Thalavan Is a Brilliant Police Thriller That Deserved to Be Watched Earlier.
A gripping Malayalam investigative thriller driven by powerful screenplay, unexpected twists and a fascinating villain.
The first thing I felt after watching Thalavan was a sense of regret for not having watched it earlier. Released on May 24, 2024, this Jis Joy directorial was one of those films I somehow missed when it was running in theatres. I knew the film had received a good response, but I never got around to watching it. Now, after finally watching it, I genuinely feel that I missed out on a very good Malayalam thriller.
Whenever we hear the name Jis Joy, the first thing that comes to the minds of many Malayalis is probably his voice. He is the familiar Malayalam dubbing voice of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun. His voice has become so closely associated with Allu Arjun that many people might recognise it immediately. However, Jis Joy is also a filmmaker, and Thalavan, his sixth directorial venture, is another example of his ability to handle an engaging story.
I should also mention that investigative thrillers are one of my favourite genres. I rarely miss films belonging to this category, particularly those that explore police investigations, intelligent antagonists and situations where the line between the police and the criminals becomes complicated.
Films like Nayanthara’s Tamil thriller Imaikkaa Nodigal, along with Malayalam films such as Anjaam Pathiraa, Memories and Officer on Duty, are some examples that come to my mind. What particularly interests me is the way these films portray their antagonists. Sometimes, the villains are presented with such intelligence, planning and psychological depth that they become just as interesting as the protagonists themselves.
I particularly enjoy stories where the police investigation is not simply about identifying a criminal, but also about understanding the motivations, circumstances and psychological aspects behind the crime. When filmmakers manage to create that kind of narrative, the viewing experience becomes much more engaging. This is also one of the reasons why I enjoyed Thalavan so much.
Coming to the performances, one actor I particularly want to talk about is Biju Menon. I have often felt that Biju Menon is exceptionally good at playing characters where the audience finds it difficult to decide who is right and who is wrong. He has a special ability to portray characters who exist somewhere between a hero and an antagonist.
A perfect example of this is Ayyappanum Koshiyum. Throughout that film, there is a constant conflict between the characters played by Biju Menon and Prithviraj Sukumaran. At different points, we find ourselves supporting one character over the other. It is not always easy to decide who is right, who is wrong, or whose actions are justified.
I believe Biju Menon has a natural ability to bring that kind of complexity to his characters. He is not simply a hero or a villain. He can be both, depending on how the audience perceives the character. In Thalavan, Jis Joy has made excellent use of this particular strength of Biju Menon. His performance is one of the biggest strengths of the film.
Asif Ali is another actor I have always liked. I follow most of his films, and I genuinely believe he is one of those actors who can deliver extremely natural performances. However, I have often felt that not enough films have fully utilised his acting potential.
Films like Kishkindha Kaandam have demonstrated what he is capable of when he gets the right material. I still feel that his potential as an actor is much greater than what the industry has explored so far. Thalavan is another film that gives him a character through which he can demonstrate his abilities.
For me, the biggest strength of Thalavan is its story, screenplay, direction and dialogues. The story is written by Anand Thevarkatt and Sharath Perumbavoor, while Jis Joy has handled the dialogues and direction.
The film revolves around the ego clash between two police officers belonging to different ranks, the hierarchy within the police department, and an investigation that gradually becomes more complicated. The conflict between the officers is not merely about professional differences. There is also an underlying struggle involving authority, personal ego and the need to establish superiority over one another.
What makes the screenplay interesting is how these different elements are connected to the investigation. The story does not simply move from one incident to another. It keeps introducing new developments that change the way we understand the characters and the events.
The cinematography by Sharan Velayudhan Nair is also worth appreciating. The visuals complement the mood of the film, and the overall technical presentation supports the narrative without unnecessarily drawing attention to itself.
The Performances That Make the Film Special
Coming to the supporting performances, Anusree deserves special mention. I have watched several of her films, but her performance in Thalavan genuinely surprised me. I am not someone who would normally describe myself as a big fan of Anusree. However, after watching this film, I became much more appreciative of her abilities as an actor.
There are certain scenes where she demonstrates a level of natural acting that I really liked. What impressed me most was how effectively the film utilised her potential in a character that required a different kind of performance. I would genuinely like to see her getting more challenging roles like this.
Miya George also appears in an important supporting role as Sunitha, Jayashankar’s wife. However, I felt that her character could have been given more scope. Considering her abilities as an actress, there was room to explore her character further.
Another performance that deserves considerable appreciation is that of Kottayam Nazeer. Honestly, I found his performance quite extraordinary.
While watching him, I was reminded of Kalabhavan Shajohn’s performance as Sahadevan in Drishyam. I am not necessarily comparing the two characters or their performances directly. What I mean is the impact they create on the audience. Just as Kalabhavan Shajohn made a strong impression through his character in Drishyam, Kottayam Nazeer manages to create a similar impact in Thalavan.
