Thanmathra (2005) User Reviews

A must watch....

[rajive · 8/10 · 7 January 2007]

I am a big fan of Malayalam movies and off late most of what is churned out is mindless comedy or violence. Blessy's Thanmathra is a well made movie with a good theme. There are several movies on Alzheimer's patients and if you were to hear the theme from someone the response is likely to be, "so what's new? " What makes this movie good are.. Strong actors- Mohanlal, Manu, Jagathy, Meera, Nedumudi; Good direction- Well woven story, seamless progression, good technical knowledge of Alzheimer's.(Loss of recent memory and preservation of past memory. Mohanlal remembers the Sukumaran Nair of his childhood, but not his father- in-law with the same name...Going to his 'Appachy's' house for 'unniappam' etc); Music - Melodious songs, good background score.

The subtitled quote in the end though seemed profound somehow didn't blend well with the end. Could have done without it I think. I strongly recommend watching this movie

Beautiful Mind

[vishal_02 · 9/10 · 22 December 2005]

"Thanmatra" a beautiful and touching tale of a happy family.In fact why the title "thanmatra" because Director Blessy's previous film Kazcha spoke of an entire society and the crisis it faces during an earthquake and this film thanmatra speaks of a single family a single unit that means a molecule in the eyes of the director. Thanmatra is a beautiful and touching tale of a small but very happy family.The lead cast of Mohanlal,Meera vasudevan( Rules-Pyar ka Superhit formula fame,Unnai Charanadainthein),Nedumani Venu,Jagathy Sreekumar ,Seetha etc...All the performances are strong yet brilliant were the performances of the lead pair of Mohanlal and meera Vasudevan. The film is simple,realistic and down right touching. I will recommend this film to all people who appreciate good cinema.At times i think it is "A Beautiful Mind" what i am watching yet don't take away the credit from Director Blessy as he has created a masterpiece. Mohanlal has given his best performance so far and Meera Vasudevan who only at 23 years of age has convinced all of us that she can play different roles and characters very convincingly.She definitely deserves accolades for the same. Thanmatra-Verdict -Brilliant-Take your entire family and watch it.

Nice film,better than Kaazcha

[chethancb4u · 8/10 · 29 December 2005]

Thanmathra It has got all -technology and art. Nice camera-which does not prick eyes. Nice music-especially the first song its like a cool breeze. Excellent acting by all-its like everybody worth an award. Brilliant direction-Blessy 5 star for that.

I think the boy 'Manu' is the hero of the movie and Mohanlal is just a character.The heroine Meera Vasudev is good. Her smile is soo beautiful. but some thing is there with her dubbing. OK leave it in excuse of her acting.Nedumudi good as always.And the man Jagathy,is there any role in this world which he cannot do. I doubt no. He is such a good actor. The most beautiful gem Mollywood has got.An as all its a GOOD MOVIE. For me Kaazcha caused a lot itching-unwanted scenes, overacting by Mammooty, unnecessary songs,unnecessary characters and of all I blamed Blessy for that because Mammokka is a great actor-but only with a good director. But Now Blessy is really a good director and an excellent legacy tho Indian Cinema.

heart breaker.

[niranjith · 10/10 · 25 May 2010]

Amitabh bachchan wondered about Mohanlal's acting when he saw this movie,and glorified about lal's acting.No more words are required when bachchan himself claims that Mohanlal is the finest and effortless actor this country has ever produced,no matter he himself bagged the national award for black the same year beating Mohanlal.And thats all about Mohanlal.

And about movie:Before watching this movie i did not believed that movies give messages to a society.Prior watching this movie i rush for exit doors when the movie is about to complete.But after watching this movie i couldn't get up for a minute.The sad ending (or joyous)made me like something haunting me for a couple of days.this is something extra ordinary a movie can make to me i believe. We are going through a fast life where we have not enough time to do our own duties of life.This movie shows whats the important of time we waste,and what we can achieve using it in the right way.

Two thumbs up for blessy.

