Director Preethi Panikkar's film which pivots around a murder is neither a mystery nor a thriller, but a mixture of rowdy comedy and unbearable drama.
Rosie (Rachana Narayanankutty) is a singer who makes her ends meet by singing, and exposing her body to patrons at clubs and liquor bars. Together with her cougar friends, she is having the time of her life. Until when she witnesses a murder at the hands of an unscrupulous businessman (Siddique). Making a run for her life, she reports to the nearest police station whose chief advises her to hide out at a convent hostel run by nuns. This episode is estimated to change her lousy life forever.
The story is straight out of a rundown crime drama, only the problem with this reproduction is its shoddy execution. Characters cracking cheap jokes with pornographic innuendos, introducing slapstick in sequences that demand seriousness, and singing songs like all's well - are some of the highlights of the story which has nothing to offer other than the central character's scornful face.
Nothing much can be expected from Narayankutty for she mainly sticks to a single expression and air throughout the 140 minutes of runtime. The supporting cast, most of them fresh out of comedy reality shows, try to add humor into everything and often do not succeed. It is disheartening to see veterans like Siddique and Manoj K Jayan being a part of such embarrassing creations where it is evident that the makers had no vision in mind, but just wanted to make these actresses dance to their tunes and give in to the male gaze. But I'm sure it didn't work.
BOTTOM LINE: Preethi Panikkar's "Thilothama" is a stale bread which should be thrown where it belongs: a dustbin. Change the channel if and when it premieres on TV.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
