It’s not often that a Mohanlal movie releases without much hype, especially after he delivered Malayalam cinema’s biggest blockbuster recently. But Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy, broke that pattern. The team chose not to over-promote the film and instead let the story and performances speak for themselves. And it worked — Thudarum opened with an impressive Rs 5.5 crore on its first day, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.
Thudarum : Second-Biggest Malayalam Opener of 2025
Thudarum has now earned the title of the second-biggest Malayalam opener of 2025. The only film ahead of it is L2: Empuraan, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal, which made Rs 18.6 crore on its opening day. Despite facing delays before release, Thudarum outperformed other recent big films like Mammootty’s Bazooka, Alappuzha Gymkhana, and Rekhachithram, which opened with Rs 3.2 crore, Rs 2.65 crore, and Rs 1.9 crore respectively.
High Occupancy Rates Show Strong Interest
One of the biggest highlights of Thudarum’s opening day was the amazing occupancy in theatres. The movie recorded an overall occupancy of 62.27%, with evening and night shows doing even better at 68.25% and 84%. In cities like Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kollam, Kottayam, and Alappuzha, night show occupancy was between 95% and 99%, showing how much excitement the film generated among the audience.
Positive Reviews and Warm Audience Reception
The good news doesn’t stop there. Critics have praised Thudarum for bringing back the ‘vintage Mohanlal’ that fans love. Audiences are also sharing positive reviews, calling it an emotional and well-made family drama. With such a great response, the movie is expected to perform even better over the weekend.
After seeing the love Thudarum received, Mohanlal shared an emotional note on social media. He thanked fans for embracing the film, saying,
“I’m deeply moved and truly humbled by the love and heartfelt response for Thudarum. Thank you for opening your hearts to this story and embracing it with such grace. This gratitude belongs to every single person who walked this journey with me.”
He also praised his team, including director Tharun Moorthy, producer M Renjith, cinematographer Shaji Kumar, composer Jakes Bejoy, and his co-stars Shobana, Binu Pappu, and Prakash Varma.
A Special Reunion and a Heartfelt Story
Thudarum is special for another reason too — it marks the reunion of Mohanlal and Shobana after almost 20 years, their last movie together being Mambazhakkalam in 2004. The film tells the story of a simple family man whose life turns upside down when his beloved car becomes the center of a legal battle. The movie also features standout performances from Prakash Varma, Binu Pappu, Farhaan Faasil, Thomas Mathew, and Bharathiraja.
Backed by M Renjith, Thudarum is Tharun Moorthy’s third film after the critically acclaimed Operation Java and Saudi Vellakka. With a strong emotional core, solid performances, and now a powerful start at the box office, Thudarum seems to be another winner for Malayalam cinema this year.