Thanmathra - One of the best happenings in Indian Cinema 2005

[invisman · 10/10 · 28 December 2005]

"If you can't compare your wife to another woman, how can you compare your son to another boy?" - the moment Mohanlal pops this question, you know Thanmathra will not just be any malayalam movie. At a time when the industry is ruled by crass comedies, Blessy should be appreciated for taking up such a complex theme in a commercial format, without compromising on artistic values.

Thanmathra is the story of a middle-class family; the very family that stays in a mini two bedroom flat; the very family which uses a Bajaj scooter for transportation; the very father who dreams about his son attaining what he couldn't. In short, it is the family which you can see in your day-to-day life. But what makes the movie special is the craftsmanship that director Blessy shows in extracting the best performance from his cast into what can be called as the ideal script for any artist to prove his skills.

Thanmathra excels in every class. Let it be cast performances or direction or paperwork or music or cinematography or art work or whatever, Thanmathra is perfect. The movie drags a bit in the latter half, but the theme demands the lag and without it the movie would have ended up as a typical TV serial. Mohanlal has come up with one of the strongest performances in Indian Cinema. In real life, people often consider Alzheimers as a variant of madness. Therefore the slightest mistake from the actor can transform an Alzheimers patient to a lunatic. But Mohanlal handled the character carefully. Rameshan, being an Alzheimers patient, forgets everything. But still somewhere in his mind, he knows that he wants to see his son as an IAS Officer, even when he cant recognise his son's face. Such roles are always challenging to any actor but Mohanlal came up with a brilliant, effortless performance, proving any role is only a child's play for him. Debutant Arjun Lal is certainly an excellent actor in the making. Jagathy Sreekumar and Nedumudi Venu have done their parts well. Other than some unsynched lip-movements, Meera Vasudev's performance is top notch.

Once you watch the film, Thanmathra will give you a melancholic feeling. One might wonder why God is so cruel to Rameshan and his family. After all his only dream was to see his son as an IAS officer. And he almost saw it...almost.

Brilliant Movie Outstanding acting by Mohanlal

[URBestFriend4Ever1 · 10/10 · 18 December 2005]

Perhaps love can conquer everything - but not Alzheimer's. At a time when crass commercials rule Malayalam cinema, Blessy has been successful to deliver a film with the right sensitivity and restraint required when sketching an intimate portrait of a man doomed by Alzheimer disease.

If further proof is required that Mohanlal is India's finest actor, watch him in Thanmatra as Ramesan Nair. His anguish, agony and anxiety as he dreams big about his son, but gets inflicted by Alzheimer. The actor is mesmerizing and has given his best-ever performance since Vanaprastham and re-invents the idiom of acting once more with feeling.

Ramesan (Mohanlal) is an officer at the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram who has a 9 to 5 job in which he is honest, hardworking and goes by the rule book. His happy family consists of wife Lekha (Meera Vasudev), teenage son Manu who is preparing for the crucial 12th standard exams and a little daughter.

Ramesan is a good husband and the perfect dad for his children. His colleagues and friends envy them and the way Ramesan guides his son Manu who is an all rounder in sports, cultural activities and is the best student in school. Joseph (Jagathy Sreekumar), a colleague is Ramesan's friend, philosopher and guide who get things done.

Ramesan's big dream is to see his son prepare for civil service exams and get an IAS, something which he was not able to achieve in spite of being a very bright student himself. Ramesan slowly discovers that he often forgets small things in life and consults a doctor (Pratap Pothen) who dismisses it off as tension seen in parents about their ward's exams and future!

But one day life turns topsy-turvy in a bizarre incident at office; Ramesan is hospitalized and is diagnosed for Alzheimer's disease that causes loss of memory, intellectual decline, changes in personality and behavior and an increased dependence on others. The rest of the film is how Lekha, Ramesan's father (Nedumudi Venu) and especially Manu faces this big crisis as Ramesan takes voluntary retirement and goes back to his ancestral home where he was born and brought up.

Thanmatra asserts that Blessy is a path-breaking writer-director, one to be admired and concerned about. He has been able to convey an individual coping with his middle-class urban life suddenly devastated by a dreaded disease. Blessy has also brought out the relationship of Ramesan with his father as well as his son and in the end when Manu is being interviewed by the Civil Service board he says it all- "My father has been my biggest inspiration".

