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“Thammudu,” starring Nithiin and directed by Venu Sriram, arrives amidst significant anticipation, especially given Nithiin's recent string of box-office disappointments and Venu Sriram's hiatus following “Vakeel Saab.” Produced by Raju and Shirish under the Sri Venkateswara Creations banner with music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, the film's pre-release buzz, spurred by the trailer and promotional interviews, hinted at a promising cinematic experience. However, the review paints a starkly different picture, portraying a film riddled with technical shortcomings, a convoluted storyline, and lackluster performances that ultimately fail to deliver on its initial promise. The narrative centers around Jay (Nithiin) and Jhansi Kiranmayi/Sneha Latha (Laya), estranged siblings grappling with past regrets. Jay, burdened by guilt stemming from a past mistake that led to Jhansi marrying someone she didn't love, embarks on a journey to reconcile with his sister. Meanwhile, Jhansi, a government officer, is investigating a factory blast caused by the nefarious Azrawal (Saurabh Sachdeva), a sound-sensitive antagonist who uses money and violence to manipulate officials and suppress the truth. The convergence of these plotlines occurs in Ambalagodugu, a remote tribal village where Jhansi's family seeks refuge during a Jathara, a once-in-12-years festival. The storyline attempts to weave together themes of familial reconciliation, corporate corruption, and survival in a lawless territory. The movie’s success hinges on whether Jay can mend his relationship with Jhansi, whether Jhansi can expose Azrawal’s wrongdoings, and whether the family can survive the perils of Ambalagodugu. Despite its intriguing premise, the film struggles to execute its ambitious narrative effectively. The technical aspects, particularly the cinematography and visual effects, are criticized for their inconsistency and lack of polish. While some sequences manage to capture the visual grandeur of the forest setting, others suffer from poor execution, especially the computer-generated imagery. The music, composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, receives some praise, particularly for the background score and the song “Bhuu Ante,” but these positive aspects are overshadowed by the film's other shortcomings. Editing by Prawin Pudi is deemed poor, which contributes to the film's pacing issues and overall disjointed feel. The story, credited to Venu Sriram, is considered outdated, and the screenplay fails to engage the audience. Furthermore, the direction is criticized for its old-school approach, with the making and shot selection coming across as ordinary and uninspired.
The performances of the cast members are also subject to scrutiny. Nithiin's portrayal of Jay is deemed limited in scope, with the actor primarily confined to action sequences and melodramatic scenes that fail to showcase his full potential. Laya, making her comeback to the screen, is given a character that lacks depth and impact, despite the movie revolving around her. Varsha Bollamma, as Nithiin's friend, delivers a decent performance and even participates in an action sequence, but her role is ultimately underutilized. Sapthami Gowda's portrayal of Ratna, the SOS girl in the village, is criticized for her dubbing, which doesn't fit the character, while Swasika as Gutti delivers a satisfactory performance, but nothing truly stands out. Saurabh Sachdeva, Hari Teja, and Srikant Iyengar are deemed adequate in their respective roles, but the casting of the supporting characters, particularly the family members, is criticized for their lack of experience and screen presence. The review identifies several key positives and negatives of the film. On the positive side, the production values and background score are highlighted as redeeming qualities. However, these are overshadowed by the film's numerous weaknesses, including the outdated story and screenplay, the old-school treatment, the poor CG, and the boring survival theme. The analysis delves deeper into the film's conceptual flaws, highlighting the filmmakers' emphasis on creating an immersive cinematic experience, particularly in the forest setting of Ambalagodugu. However, the review argues that the film fails to deliver on this promise, with the world-building relegated to a brief voice-over and lacking the depth and detail necessary to fully engage the audience. The review also criticizes the film's attempt to blend melodrama with an adventurous survival theme, arguing that this genre-mixing ultimately dilutes the impact of both elements. The emotional core of the film, which the filmmakers emphasized in their promotional interviews, is deemed superficial and underdeveloped, with few scenes that effectively establish the emotional connection between the characters.
Venu Sriram's inclusion of convenient plot elements is also criticized, with the reviewer suggesting that the film's practicality is lacking despite the filmmaker's stated commitment to realism. Overall, the review concludes that “Thammudu” is a bitter experience for all involved, including Nithiin, whose search for a commercial hit continues. The review's bottom line, “Vaddu Thammudu!” (meaning "Don't Thammudu!"), reinforces its negative assessment of the film. The 2/5 rating underscores the film's overall failure to meet expectations and deliver a satisfying cinematic experience. The review meticulously dissects the various elements of “Thammudu,” exposing its flaws in storytelling, technical execution, and character development. It highlights the disconnect between the filmmakers' intentions and the final product, criticizing their failure to create a truly immersive and emotionally resonant film. The review also points out the missed opportunities, suggesting that a more focused approach, avoiding genre-mixing and emphasizing the adventurous survival theme, could have yielded a better outcome. Furthermore, the review analyzes the performances of the cast members, identifying both strengths and weaknesses in their portrayals of the characters. It criticizes the limited scope given to Nithiin and Laya, the underutilization of Varsha Bollamma, and the questionable casting of the supporting characters. The review acknowledges the positive aspects of the film, such as the production values and background score, but ultimately concludes that these are insufficient to compensate for the film's numerous shortcomings. The scathing assessment of “Thammudu” serves as a cautionary tale for filmmakers, emphasizing the importance of strong storytelling, technical proficiency, and effective character development in creating a successful cinematic experience. It also underscores the need to align intentions with execution, ensuring that the final product lives up to its initial promise.
Source: Thammudu Movie Review