Thudakkam

Although the premise remains familiar, the film benefits from assured storytelling, strong technical craftsmanship and performances that elevate the material.

The idea of exploring how such an incident reshapes a woman's life and public perception is compelling, but the screenplay rarely lets those moments breathe, using them instead to artificially raise the stakes.

Coupled with a tightly written screenplay and memorable characterisations, ‘Thudakkam’ manages to rise above its shortcomings.

Vismaya Mohanlal makes a physically impressive debut in Thudakkam, particularly in the action sequences, though her overall performance remains inconsistent.

Although he has a knack for keeping the narrative engaging, he also has a habit of overstating the obvious with needless expository scenes and cliched dialogues.

It is only when Vismaya and Aashish come face to face that sparks fly, allowing Thudakkam to fully engage the viewers, thanks to the impressive work by action choreographers Yannick Ben and Stunt Silva, further enhanced by Chaman Chacko’s sharp editing.

With Aashish Antony playing the villain—a psychotic rapist and killer—and Vismaya (Meenu) playing a martial arts trainer with a differently abled father, portrayed by Sai Kumar, the film has a strong central conflict.

Thudakkam doesn't quite rise above the familiar beats of the survival thriller, but it remains an engaging watch. Jude Anthany Joseph gets enough out of a straightforward premise to keep the film moving, even when the screenplay settles for safer choices.

Vismaya, playing a martial arts practitioner, performs the stunts with commendable agility. The only trouble is that the film clutches at the lowest hanging, most generic solution for women's safety.