Of course, veteran Rajan P Dev leads the team with a performance packed with gusto and gumption. But then, Rajan is no stranger to comedy. He has proved it umpteen times that comedy comes to him naturally. Salim Kumar, who acts the Thevar's sidekick impresses as usual. Thevar (Salim Khan) has given a reasonably good account of himself.

Alex Paul's music meshes well with the flippant flavour and format of the light-hearted comedy.

Verdict: Watchable if you are in a mood to sit through comedy without substance.

[Thommante Makkal microsite] [Thommante Makkal preview] [Thommante Makkal picture gallery] [Thommante Makkal cast & crew]

Copyright 2005 ApunKaChoice.com. All rights reserved.