Thappana

Thappana
Film poster
Directed by	Johny Antony
Produced by	Milan Jaleel
Screenplay by	M. Sindhuraj
Based on	Ashapoorna Devi's work
Starring	Mammooty Charmy Kaur Murali Gopy
Music by	Vidyasagar
Cinematography	Raaja Ratnam
Edited by	Ranjan Abraham
Distributed by	Galaxy Films & PJ Entertainments
Running time	150 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Budget	65 million (US$1.0 million)

Thappana is a 2012 Malayalam film based on the work by famous Bengali novelist Ashapurna Debi and directed by Johny Antony. The film stars Mammootty, Charmy Kaur and Murali Gopy in lead roles. It tells the story of two convicts, the petty thief Samson (Mammootty) and a young girl Mallika (Charmy Kaur), who are released from prison on the same day. Samson accompanies the depressed girl on her journey back home in Karippa and finds out the cause of the murder attempt on Mallika's husband.

The film was released on 19 August 2012. The movie become an above average earner. .^[1]

Plot

Samson (Mammootty) and Mallika (Charmy Kaur) have just been released from prison. Samson is a small time thief to whom prison is a "second home" while Mallika went to prison for murdering someone to save her husband from being killed. Samson falls in love with the girl at first sight. He decides to accompany her on the journey back home, but during the entire journey, Mallika is absolutely quiet and refuses to utter a word to him. She seems depressed and lonely. Shocking things await her when she reaches her home in Karippa to meet her husband Manikuttan/Kannukuttan (Murali Gopy). Kannukuttan was having an affair with their neighbour's wife, and it was the jealous husband who had wanted to kill Kannukuttan. Mallika gives quotation to Samson for killing Kannukuttan. Samson, after some brilliant plots and a fight sequence, defeats Kannukuttan, but never killed him. Later he tells Mallika that he doesn't want to go back to prison again for killing him, because he fell in love with Mallika and he want to live a new life with her. Mallika, realising Samson's love for the first time, agrees and goes with him in the end.

Production

Thappana was launched on 5 March 2012.^[2] The movie started production in mid-April and was mostly filmed in Kochi. Principal photography for the film was completed in 100 days, ahead of the schedules that was originally planned for 60 days.^[3][4]

Thappana got released in 80 theatres in worldwide. It was released with a 'U' certificate. .

Critical reception

IndiaGlitz gave the movie 6.5/10, saying that "'Thaappana' is not an unique work, but offers an ordinary watch that may please you for this festival season. If marketed well, 'Thappana' may also end the recent flop show of the Superstar."^[5]

The Times of India gave the movie 3.5/5, stating that "Director Johny Antony does play to the multitude at times but his grip on the narrative never loosens and notches up a film that may not be remarkable but surely worth watching."^[6]

Metro Matinee gave the movie a verdict of "Watchable", saying that "Thappana is an extremely simple movie, with its raw humour and earthy wise cracks. Both the story and the humour could be easily related. There are no major shortcomings and the little ones could be ignored. An ordinary story has been made endearing through some good script writing, spectacular photography, sensible acting and direction. The humour might annoy the prude but provides continuous enjoyment to the rest. A perfect prescription for family audiences. In short, a fairly nice option, if you don’t think too much!"^[7]

Paresh C Palicha of Rediff gave the movie 2.5/5, concluding that "Thappana has the flavour of a typical star film like Rajamanikyam or Mayavi, but it does not go overboard nor is it overly dependent on the star."^[8]

References

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