Tharunam Movie Review: A compelling character-driven thriller that keeps us guessing

With his second directorial venture Tharunam, Arvindh Srinivasan delivers a slick yet engaging film that masterfully blends action, suspense, and unconventional character dynamics. The film revolves around three characters, each with a relationship history. When we first meet them, each of them has been through a traumatic event. Meera and Rohith (Smruthi Venkat and Raj Ayyappa) get into a dangerous accident, forcing the girl to tend to her boyfriend with a broken neck. Meera's dedication to caring for Rohith is complex, stemming from a sense of duty that makes up for her wavering mind about the relationship. On the other hand, a CRPF officer named Arjun (Kishen Das) accidentally kills his own colleague during an undercover mission and gets suspended as a result. These may initially seem like inconsequential events in the larger context, but they help explain the characters and the choices they make.

For instance, police training and rigorous missions that put his life at stake have made Arjun a mentally tough individual. He has an eye for detail and does not hesitate to disregard certain dictates and break some bones when he must. Director Arvindh, along with cinematographer Raja Bhattacharjee, stages a fight sequence in a parking area that sets our pulses racing yet offers more than mere excitement. The fight sequence is captivating because Arjun faces an unknown assailant and an uncertain outcome. When the dust settles, however, his response is a chillingly passive-aggressive gesture.

Tharunam also has an unconventional love story that does not veer away from the main plot. While the director uses convenient ideas, such as an accident or a sudden relationship fallout, to bring the protagonists together at different points, the directions he chooses to go with them are fascinating. When Arjun decides to cover up a major crime, for instance, he does it with such meticulousness that it seems second nature to him. When an old woman tries to barge into Meera’s bedroom without invitation, she has an urgent need to get information about her missing relative. It does not feel contrived, which is amazing because we get to spend so little time with the woman. Geetha Kailasam conveys urgency solely through her expressive eyes, further enhancing the scene's emotional resonance.

Speaking of performances, Kishen Das has a boyish charm that sometimes belies the brutality of his character. The actor exhibits lack of experience in some places, but it is hard to fault his committed performance. He fights with a great sense of kinetic energy and performs his stunts with much conviction. Kishen also lets us in on his character’s psyche without having to rely too much on dialogue. Smruthi Venkat and Raj Ayyappa also deliver competent performances. The weak link in the film is the slight sense of uneventfulness it evokes when the focus falls on two characters in a confined location. There is always excitement in knowing what the characters are up to, but the film seems to dwell on it too much, which takes away the momentum. Director Arvindh tries to overcome this narrative constraint by organically bringing Bala Saravanan's character into the story, but this only works to an extent.

However, ultimately, these are just minor reservations as Tharunam rewards our time and patience with a satisfying climax. The filmmaker has successfully crafted a film that draws its suspense and drama from the confluence of its carefully curated moments. He masterfully employs subtle foreshadowing, skilfully weaving seemingly insignificant details, leading to satisfying payoffs.