Thammudu, directed by Venu Sriram, aims to be a heartbreaking, action-packed drama, but in my opinion, it failed to achieve the desired impact for several reasons. I believe what distinguishes a protagonist or antagonist are their flaws, their weaknesses. For me, the ideal villain has some goodness, while the hero has some weakness they try to overcome. Stories can become monotonous if a flawless protagonist is presented.
Thammudu leaves no room for speculation, as everything is black and white in the narrative. The villain is cruel; he's the worst human being in the world, while our protagonist is infallible. Consider any memorable negative character in the history of cinema and you'll understand that only those who live in the grayscale, or at least driven by a strong purpose, manage to make an impact. I agree that one-dimensional characters can evoke certain emotions in the masses, but they never stand the test of time. The film failed to make the most of the talent of someone like Saurabh Sachdeva. His character was so poorly written that, save for occasional grunts, the man had nothing to do.
Director: Venu Sriram
Writers: Karthik Reddy Pasunur, Venu Sriram
Stars: Nithiin, Swasika Vijay, Saurabh Sachdeva
The narrative was too shallow for my taste, and I wouldn't have complained if it had been executed efficiently. Even if one tried to immerse oneself in the story, the CGI (which defies the laws of physics) didn't allow it. The story was predictable, and the characters were so one-dimensional that, even if the actors wanted to, they couldn't showcase their talent. The action sequences were so absurdly directed that, at times, a serious scene seemed straight out of a parody. That said, let's find out what happened in the film and how the protagonist saved the day.
Jay's sister, Snehlata, was everything to him. His mother died giving birth to Jay, but Snehlata never let her little brother feel her absence. Snehlata fell in love with a boy, but the problem was that her father didn't approve. Snehlata was a righteous woman and knew that this boy was her one true love. She had promised him that, no matter what happened between her and her father, she would marry only him. Snehlata had no idea that her father would do everything possible to ensure that she married the man of his choice. Her father wouldn't have discovered her true intentions if he hadn't surprised Jay with a letter Snehlata had sent to her lover. Jay was supposed to deliver the letter to his sister's lover, but her father surprised him on the way and couldn't find any excuse. He read the letter and that was when he decided to force his decision on his daughter.
Snehlata was eventually forced to marry another man, and she couldn't keep the promise she had made to her lover. Snehlata told her father that, from that day on, she never wanted to see him again. Even when her father passed away, she didn't attend his funeral. Snehlata had nothing against her younger brother, but Jay always felt she was angry with him for betraying her trust. He believed his sister probably thought she had intentionally given the letter to their father. But that wasn't the case. In reality, Snehlata didn't want to have contact with anyone from her past life. She knew that if she contacted anyone from her premarital life, she would be reminded of all those bitter emotions. Her husband was a good man, and she didn't want to hurt him. Jay always felt an emptiness inside and knew he would only feel better when his sister accepted him. He felt he at least needed a chance to apologize to her. What he didn't know was that his sister had become a high-ranking government official and, in the process, had made many enemies, intent on obstructing his relationship with him as much as possible. Agarwal, the business tycoon, was a wicked and cunning schemer. As a teenager, he killed his adoptive parents by making it look like a car accident. He wanted to take his parents' insurance money and build his own empire. He was also injured in the accident, and his eardrums couldn't tolerate noises above 30 decibels. The man lived in a soundproof house, and all his employees were also mute.
Similarly, he had intentionally caused an explosion in his factory to claim insurance. He didn't care whether the innocent workers and residents around the factory lived or died, believing he could offer them financial compensation and resolve the matter. But the victims' families refused to accept the compensation and demanded an official investigation. Agarwal bribed everyone, from politicians to officials, but he was unable to get Jhansi Kiranmayee, alias Snehlata, on his payroll. Snehlata had changed her name, not wanting to be associated with her past. She was the expert on the committee set up to investigate the explosion. She was unwilling to approve the false reports, even at the cost of her life. Agarwal learned that Jhansi and her family traveled to the Ambaragodugu region, on the border between Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They went there once a year to pray to the deity and perform rituals. Although Jhansi shouldn't have gone this time for safety reasons, she didn't want to disappoint her family's elders.
Meanwhile, Jay, an archery champion, had been unable to concentrate on his game lately. His coach told him that until he figured out what was bothering him, he wouldn't be able to hit the target. Jay realized he needed to find his sister and talk to her to resolve their differences. He knew that until he did, he wouldn't be at peace. Chitra, a close friend of Jay's, also suggested the same thing. Chitra and Jay had been friends since childhood. Chitra credited her friend Jay for becoming a successful businesswoman. She had run away from home because her father abused her, and it was Jay's family who placed her in a good orphanage. Chitra also decided to accompany Jay, as she didn't want to leave him alone. Neither of them had any idea that Snehlata had become Jhansi Kiranmayee and that the most feared thug in Vizag was after her.
Agarwal sent an assassin named Francis to find Jhansi and force her to sign the investigation report. What Francis and his men didn't know was that Jay was there to help his sister. For a long time, Jay didn't tell Jhansi that he was her brother. He didn't know if she would ever accept him, as she had decided to cut all ties with her past lives. After Francis and his men chased them, Jay called emergency services and contacted a woman named Ratna, who ran the local call center/helpline. Ratna helped Jay in any way she could. She learned that the local tribes had been offered a reward of 1 crore rupees if Jay and the others were caught. She leaked this information to Jay, as she was a righteous person and not willing to sell her conscience. A local woman named Guthi offered to take Jay, Jhansi, and the entire family on her bus to help them reach the border, where the police were waiting to escort them back. But Guthi also decided to help Francis after learning of the 1 crore rupee reward. Jay and Chitra managed to defeat their nemesis. They risked their lives to ensure nothing would happen to Jhansi and her family. Chitra sacrificed hers, but made sure Guthi couldn't harm any member of Jhansi's family.
At the end of Thammudu, Jay, Jhansi, and the others managed to reach the border. But the problem was that Agarwal had asked his men to fan out across the city and capture Jhansi if they saw her. The execution of the entire sequence, where Jay tricked Agarwal's men and ultimately defeated them, defied not only logic but also common sense. Regret for not being able to save Chitra lingered in Jay, but he was able to help Jhansi uncover the truth. Jhansi managed to sign the investigation report, and it was proven that the explosion was not an accident, but an intentional act to claim the insurance money. The families of the victims decided Agarwal's fate by exposing him to a loud noise. The man suffered and then met his final end in the most terrible way.
In the ending of Thammudu, Jay returned to the village and met Ratna, as he wanted to express his gratitude. The woman had risked her life and helped Jay and others, even without knowing them. He had been in constant contact with Ratna while trying to escape the forest area, and didn't realize he had developed feelings for her. It was the beginning of a new chapter in Jay's life, as, after winning gold for his country, I believe he wanted to settle down. I wouldn't be surprised if he married Ratna in the future, although I can't say the same if the creators decide to create another installment and extend the plot. I have no problem with it, as long as they have something authentic to say.
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