The Tovino Thomas and Kalyani Priyadarshan film struck the right chord with the youth with its subject, narrative, music, and fights.
Published Aug 13, 2024 | 7:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 13, 2024 | 7:00 PM
Two years of Thallumaala: A genre-breaking film from Khalid Rahman. (X)
Khalid Rahman’s directorial Thallumaala (2022) has explored a genre not often seen in Malayalam cinema. The Tovino Thomas-starrer had a fantastic run in theatres, becoming one of the most successful films of his career.
The title, Thallumaala, means “a chain of fights”, and that’s exactly what the movie delivers. The Malayalam movie is packed with street fights, involving Tovino Thomas’s character and his friends (played by Lukman Avaran, Adhri Joe, and Austin Dan).
Thanks to its energetic fight sequences, the film instantly became a favourite for young audiences upon its release. Besides, the film is visually striking and wastes no time in immersing the viewers in its new-generation vibe.
The flick collected over ₹50 crore at the global box office, thus becoming the highest grosser in Tovino Thomas’s career until it was surpassed by 2018: Everyone is a Hero in 2023.
Thallumaala is set in Ponnani, a town in Kerala’s Malappuram district.
In an interview with South First, film’s co-writer Ashraf Hamza noted that marriages in Ponnani are celebrated in different ways; sometimes amid violence, as depicted in the movie.
“There are different types of celebrations—some may be violent, some may be calm—but people always participate in them,” Ashraf Hamsa said.
Tovino Thomas in a still from ‘Thallumaala’. (X)
This idea forms the central theme of Thallumaala, which was originally meant to be directed by co-writer Muhsin Parari. However, after taking it over, Khalid Rahman presented the film in a unique way that was new to Malayalam cinema.
A non-linear narrative is usually adopted for serious films, but Khalid Rahman effectively uses this technique in a story that is not heavy. Indeed, the story focuses on different stages in the life of the protagonist Wasim, played by Tovino Thomas.
Wasim has ego and anger issues and often gets into fights over small things. His friends share the same temperament.
Although Thallumaala is full of fights, they aren’t about fighting evil but rather about satisfying the male ego. One of the major fight scenes takes place in a theatre owned by Wasim’s father (played by Johny Antony).
Kalyani Priyadarshan portrays the role of a vlogger in the film. Sadly, she doesn’t get as much screen time as her male counterparts. However, her character and charisma made her a household name in Kerala, following her successful debut in Varane Avashyamund (2020).
Shine Tom Chacko appears as Reji, a member of another gang who has a conflict with Wasim and his friends.
The film was a significant breakthrough for Lukman Avaran, who appeared as Wasim’s friend.
The rest of the cast, including Johny Antony, and Binu Pappu, delivered strong performances.
Kalyani Priyadarshan is the leading lady in the film. (X)
One of the standout aspects of Khalid Rahman’s Thallumaala is its music. Composed by Vishnu Vijay, the soundtrack was widely appreciated for its fresh and innovative style. The songs topped the chartbusters for several months.
The lyrics, written by Muhsin Parari, were also new. He avoided traditional Malayalam words and used playful, pun-filled lines in the songs.
In an interview, Muhsin Parari mentioned that he and Vishnu Vijay enjoy wordplay and this approach shaped the film’s music. He also noted that the soundtrack initially lacked melody. “During a conversation, Vishnu Vijay and I decided to include one. The song “Ole Melody” (Her Melody) thus became a part of the soundtrack.”
Among all the fights Wasim had, the most impactful blow he ever received was through his romantic encounter with Beepathu (Kalyani Priyadarshan). Thus, the “Ole Melody” song and lyrics make a lot of sense.
“We included the Qawali elements in the song to make it more interesting and soulful,” he added.
According to Muhsin Parari, the “SaMa GaMa SaMa GariMa” song carries the message of “Equal Dignity, Equal Pride”.
When the movie was conceptualised, they were certain about having the “Thallumaala Paattu” track, which introduces all the lead male characters.
Thallumaala is an experimental film in terms of technique and storytelling. Its use of technology and graphics resonated well with younger audiences, who could relate to the characters and their frequent brawls.
The cinematography by Jimshi Khalid is another highlight, featuring vibrant colours and well-shot fight sequences.
The dialogues in Thallumaala are unique, too; filmmaker Khalid Rahman made the actors speak the North Kerala dialect, which became popular after the movie’s release.
The bright, colourful costumes designed by Mashar Hamsa also contributed to the film’s success.
