'Thammudu' Movie Review

'Thammudu' Movie Review

Actors: Nithin, Laya, Sapthami Gowda, Varsha Bollamma, Saurabh Sach Deva, Swasika, Hariteja, Srikanth Iyengar, Temper Vamsi, Chammak Chandra and others

Music: Ajaneesh Loknath

Cinematography: KV Guhan, Sameer Reddy, Sethu

Producers: Dil Raju-Sirish

Written-Directed by: Venu Sriram

It's been a purple patch without a solid hit for Nithin as his last major success happened to be Bheeshma, which came out five years ago. Since then, he tried his hand at several films, but none managed to make the cut. Now, he's placing his hopes on Thammudu, a film backed by veteran producer Dil Raju and directed by Venu Sriram, known for Pawan Kalyan's Vakeel Saab. Let's see what Thammudu brings to the table.

Story:

Jai, played by Nithin, is a dedicated archer aiming to win gold at the world archery championships. But no matter how hard he trains, something keeps holding him back. He can't focus. As he digs deeper into what's bothering him, Jai realizes the root of his struggle is an emotional one related to his long-lost sister, played by Laya. She is separated from him during childhood because of a mistake he committed and feels guilty for. With the support of his girlfriend, played by Varsha Bollamma, Jai begins searching for her. The trail leads him back to his past, and to the shocking discovery that his sister, now living under a new identity as Jhansi Kiranmayi, is in grave danger. She's caught up in a deadly conflict involving a ruthless businessman named Agarwal, played by Saurabh Sachdeva.

The rest of the narrative follows Jai as he steps into this crisis, determined to protect his sister, though she no longer remembers him or wants anything to do with him. Will he manage to save her? Can he finally come clean about who he is and what happened in the past? And more importantly, will she forgive him? That's what unfolds on the silver screen.

Analysis:

Throughout Thammudu, the hero keeps repeating the Sanskrit sloka, “Anugachchathi Pravaha”, which literally translates to "Go with the flow". But that idea seems to have shaped the film in all the wrong ways, as director Venu Sriram went with his own flow, rather than engaging the audience. Instead of a story that moves smoothly, the film jumps between genres without doing justice to any one. It starts as a family drama, turns into a crime thriller, shifts toward an action-adventure, and never really finds its core. Though Venu Sriram seems to have stepped away from his usual mass-commercial space, the emotional core in the movie failed to connect. And when that connection is missing, even the effort feels flat.

Some moments could have had emotional weight. For example, the main heroine dies in the film, which is something rare in commercial cinema, but that scene barely evokes any feeling. There's no impact, no buildup, no reason that makes the audience feel the loss. The film piles up more deaths and destruction, but nothing hits hard. At the root of this is a weak story foundation. The logic around the sister's decisions, like cutting herself off from the family, because of an old heartbreak, even when her husband accepts her past, feels illogical and forced. Her distance from the hero doesn't come with enough weight or explanation, and that emotional gap never gets sealed.

The villain angle feels equally disjointed. His obsession with sound pollution looks like an interesting opening, but it ends up going nowhere. There's no real conflict between hero and villain and no solid tension to drive the story. Even though they're on opposite sides, the two never truly clash, and with that face-off missing, it's tough to connect to the action part. The hero spends most of the screen time with his sister, but they don't get a single powerful emotional scene that would stand out. That silence weakens the whole point of their story.

The setup of a sister who left a brother who goes looking for her, and a danger that pulls them together, sounds interesting and could have worked. But as the film goes on, it loses its rhythm. Scenes get repetitive, especially once the story shifts into survival-mode in the forest. While the Kondagodugu area adds a new flavor for a while, it soon becomes just another backdrop. Characters like Ratna (played by Sapthami Gowda) feel out of place and unconvincing, slowing down the pace. Thammudu has a few turns in the first half, but the second half struggles. Heavy action scenes might catch the eye of mass viewers, but there's nothing deeper holding it together. In trying to be something new and also appeal to everyone, Thammudu does justice to none.

Performances:

Nithin plays Jai with the right look and seriousness, but something is missing. He fits the part, but you can sense a drop in confidence, maybe from the string of flops he's had lately. The character's design didn't give him much room to explore different shades either.

Laya, making a return after a long break, gets a key role, and the way her character is introduced builds some interest. But the progression doesn't match the hype. Still, she performs well and might get more offers after this. Varsha Bollamma, as Jai's supportive girlfriend, does her job neatly and brings warmth to her limited role.

Sapthami Gowda, known for Kantara, plays Ratna, a character who drags the narrative. Her acting is okay, but the writing around her role really slows things down. Saurabh Sachdeva, the villain from Animal, is new to Telugu films, but his character lacks purpose. Instead of building tension, his scenes just test patience. Srikanth Iyengar and the rest of the supporting cast are just the usual.

Technicians:

From a technical point of view, Thammudu has everything in its favour. Ajneesh Loknath delivers a solid background score that lifts a few scenes and keeps some tension alive. The songs are fine too. The visuals are polished and clear, thanks to the work of three different cinematographers. Every frame looks sharp, and it's clear that producers invested a lot into production values. You can feel the budget on screen. From locations to lighting, everything looks terrifically done, but all of this effort doesn't land where it should.

Despite having all the resources, director-writer Venu Sriram couldn't bring it all together. His story had potential, but failed to engage the audience due to a flat screenplay. The main characters feel distant, not just from each other, but also from the audience. No doubt, strong visuals can't do any justice if there's no tight screenplay.

Verdict: Tammudu.. goes the wrong way

Rating: 2/5