Thiruchitrambalam movie review: A fantastic Nithya Menen and a likeable Dhanush star in an endearing rom-com

3.5/5

Story: There have only been a bunch of memorable films in Tamil about friendships and love because very few filmmakers devote time and effort to perfecting a genre that has been done to death. Thiruchitrambalam weaves an upbeat tale about Thiru aka Pazham (Dhanush), his best friend (Nithya Menen), cop-father (Prakash Raj), and grandfather (Bharathiraja).

Review: When a Dhanush film is about to be released, one can feel the overall good vibes from the carefully-crafted promos to the songs. I must say that the experience lived up to the hype. While there's no denying that epic superhero adventures and thriller stories make for compelling viewing, a nice slice-of-life film can equally do the trick. Case in point: Thiruchitrambalam.

Directed by Mithran Jawahar, this one gives you the feeling of home, a sense of comfort and familiarity. Thiruchitrambalam works because it’s a universe we recognise and belong to.

We get a typical Chennai middle-class set-up. There's a colony, and we see contrasting people. It has been more than ten years since Pazham and Neelakantan spoke. (I'm not going to tell you why.) Their relationship is anything but normal. Yet, slowly, their deep and abiding love for each other is shown. 

Mithran Jawahar's cinematic world mirrors the little joys and struggles that are the stuff of everyday life in the middle-class lane. His characters are real, and not overambitious. They are ordinary like Pazham. Most of Thiruchitrambalam feels real like we are watching people from right behind them. Every spoken line is casual yet loaded with meaning. It is this approach to the material (a blend of drama and conventional romantic and emotional tropes) that helps Thiruchitrambalam sustain a steady rhythm. No overly jarring notes interrupt its flow.

On the other hand, we are shown the dynamics that Pazham and his grandfather share. But, it is Pazham's friendship with his neighbour and best friend Shobana that drives the story forward. It's amazing how quickly we invest in their friendship as if it were ours. We own their happiness, laughter, misunderstandings and tears. It is ultimately our empathy for these characters that compels us to stick with Thiruchitrambalam, even when it appears to be painfully generic, sometimes.

It's refreshing to see Dhanush, a well-established star, choose a script like Thiruchitrambalam that relies on honest, simple and bittersweet storytelling. Yes, it's the same old story with the same old characters and emotions. But a fun-filled and fairly realistic screenplay makes the treatment fresh and entertaining.

For Dhanush, Thiruchitrambalam is a tailor-made role. With his unkempt hair, and scraggly beard, the actor has the body language of a frustrated young man in love and confusion. Obviously, he's got the gift of the gab and a flair for comedy. He is, as always, effortlessly on the ball!

Bharathiraja has some solid screen-time in Thiruchitrambalam, and has made good use of it. There was a time in the 1990s when rom-coms were extremely common and every other week, a film in that genre would hit the big screen. It is no longer true, but it makes sense for writers to pay more attention and compile something that ticks the boxes for the millennial crowd just like team Thiruchitrambalam. It's far superior to relying on the same old tropes and hoping against hope that a new lead pair and an unoriginal characterisation idea will help them hit the jackpot.

The Dhanush-starrer gets many things right: friendships, relationships, loss, grief, understanding, forgiveness, acceptance and more. The film is funny, but does not trivialise the serious concerns at hand. Even as I type this review, I hum the infectious Thaai Kelavi. I can’t get this song out of my mind. It is simply a vibe! (Notably, Thiruchitrambalam marks the return of the Dhanush-Anirudh combo after 2015’s Thanga Magan.)

In Thiruchitrambalam, Dhanush and Nithya Menen exhibit the type of chemistry that is often missing in this genre. What’s remarkable is that the duo could find the sync seamlessly. Watch them gracefully dance to Anirudh's tunes in Megam Karukatha... Both display a splendid performance, which ensures that eyes well up without notice and the smile refuse to fade away.

Thiruchitrambalam reminded me of Velaiilla Pattadhari, Pa Paandi and Oh My Kadavule in bits and pieces, for obvious reasons. Like Raghuvaran, Thiruchitrambalam can be anyone—you or me. And, that's the strength of the film. Dhanush settles into his role beautifully; not a single moment is overplayed. 

First, he's interested in Anusha (Raashii Khanna)—that doesn't work. He's sad for a couple of days, of course; then forgets. Next, it's Ranjani (Priya Bhavani Shankar). This fails, too! Thiruchitrambalam doesn't stalk them or get creepy. He moves on. Thanks to Ilaiyaraaja! We get a medley of the maestro's evergreen songs, as a surprise package that lends a definitive tone to the narration. 

The climax is thoroughly predictable, which is a blazing disappointment because the premise of Thiruchitrambalam is refreshing... By the time you're nearing the end, you've got to wonder what was the point of making it! Still, I'd say, those flaws are forgivable. 

At no point does Nithya Menen look unsure of her screen presence. She's adorable and steals the show with her acting chops. There are many obvious truths that Thiruchitrambalam throws light on—how it’s both easy and hard to forgive someone we love—how no normal life is free of drama, heartbreaks, and how good, bad, ugly and everything in between, co-exist. 

I mumbled to myself, "Vairam ondrai kaiyil vaithu, yengae thedi alaindhaayo!"

After Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Kutty, Uthamaputhiran, Dhanush and Mithran Jawahar, make the magic happen with Thiruchitrambalam, again! Every character is chiselled with care. There is nothing put on. Most of the scenes will stay with you long after the credits roll. Here's some pleasant laugh-inducing romantic fare for you, if you're in the mood for something funny, something cool!

Verdict: Thiruchitrambalam is another example of a familiar story, making a decent watch simply because it's been made differently. It is the screenplay which notches up the top place, even if the second half gets predictable. It’s the trio of a measured Bharathiraja (no one else could have become the wholesome senior Thiru), an outstanding Nithya Menen, with her close-ups of lingering pain (perhaps, her most refined role yet, this year) and an unassuming Dhanush, who are the heart and soul of the film.