Above all, it is Mohanlal's performance which is the major highlight of the film. Meera Vasudev is simply terrific as Lekha who gives love and support to her husband till the end. The chemistry between the lead pair is touching and honest. Arjun as Manu is the scene stealer and has the making of a good actor. Jagathy Sreekumar and Nedumudi Venu have once again proved that they are the best. Kaithapuram's lyrics and Mohan Sitara's music creates the right mood. Sethu Sriram's camera work is marvelous.

Thanmatra is an intelligent, insightful and unconventional film. It is a touching, thought-provoking drama for sophisticated audiences. ...i have some hope in Malayalam cinema now...excellent characters, remarkable situations and one of the finest, most dramatic scores ever written, this film manages to inspire and uplift just about any viewer.The major reason why so every people like this movie is the feeling it evokes inside it's viewers.about mouth publicity is outstanding everyone likes it . Without a doubt it is an excellent movie, but this movie just blew me away. If you haven't seen it go for it... see what is effortless acting & natural acting lalettan make us proud again . I AM PROUD TO BE A LALFAN I wont let out anything about the movie climax, because i had hate to spoil such a movie for you guys. But one recommendation I give, is watch and relax while it blows you away. MOHANLA Genius actor ever in Indian cinema and one best actor in world! Well thats all I have to say,

THANMATHRA - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENT MOVIE WATCH IT WITH YOUR FAMILY ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR FATHER.

Verdict: Brilliant

My heart is still aching...

[shekar_praveen · 10/10 · 27 December 2005]

wow, this movie made me cry, even after i left the theatre..... when i was in high school my father was suffering from kidney trouble and later he lost his memory due to the medicines and did most of the things like a child. i saw the same expressions in mohanlal (he is truly talented...) once, my father even bit his own fingers and when i saw the same scene in the movie i can't control it and i cried and it was the first time i cried in a theatre.....i thought i was facing the same again.the whole movie is absolutely superb and meera vasudev, nedumudi, arjun all done their roles perfectly. i swear mohanlal is the best i have ever seen..........no matter who is your favorite star don't miss this movie.

Thanmathra - EXCELLENT MOVIE

[ronaqstef-1 · 10/10 · 16 December 2005]

The first show started at 10.30. There was no such explosive crowds infront of the theater as for naran. The film started with huge applause and jai's to lalettan. The film shows the correct picture of a normal family in an interesting way. The film started with a small touching sentiment's between lal and his son.And all other scenes were pleasant. But when it began to reach the midst of the film...situations changed... The villain came.."Alzeimers disease"!!!! Then the scenes were out of control. I tried my level best not to cry aloud. In many occasions I closed my eyes for long time....and tears shed. No Lal fans can see the situation of mohanlal at that time

A father who loves his family very much...who need to make his son an IAS officer....who is known as the brilliant father in the son's school...suddenly changed liked a small child who doesn't know even to write or talk...But his wish to make his son an IAS officer was hidden somewhere in his mind... The last scene was a suspense which no lal fans expected...That scene make us completely out of control... In a scene Mohanlal even came out from the office bathroom in only Jetty (underwear). In another scene One man will beat him cruely and he cries like a little child.....When Jagathy and Nedumudy drinks tea, Lal was looking at their tea glass , for giving him also tea.. And many scenes more.....And sure The film will be taken by family audience from tomorrow itself. And the National award is confimed to lal and lal only

A movie not to be missed

[syamsundar-k · 10/10 · 6 February 2006]

Finally comes a movie that makes you laugh, think, cry and above all makes you feel that you didn't waste your time seeing another stupid Malayalam movie. Everything is underplayed here in an era where Malayalam movie makers think that a malayali wants every masala played out loud in Malayalam movies. I agree, they like it in other language movies. But we don't want our movies spoiled. To say that Blessy's direction is excellent will be a gross understatement. He has made a movie close to his heart by defying the box office trends. Once again we are fortunate to see laleettan in full form(Maybe after Narasimham)...with not a bit of acting...like olden days ..just Ramesan Nair..,the character he is portraying..Kudos....I would like to watch the movie again just to see the innocent look on Ramesan's face.

