As was the case with Maharaja (Vijay Sethupathi, Nithilan Saminathan), Thalavan has a simple revenge story at heart that can be summarized in one line. However, what makes it a sensational police procedural is the sheer number of different characters involved in the story, the two different investigations happening for the same case, and the cacophony created by the assemblage of all these characters—each having something or the other to do with the central plot but not necessarily being integral to the crime or its ultimate solution.
The story revolves around two police officers, Jayashankar (Biju Menon) and Karthik (Asif Ali), who work at the same police station but hate each other’s guts. They keep crossing paths and getting into tiffs with each other until the fateful day when the dead body of a woman is discovered in Jayashankar’s house, and the investigation is handed over to Karthik.
Several complex characters:
While it is anybody’s guess what the general perception of a story of this nature might be, Jis Joy, not only creates a rollicking mystery using the two characters as the centerpieces but also ensures that the story and the investigation move at such a breakneck pace that one has to momentarily step back and revisit previous events to keep track of the many characters and their respective contributions to the story.
Tension between Jayashankar and Karthik at the heart of the story:
I was particularly impressed by how efficiently the director uses the conflict between Jayashankar and Karthik to build up tension. As an audience, you are never sure whether Karthik will handle the case honestly. We are also never sure whether Jayashankar and Karthik will interfere in each other’s investigations and do something detrimental to both. This is something that nearly happens toward the climax of the film.
In addition to the palpable tension between the investigating officer and the accused, Jayashankar’s cause for innocence is seriously threatened by a gamut of characters who have a score to settle with him. At least one other policeman, whom he had arrested for unsavoury conduct, is out to ensure he never gets out. Another man he had wronged may want revenge against him. If that weren’t enough, the murdered woman had been in contact with Jayashankar, and he has a personal vendetta against her husband, who is in jail for a life-threatening assault on Jayashankar’s wife. All these factors come together to create a simmering drama that never reveals its cards until the very end and is brimming with energy and intrigue.
As is the case with most Malayalam police procedurals, Thalavan is an extremely character-driven drama where there is always someone talking, and every word has significance. You cannot ignore a single line of dialogue; if you do, you’ll miss something important in the narrative. There are also some characters in the story who are there just for misdirection and feel integral to the plot.
The expressions and mannerisms of the actors are key to understanding some of the most important elements and dramatic beats of the story. Therefore, it is advisable to watch the film uninterrupted and preferably in a language you understand without subtitles. Watching it with subtitles may spoil the natural dialogue delivery, along with the emotions and expressions it brings. However, watching the film in its original language with subtitles can feel like a chore, at least on the first viewing. The Hindi dubbing, though, wasn’t too bad.
Biju Menon’s measured portrayal of a man in conflict:
Biju Menon once again delivers a terrific performance. He plays an intriguing character who acts so out of control at certain points that, throughout the course of the story, you begin to feel that he might have killed the woman in question. Then again, he shows flashes of softness and character that make you question whether he could have done something so inhuman. No matter what his actions or the situations suggest, Biju Menon’s expressions always tell you that he couldn’t have done what he is accused of.
This wasn’t something simple or easy to pull off, and it needed to be executed successfully to have the impact that it ultimately does on the character. His chemistry with Asif Ali, though limited in screen time, is wonderful. They share just enough camaraderie toward the end to justify the evolution of their relationship and to deliver the desired impact in the climax. While Biju Menon maintains a single expression throughout, it works effectively in this context as that is how his character is essentially.
Asif Ali gives results with clinical easy:
Asif Ali, on the other hand, plays a cop who is upright, honest, and very conscious of his position and power within the hierarchy. He refuses to bow down to anyone, and even when he does something that might be a breach of the chain of command, he isn’t afraid to stand by his decision. His altercations with Biju Menon feel incredibly real and have a significant impact, building their rivalry and setting up their respective characters for the perfect subversion of expectations in the climax. Karthik is someone with political power backing him, but it doesn’t help him much in his endeavours. Instead, it creates even more pressure on him to do things right, avoiding the temptation to use the situation and opportunity to punish Jayashankar for all the altercations that they’ve had in the past.
Supporting cast elevates the narrative:
The supporting cast of the film does wonders for the storytelling and drama. At least three of the supporting cast members not only add to the intrigue of the story but also elevate the mystery and enjoyment of the film with their performances. Kottayam Nazeer, as police constable Raghu, who has a long-standing enmity with Jayashankar, Jaffer Idukki, as Allappan, a character who feels irrelevant until the last scene but then assumes unprecedented importance, and Bilas Chandrahasan Nair, as Sivadhasan, who starts off as a regular lead in the investigation but reveals hidden depth as the story progresses, are absolutely fantastic throughout the film.
These actors not only enhance an already well-laid-out story by making their respective characters feel intriguing and important, but they also have a compounded impact on the narrative. Each of these actors has the ability to keep the audience hooked even when the primary characters are not on screen. That is exactly what they do, and the film benefits immensely from the strength of their performances.
Thalavan is the kind of film you should walk into blind, without even watching its trailer. There is so much I want to write about, but I can’t, as it would amount to spoilers, and I’m confident that many of my readers haven’t seen this film yet, even though it has been making waves in Kerala and has been promoted quite a bit online. If you enjoy films like Anweshippin Kandethum, Por Thozhil, and Kannur Squad, you will definitely enjoy this film, even though it isn’t as shocking as some of the others on that list.
Rating: 3.5/5 (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
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