Thanal Movie Review: Thanal is an ambitious and stylishly crafted dark revenge thriller with cross-genre tendencies that condense into action, drama, and suspense. The film, whose release seems to coincide with Lavanya’s first motherhood, stars Atharvaa Murali, Ashwin Kakamanu, and Lavanya Tripathi. While it aims to be multi-layered and riveting, the execution wobbles between sheer brilliance and incongruity.
The story opens in 2016 with a tense encounter in the slums where police officers take down a gang of bank robbers. Cut to nearly a year later: a shadowy figure (Ashwin Kakamanu) is on the loose, hunting the very officers down, one by one. For a new recruit (Atharvaa), a routine patrol turns into a nightmare of survival. As secrets unravel, the conflict between law enforcers and an enigmatic avenger intensifies.
Atharvaa brings energy and relatability to the role, more so with an everyman appeal, grounding the film. Ashwin Kakamanu steals the show with a brooding, layered performance, making the antagonist chilling and sympathetic at the same time. Lavanya Tripathi’s character, on the other hand, seems underdeveloped and does little to further the plot outside of a romantic subplot with Atharvaa. Shah Ra’s comedy is a hit-or-miss in the first half but is on point in the second half.
On the technical front, the film mostly excels but falters during some night shots and action sequences in a tunnel, while the editing does suffer from some continuity issues and extended flashbacks that kill urgency.
Gripping performance from Ashwin Kakamanu as the antagonist
Relatable energy courtesy of Atharvaa as the lead
Strong buildup of tension and payoff during the climax
Cinematography that effectively captures a dark tone
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Misused Lavanya Tripathi with a poor romantic subplot
Forced comedy that derailed the momentum of the first half
Too lengthy flashbacks that were not well executed, including a badly animated one
Pacing concerns over uneven tonal transitions
To cut a long story short, Thanal is a sort of revenge thriller that shines with occasional brilliance and is bolstered further by strong performances and an emotional end. The film suffers heavily from inconsistent pacing and tonal imbalance, limiting its full potential. It is worth the climax and the depth given to the antagonist, although it will not be a smooth ride.
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