Mohanlal's performance as the best

[arun_mr · 2 January 2018]

Blessy has helped to make this film a great experience too.

Many actresses have acted in films, elderly, mentally and historians. But acting as a child is the first case. It is a great challenge to acting as a kid who has a mindset and mindset of a ten-year-old man who has been affected by the disease. Mohanlal faced this tragedy of the character Rameshan who was the biggest challenge of his career.

a good movie-which would have been made better

[nik-naren · 6/10 · 25 October 2006]

bit over rated movie,but still a good one, the movie has excellent performance from Mohanlal. the anxiety and worry over Alzheimer's's is through the film. inspired from the 'orma' by 'Padmarjan', a shot story, Bessy gives us a view about the life of a govt employee in Kerala. his dreams, aspirations about his son.typical middle class dreams in an LPG affected society. the main flaw with the movie is the artificiality in duologue's, which could have been done better by Bessy, Bessy who had given us Kaazcha has not disappointed us with this work,but unlike 'Kaazcha' this film has faults in many departments, including cinematography and duologue's.also there is a stream of thinking, are sons just deployed to make their fathers dream come true?....trivial question, subjective one......and an obvious effect of making the lead character look like a genius is made,,,..... in short a good movie,,but never watch it with 'Kaazcha' in mind, because its a different movie altogether

A classic...One step ahead.....

[ratheeshchandranm · 10/10 · 13 January 2006]

Blessy has proved that class of art still remains in molly wood.As it's add says Mohanlal performed as the way we wanted. Rameshan Nair now became one of his classic characters.Meera,Arjun and other actors contributed their full effort towards this drama and made it a feel that never ends.I could see lot of audience with satisfied faces after the show.That only a filmmaker dreams about.The casting was again the best from the director.The camera work is apt to the story mood.'Kazcha' was an excellent film,Blessy made 'Thanmatra' one step ahead than his previous project.The Pathmarajan touch came back as the Blessy touch.

Keep going Blessy!!

Keep going Lal!!

La Vita 'e Bella...

[anpaul-2 · 10/10 · 23 June 2006]

Life is so beautiful. That is the theme of 'Thanmatra' ('Thanmatra' means Molecule, the smallest part of a thing). This movie touches the heart of every one. A splendid work of Blessy. The lead role Rameshan Nair handled by Mohanlal. All the other characters in the movie give a best support to Mohanlal.

The movie is the story of love, life and family. Ramesan Nair, is a Clerk in Secreteriate, have a happy family, wife Lekha and two children Manu and Manju. The happiness of the family is shattered when Ramesan Nair lost his memory due to the cause of Alschimers. The movie is deeply going to the various areas of Alschimers. But it is not at all a film about Alschimers. It handles the deep level of family matters, the love and the pain and that changes the life of everyone for a new beginning.

In my view it is one of the best movie ever made in Malayalam. If you get a chance to watch the movie, please don't miss it.

Movie of the year!

[kiran123 · 10/10 · 30 December 2005]

One of the best movies I've seen! Mohan Lal's performance is truly spell binding! He's proved yet again why he's the best actor in India and certainly one amongst the very best in the world! Blessy,also, has done a splendid job. His script's truly a masterpiece.One must also applaud his guts in experimenting with such a tough subject which most directors and script writers wouldn't even dare to touch. He's not only taken it up, but molded it into perfection. The supporting cast, mainly, Nedumudi Venu and Jagathy Sreekumar also performs with their typical brilliance, which has made them the pillar stones of Malayalam cinema. The producers also deserve a special mention here for being brave enough to support an off beat subject. The viewers will certainly look forward to many more such great projects from it's makers. This certainly proves that Malayalam cinema has the depth and talent in it to bounce back from any tight spots.

A Masterpiece. I don't wanna watch it again.

