Of late, Mollywood has been churning out some intense, successful police dramas. 'Thundu' starring Biju Menon strays from the pack and focuses on the lighter moments of a policeman's life and what unfolds when he decides to finally upgrade his career.
Biju Menon is not new to police roles. One of his most celebrated works as a cop is that of Ayyappan Nair, who has an alter ego in the Sachi-directorial ' Ayyappanum Koshiyum'. His police roles in the early phase of his career were good but smaller. In 'Thundu', he plays a cop resigned to fate who decides to attend the head constable examination to escape the monotony and lack of respect he receives at his current rank. Desperate, he resorts to exam malpractice and uses answer chits (thundu in Malayalam). Whether he succeeds in this endeavour makes the storyline fun and intriguing.
But if you are expecting an overly funny Biju Menon in 'Thundu', like his character Mammachan in 'Vellimoonga' or Suku, the bus driver in 'Ordinary', you may be disappointed. Biju's character has a resigned look on his face and is not in the mood for much fun. Nevertheless, he carries off the restrained nature, of his character well. Some dialogues mouthed by him in his casual style, nevertheless, cause mirth.
Riyas Shereef has done a good amount of research regarding police personnel in the film and that is evident in the movie. Scenes from the police training camp, the weapon test held as part of the head constable examination and the police dog academy elevate the viewing experience of the film.
Though the first part of the film isn't as exciting, the second half has enough to keep you glued to your seat.
Shine Tom Chacko who also has been doing several police roles off late also plays a prominent role in the film as Constable Baby's adversary Shibin Chandran. The sound effects and music also play an important part in the film. The message of the movie may elicit mixed opinions, but the storyline ensures it's a satisfactory watch.
