Thudarum — the Malayalam blockbuster starring Mohanlal — is another crime thriller in the investigative drama space that became a huge theatrical success in Malayalam.
It’s now streaming on Jio Hotstar, but the OTT response has been extremely mixed.
A significant section of OTT viewers are categorizing Thudarum as a decent one-time watch, quite different from its theatrical blockbuster status.
Meanwhile, a smaller section continues to hype it as a must-watch.
So, what’s causing this stark contrast in reception between theaters and streaming?
The answer lies in the content itself.
Thudarum works primarily because of Mohanlal’s terrific screen presence and his strong performance, especially in some crucial emotional scenes in the second half.
However, content-wise, Thudarum falls short.
Once the key twist is revealed, the rest of the film unfolds like a fairly routine revenge drama with predictable beats, though the emotional climax does land well.
What Thudarum lacks is the powerful writing usually expected from Malayalam blockbuster crime dramas.
While it’s still a decent one-time watch both theatrically and on OTT, the excessive hype and ongoing chatter — along with comparisons to Drishyam — are fueling the extreme reactions.
As a result, a sizable section of viewers are calling Thudarum overhyped and overrated.
