Today I went to watch Thandakaaranyam, directed by Athiyan Athirai, I expected a hard-hitting survival drama set against the vastness of a hill-forest landscape. The premise certainly promised that: a modest forest guard from a remote village suddenly thrown into a life-altering situation. And on paper, the film has all the elements of a powerful socio-political thriller. Yet, while the story is rooted in a distressing real incident involving a major scam in Jharkhand, what unfolds on screen is far more uneven than its compelling foundation deserved.
A Promising Beginning in the Forested Hinterlands
The film opens in a hill-forest village, where Kalaiyarasan plays a temporary forest guard working diligently in the Forest Department. His aspirations are humble but deeply relatable – if he completes a few more days of service, his job could become permanent. That small hope forms the emotional spine of the first act.
However, unexpected confusions within the department derail his prospects. Before he even understands what went wrong, his future is abruptly pushed off course. At this vulnerable moment, someone tells him of a remarkable opportunity: a training centre in North India, and If he goes there and finishes that training he will be placed in the paramilitary forces – but they say he has to pay some money for it.
His family, striving against poverty and desperate for a better future for him, sells everything they own to send him there. But once he arrives, the narrative sharply pivots. Kalaiyarasan discovers a shocking truth about the training centre – one that reframes everything he and his family sacrificed. From this point forward, the film tries to unravel the mystery and consequences surrounding this scam, which is based on a true incident tied to the so-called rehabilitation of Naxalites in Jharkhand.
A Strong Story Burdened by Confused Storytelling
This is where I felt the film losing the clarity it needed. The makers certainly chose a story that deserved to be told – one grounded in exploitation, systemic failures, and the vulnerability of ordinary families. The problem, however, lies in how the narrative has been shaped.
The film seems torn between being a documentary-style exposé and a commercial cinematic experience. Had the director focused solely on the core scam narrative, Thandakaaranyam could easily have become a striking, realistic documentary with immense emotional weight. Instead, the screenplay vacillates, attempting to blend realism with stylised heroism.
This confusion becomes especially evident with the introduction of Dinesh’s portions, written and presented almost like a mass-hero subplot. These sequences feel tonally disconnected from Kalaiyarasan’s grounded storyline, diluting the authenticity and emotional intensity that the film initially built.
Kalaiyarasan’s segments, on the other hand, remain deeply realistic and impactful. Whenever the film stays with him, the emotion feels genuine, the fear feels personal, and the betrayal feels intimate. I only wish the script trusted this stronger segment more.
The Familiarity Challenge – When Past Films Overshadow the Present
Tamil cinema has delivered some unforgettable investigative dramas in recent years – Viduthalai, Visaranai, and even Taanakkaran come to mind. These films work because they maintain a palpable tension between the viewer and the characters. We often sense impending danger before the characters do, and that dramatic irony fuels our engagement.
In Thandakaaranyam, though, both the audience and the characters remain equally unaware of looming disaster. By the time the protagonist discovers the scam, we too are confronted with the twist at the same exact moment. While the shock is indeed delivered, everything that preceded it feels disconnected – as if we were watching a completely different film until that point. That lack of foreboding diminishes the emotional payoff.
Furthermore, many scenes fall into déjà vu territory. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had already seen similar setups, similar confrontations, and similar atmospheres in earlier, superior films. When the familiar overshadows the fresh, the overall impact naturally weakens.
Characters That Should Have Been Stronger
One of the biggest strengths of films like Visaranai or Viduthalai is the unforgettable characters – each sharply written and emotionally resonant. Thandakaaranyam misses this mark. Although the film introduces several characters, only two truly stay with us: the Amitabh character and another named Ustad. Their presence hints at what the film could have achieved had the writing been more layered across the board.
Kalaiyarasan’s character is emotionally strong, yes, but the world around him feels underdeveloped. With richer characterisation, the entire narrative could have gained deeper weight and complexity.
A Film for the Socially Aware, Not the Entertainment-Seeker
Despite its flaws, Thandakaaranyam undeniably carries a unique and relevant story. If you are someone who wakes up reading the newspaper, follows national affairs, watches prime-time debates, or feels weighed down by the harsh truths of society, this film will resonate with you. It will speak to your moral consciousness and remind you of the human cost behind sensational headlines.
But if you seek pure entertainment, emotional release, or escapism, this film may feel average. Its tonal inconsistencies, structural confusion, and familiar patterns might prevent you from fully investing in the journey.
Final Verdict
Thandakaaranyam is a film with its heart in the right place, rooted in a powerful real-life incident that deserved cinematic attention. But its confused storytelling approach, uneven pacing, and unnecessary commercial elements prevent it from becoming the impactful cinematic experience it could have been.
Rating: 3/5
