Thaen Movie Review

Every once in a while comes a little gem of a film which stands on its own merits, without any big names pushing it. Thaen is the latest addition to this elite list. Directed by Ganesh Vinayakan (previously known for pedestrian masala entertainers like Thagararu and Veera Sivaji) and starring Tharun Kumar and Abarnathi in the lead roles, Thaen is sure to emotionally jolt you due to its story and situations faced by the lead characters. The film is centred on a man’s struggles to provide health care to his wife who suddenly falls sick seriously. They belong to a hilly village and aren’t exposed to the usual ways and means of people living on land. Since they don’t have any government ID proof, their struggles are amplified. The man runs from pillar to post to desperately save his wife whose condition is fast deteriorating!

At a runtime of just around 1 hr 40 mins, Thaen will leave you with a heavy heart; keep your tissues handy. The climax song Alli Poo Nirathazhagi (sung by Haricharan) elevates the emotions manifold.

Sanath Bharadvaj takes care of the music; the 2 songs and the emotional RR are major pillars of the film. Sukumar is the cinematographer of Thaen which has a similar visual milieu as Mynaa. Lawrence Kishore edits the film, and not one scene hangs loose or out stays its welcome. With a longer runtime, the film may have actually felt too manipulative. Kudos to Ganesh and Lawrence for the taut product. The dubbing (lip sync) goes for a toss in many scenes and the film’s visual quality is not consistent. These are minor blips in an otherwise engaging film.

Coming to the performances, Tharun Kumar lives his part. He gets better and better as the film goes on. Previously known for some villain roles, Tharun delivers his career best performance, by far. Abarnathi gets a physically and emotionally demanding part and she plays it convincingly. The young girl playing their mute child is a revelation with her wonderful expressions. Her reactions are a major contributor to the climax. Bava Lakshmanan makes the film lively in his scenes with his topical jibes and pokes at our government and system. Arul Doss’ character promises a positive change in the story but alas doesn’t!

Thaen Movie Review Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by @Lmkmoviemaniac