Before Dhoomam’s OTT release, stream these movies that could help you give up smoking

The makers of Fahadh Faasil’s Dhoomam are yet to officially announce the release date of Lucia and U-Turn filmmaker Pawan Kumar’s directorial, which centres around the dangerous practices of the tobacco industry as well as smoking. The film, though much-anticipated as it saw the team-up of several brilliant actors including Roshan Mathew, Aparna Balamurali and Fahadh along with Hombale Films and Pawan, didn’t create a stir at the box office. That said, it did touch upon several pertinent issues that are sure to be discussion points once it begins streaming.

Also read: Fahadh Faasil: Dhoomam can be made in any language as it deals with an issue relevant to all societies 

But till you wait for Dhoomam’s OTT release, catch these movies on smoking and the tobacco industry.

Thank You For Smoking

Much like Fahadh's character in Dhoomam, Aaron Eckhart's Nick Naylor heads the strategies for a major tobacco company. In fact, he is their chief lobbyist, and a charismatic one at that, locking horns with the anti-tobacco activists and spinning the truth to suit his agenda. Where the film differs from Dhoomam is how it's more a satire and is self-aware of what its protagonist is peddling, while he is also trying to be a role-model for his young son. The humour and sharp writing of Thank You For Smoking, which is helmed by Jason Reitman, is what makes this a standout film among those about the tobacco industry.

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

No Smoking

Touted to be inspired from Stephen King’s short story Quitters Inc, this Anurag Kashyap directorial follows the life of a narcissistic chain smoker named K, who agrees to kick the habit to save his marriage. It’s ironic that when Pawan Kumar pitched Dhoomam’s initial script to stars in Kannada, they rejected it, citing that No Smoking had been released and met a dismal fate at the box office. Apart from that similarity, both films also share quite a lot – a protagonist who has to go to extreme lengths to save the one he loves, is forced to meet the demands of a person who despises his existence and how the encounter could turn out to be fatal. Though the John Abraham-starrer didn’t create a dent at the box office then, it’s got a cult following now, thanks to its unconventional storyline and making.

Streaming on: ZEE5 | OTTplay Premium

Oxygen

Though not entirely about the tobacco industry or smoking, this Telugu action-thriller, starring Gopichand, Raashi Khanna and Anu Emmanuel, does depict the different methods companies employ to make their products more “addictive” - a thread that Pawan Kumar has also used in Dhoomam. The film focuses on a secret formula that gets its users addicted to the product and how a death due to suicide becomes the trigger for an Army major to unveil a larger conspiracy. Though the film is produced on a big scale and serves as a warning for chain smokers, it will be enjoyed more by those who prefer social messages delivered with a dose of action.

Streaming on: SunNXT

The Insider

Probably the most gripping among all the entries in the list, director Michael Mann’s drama, starring Al Pacino and Russel Crowe, revolves around the ramifications a former tobacco company employee has to face once he decides to reveal damaging information about the industry’s practices. Dhoomam, in its way, also touches upon these dark secrets and the health risks that are leveraged to sell more products. However, what makes The Insider stand out is that it also serves as great cinema showcasing both investigative journalism as well as the struggles faced by whistleblowers in powerful industries. The story is all the more riveting as it is based on true incidents and highlights the moral dilemma that its protagonists have to go through while confronting larger corporations – be it the media or the tobacco industry.

Streaming on: YouTube