Thangalaan Review: Historical drama about working-class miners who discover gold in the 19th century
Thangalaan Movie Rating: 3.5 Stars
Watched Thangalaan movie in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Chiyaan Vikram, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Malavika Mohanan, Daniel Caltagirone, Pasupathy and Hari Krishnan.
Director: Pa. Ranjith
Release Date: 6th September 2024 in cinema
Story: Set in 1850 in the Madras Presidency. British General Lord Clement (Daniel Caltagirone) plans to dig for gold in the ancient gold mines located in the Kolar region from which Tipu Sultan and the Chola kings extracted gold. However, he needs laborers to do the mining. That’s when he learns that the tribals of Veppur village in the North Arcot region are traditionally involved in mining this area where Thanglan (Vikram) lives with his wife Gangamma (Parvathy Thiruvothu) and their children.
Thangalaan often regales his children with bedtime stories, and on one night he narrates a chilling tale about Aarathi (Malavika Mohanan) who is from the Nagar tribe and believed to be a sorceress and protector of the land in the deep forests. His great-grandfather Kaadaiyan (Vikram) belonged to a tribe skilled in extracting gold from the Ponnar river sand. When a king passing through the area discovered the mountain’s gold veins, he sought Kaadaiyan’s expertise to retrieve the gold. However, Aarathi had set up obstacles, including snakes, to safeguard the territory. For the piece of land, he fights with Aarathi and his guards and lastly killed her and handed over land to king.
Gangamma interrupts Thangalaan’s storytelling as their children had already fallen asleep. In an attempt to seize Thangalaan’s land, the zamindar’s men set fire to the farm produce, rendering Thangalaan unable to pay the taxes. Consequently, his land is transferred to the zamindar and are forced into debt bondage. Meanwhile, British officer Lord Clement arrives in Veppur seeking help from village.
He goes with his son Asokan (Arjun Anbudan), and fellow-villagers Varadhan (Hari Krishnan), Gengupattar (Pasupathy) and some others to search for gold which British officer Lord Clement wants to lay his hands on. They have to surmount a number of obstacles, but Thangalaan remains resolute. What happens finally? Does Aarathi permit Thangalaan to reach the gold?
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Direction
4. Background Music
5. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Screenplay
3. Climax
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in cinemas as liked the narrative. Set during the British Raj era, a fierce tribal leader sets out to stop an apparent sorceress, after earning her wrath when assisting a British general in tracing gold in their village.
Thangalaan is an immersive cinematic experience that delves deep into the tension between oppression and resistance, greed and survival. It is an adventure drama, but beneath the action lies a profound commentary on history, memory, and the enduring fight against exploitation. Ranjith masterfully crafts a visual spectacle, blending the historical and the mystical to create a narrative that resonates on multiple levels. The film’s technical aspects are equally impressive. Background score provides an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the film’s emotional and thematic depth, while cinematography captures the raw beauty and harsh realities of the setting with equal finesse. The breathtaking visuals, which dive deep into the film’s raw storytelling, genuinely capture the essence of what the movie aims to convey. The film’s meticulous attention to historical detail such as the setting, costumes, and dialogue, transports the audience back in time and creates a palpable sense of immersion. Vikram delivers a tour-de-force performance embodying the character’s physical and emotional journey with remarkable depth.
The core plot is interesting, but Ranjith’s screenplay didn’t do justice to the story. The screenplay is very slow and cluttered most of the time, making this by far the weakest work of the director. Songs are completely forgettable despite good choreography. The editing was horrendous, especially in the second half of the movie. The first half is very slow and boring, while the second half is clueless with no clear direction. Confusing at many places because of the several generations it talks about. There are so many characters and because they are played by faces which are unrecognizable for the Hindi film-going audience, it gets a bit too much for them. A lot is happening, and the audience might get overwhelmed while absorbing the goings-on. The film is also a bit abstract and secondly, despite commercial elements, it is not a typical mass-appealing film. These two factors would restrict its appeal.
Overall movie demands not just to be watched but to be experienced. It’s a tale of struggle, grit, and perseverance, where every frame is imbued with a sense of purpose and meaning. This is not just a movie it’s a cinematic journey that lingers long after the credits roll. It is a masterful historical drama that offers an insightful look into a significant yet often overlooked chapter of Indian history through a compelling narrative, strong performances and evocative cinematography. If you are someone who loves to be immersed in a world that is mixed with history and power, then the film is truly a cinematic journey meant for you to experience. My view on this movie Highly Recommended.
For more Bollywood and Cricket updates visit my page on Facebook Durgesh Tiwary’s View and website Cricket Movie Website