Marco: Who is Abhimanyu Thilakan, the blood-thirsty villain in Unni Mukundan's brutal film?

Abhimanyu Thilakan, the eldest grandson of the legendary Thilakan , plays the ruthless antagonist in Unni Mukundan’s Marco.

Marco, Abhimanyu Thilakan

Unni Mukundan’s Marco, the action thriller which made a bloody splash in theatres across Kerala on Friday, is being hailed as one of the most violent films from Mollywood. The action-packed thriller, which abounds with violence, and gore, features Unni Mukundan as the title character Marco, presenting him in his most brutal avatar yet. Any superhero or action film can only make a mark if it can present an equally formidable villain that can match up to the hero.

Also read: Marco movie review: Unni Mukundan’s raging portrayal fuels this brutal no-holds-barred revenge thriller

In Marco, the role of that blood-thirsty villain Russell is played by Abhimanyu Thilakan who is the eldest grandson of the legendary Thilakan and son of Shammi Thilakan. Let’s delve more into Abhimanyu’s role in Marco, who brings the central conflict in the film, and what the actor himself has said about carrying forward his family legacy. (spoilers ahead)

Abhimanyu Thilakan as Russell in Marco

Marco, directed by Haneef Adeni, is said to be a spin-off of the director’s own 2019 film Mikhael, which starred Nivin Pauly, where we were first introduced to Unni Mukundan’s character. The 2024 film explores as to how Marco became the weapon-wielding macho man who will stop at nothing to seek revenge.

We see Marco as the adoptive brother of George Adattu and Victor. The Adattu family is into gold smuggling and are arch-rivals of Tony Issac and Russell, played by Jagadish and Abhimanyu Thilakan, respectively.

The story is set in motion after Victor, who is blind, gets killed by Issac and Russell, and Marco goes on a bloody rampage as the gang war intensifies.

Abhimanyu underwent a transformation to be fit for the antagonist role in Marco, which also marks his debut. In a recent Instagram post, Abhimanyu called Marco as an unforgettable journey. "Portraying #Russeltonyisaac a raw, violent, and brutal character was challenging, but the love and appreciation you've shown me and my performance mean the world," the young actor wrote on social media a day after his movie hit the theatres and started garnering positive reviews .

Abhimanyu, the grandson of Thilakan

A formidable surname can open doors for you, especially in the cinema world. But proving yourself and making a mark without blemishing the family name of Thilakan is an equally daunting task. Abhimanyu Thilakan is well aware of his family’s legacy and in an earlier interview with Times of India, he admitted that he would always be compared with his father and grandfather, who has left an indelible mark in Malayalam cinema.

Anyone who has watched some of the notable Malayalam films of 80s and 90s would be familiar with the emphatic Thilakan. The veteran actor, who played the evil stepfather in Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, was brilliant even while portraying a wide variety of roles in Kireedam, Perumthachan and Nadodikkattu, among several others. His son Shammi too has been a part of several notable films such as Anweshippin Kandethum, Joji and Palthu Janwar.

Abhimanyu has announced his arrival with Marco, and it remains to be seen how the young actor would shape his career in the years to come.

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