The important thing here is that the director has given him material that allows his acting abilities to come out effectively. It is always satisfying to see an actor who is usually associated with a particular type of role getting an opportunity to demonstrate a different side of his talent. Kottayam Nazeer makes excellent use of that opportunity.
Another small but impressive performance came from the little girl who plays Anusree’s daughter. She appears only for a very short time, but I thought she did an excellent job. Even with limited screen time, she manages to make her presence felt. It is always nice to see young performers handling their characters so naturally.
And then comes the villain. I deliberately don’t want to reveal the actor’s name because that itself could become a spoiler for people who haven’t watched the film. But I must say that his performance was extraordinary.
In fact, if I were to rank the performances that surprised me the most in this film, he would be my number one, followed by Anusree and then Kottayam Nazeer. These were the three performances that genuinely caught me by surprise.
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Asif Ali and Biju Menon need no particular introduction or additional explanation. We already know what these two actors are capable of, and they once again deliver performances that justify those expectations.
The Screenplay and Investigation Keep the Film Moving
From the beginning, Thalavan maintains a medium to fast pace. There is continuous movement in the narrative, and I never really felt bored at any point during its runtime.
One of the biggest reasons I enjoyed this film is the way the screenplay manages to keep the audience interested throughout. What happens next? Who is actually responsible? What is going to be revealed in the next few minutes?
These are the questions that keep running through the audience’s mind. The film introduces unexpected developments and twists at regular intervals, making it difficult to predict what is going to happen next.
One of the most interesting aspects is that the identity of the actual culprit is not something the audience can easily figure out in advance. The screenplay manages to maintain that uncertainty for a considerable portion of the film.
The film also manages to leave room for another chapter in this story. Interestingly, the possibility of a sequel is introduced only after the existing narrative reaches its conclusion.
Understanding the Villain’s Perspective
There is another aspect of investigative thrillers that I have always found interesting.
Sometimes, when a film reaches its conclusion, we start questioning whether the people presented as villains were entirely wrong. We may even develop a certain emotional connection with them after understanding the circumstances that led to their actions.
This is particularly relevant in films involving police officers and investigations. The police are supposed to be responsible for protecting society. However, when people within the system misuse their authority, make mistakes or cause injustice, they can create enemies along the way.
Those affected by such actions may eventually respond with revenge. When a filmmaker manages to present these events from the perspectives of different characters, the audience starts understanding the reasons behind their actions.
I believe this is one of the most important aspects of a good investigative thriller. It is not enough to simply introduce a villain and reveal what they have done. The filmmaker should also make the audience understand the circumstances and motivations behind those actions.
We have seen this kind of storytelling in films like Anjaam Pathiraa, Memories and Officer on Duty. By the time these films reach their conclusions, we sometimes find ourselves developing a soft corner for the antagonists because we understand what led them to become the way they are.
At the same time, there is another important requirement. As an audience, we also expect a satisfying conclusion to the investigation. We want the actual culprit to be identified and brought to justice. There needs to be a sense of closure to the story we have been following.
Balancing these two emotions is not easy. A filmmaker has to make us understand the antagonist’s perspective without compromising the satisfaction of the investigation.
I felt that Thalavan handled this aspect quite effectively.
Another thing I appreciated about the screenplay was its ability to present the story through the perspectives of different characters.
Without revealing any spoilers, the film moves through the viewpoints of characters played by Dileesh Pothan, Biju Menon and Asif Ali. Instead of restricting the entire narrative to one character’s perspective, Jis Joy gradually allows us to understand the events through different angles.
This makes a significant difference to the viewing experience. Our understanding of certain characters and their actions keeps changing as the story progresses.
It also prevents the audience from forming a fixed opinion too early. We are constantly encouraged to reconsider what we have seen and what we believe about the characters.
For an investigative thriller, I think this is an extremely effective storytelling approach.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Thalavan was a very satisfying cinematic experience for me.
I genuinely regret not watching this film earlier. It has been more than two years since its theatrical release, and I somehow missed out on watching a film that deserved my attention much earlier.
The film has a strong story, an engaging screenplay, excellent performances and a director who knows how to keep the audience invested. More importantly, it does not depend entirely on one character or one perspective to move the narrative forward.
There are still a few unanswered questions and possibilities that the story leaves behind. The makers have announced a sequel, Thalavan 2, and I am genuinely interested in seeing how they take this story forward.
However, what I particularly appreciate is that Thalavan does not leave the audience feeling that the entire film was merely a setup for another part. It gives the existing story a conclusion while opening the door for another chapter.
If you have not watched Thalavan yet, I would strongly recommend giving it a watch. It is definitely one of those Malayalam investigative thrillers that deserves to be discovered, even if you are watching it much later than everyone else.
Now, I am looking forward to Thalavan 2.