[akhil027 · 10/10 · 14 June 2020]

Yes. Thanmathra is one of those movies you don't wanna watch again. It hurts more on a second watch because it reminds you of how things used to be in Rameshan's(Mohanlal) family. I believe this is Blessy's best work. Mohanlal makes us cry as he sings "Ithaloornnu veena" with his voice as well as expressions. The whole cast and crew is amazing. Grab some tissues and watch it. This is a movie that should not be missed.

I don't want to watch it again

[albdude · 10/10 · 17 May 2021]

One of the movies that I never wanted to watch again. I can't handle it.

The acting is out of this world.

This feels so personal

[mailrashmi-36693 · 8/10 · 6 July 2020]

You know how some movies draw you into them and make you feel like you are a part of them?! While watching the movie I forgot that they are actors enacting scenes. Everything felt so real. Mohanlal is in his best form. You laugh and cry with him. He is so magnetic, so charming and so real. This is more than a movie. This is a slice of life.

No words

[vksachin-54876 · 10/10 · 18 September 2021]

Outstanding acting. Underrated malayalam movie.. whole mollywood industry is underrated.

One of the best movies i have ever watched

[abhilashkahlon · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

It is one of the best movies i have ever watched. Whether it is the story or the acting its 10 on 10. If anyone has to show his child what a great bond can be of a Father and a Son then this movie is to be shown. This movie will touch your heart. #laletta what a performance...

The heart wrenching masterpiece

[giridhargopinath · 9/10 · 17 September 2021]

Thanmatra with all its brilliance is an amazing movie which deserves 8 Stars. The cinematography is pretty decent and characteristic of the 2000s era Malayalam Cinema,direction is good,summary script is simple and well,it has lots of good performances by the supporting cast and so on. Its an overall watchable piece otherwise. However two aspects elevate my rating from 8 to 9 and give it its "Masterpiece"-Rank. First is the brilliant screenplay by Blessy based on a short story by Padmarajan which is so meticulously crafted and nearly perfect. The second and most important of all is Mohanlal's extremely poignant and soul-touching performance as the smart Government employee with high hopes for his son slowly descending into the horrible grips of Alzheimer's. Mohanlal absolutely deserved the National Award which he was snubbed off,due to Amitabh Bachchan's political game. Each expression,each gesture,each body movement and each sound he makes speaks massive volumes about the character's hopelesness and misery. The performance is one which would blast open the flood doors of our tear ducts. Mohanlal's performance in Thanmatra is honestly one of the greatest pieces of screen acting one could ever hope to watch. It is definitely in the same league as the masterful performances by Daniel Day-Lewis,Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro.

A disturbing disease

[pvinodm-88300 · 10/10 · 2 December 2020]

This movie also on alzheimer's disease actor mohanlal with alzheimer's in movie my dad also started showing some sign of alzheimers during 2004,2005 he finally succumbed to it.

must watch movie

[joseallu · 10/10 · 5 February 2019]

Lalettan performance is amazing. Very simple movie but the characters performance is amazing especially lalettan😍

Only one word MASTERPIECE

[rockvishnu-68301 · 9/10 · 11 August 2021]

Movie super don't miss. Mohanlol ultimate performance.music and story also fresh and super. All actors performance super.

Story line:-Rameshan is a middle class family man who lives happily with his family. So he accidentally gets sick. So the story is how he finally got to work out the problems he encountered. Movie ultimate super don't miss it.

Crystal in a gem

[nallaiah · 9/10 · 16 May 2020]

No words to express the acting of mohanlal...a step ahead and a great salute to his acting..tis movie gives a mixed emotions and by the way the story runs it also paves a way in our heart and mind by his acting...Blessy gives a masterpiece of mohanlal s act ..his direction also plays a role in screen..

Excellent movie

[leonardojohnson-68263 · 10/10 · 19 September 2020]

Mohanlal's excellent performance and innovative storyline are the main features that make this film brilliant. Also the story, screenplay and perfomances of actors are excellent. Its a film that showcases the talent of director blessy. Mohanlal's great perfomance take the film to another level, the expressions and mannerisms of a alzheimer's patient did by lal sir was mindblowing.A must watchmovie. Experience this underrated gem.