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Thankamani
Poster
Directed by	Ratheesh Reghunandan
Written by	Ratheesh Reghunandan
Produced by	R. B. Choudary Raaffi Mathirra
Starring	Dileep Neeta Pillai Manoj K Jayan Pranitha Subhash
Cinematography	Manoj Pillai
Edited by	Shyam Sasidharan
Music by	William Francis
Production companies	Super Good Films Iffaar Media
Distributed by	Dream Big Films Phars Films (Overseas) Yash Raj Films (UK/Europe)
Release date	7 March 2024 (2024-03-07)
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Thankamani (also known as Thankamani: The Bleeding Village) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language period crime thriller film written and directed by Ratheesh Reghunandan and produced by R. B. Choudary under Super Good Films and Raaffi Mathirra under Iffaar Media. The film stars Dileep, with Manoj K. Jayan, Neetha Pillai, Pranitha Subhash, Malavika Menon, Ajmal Ameer, Siddique, Sudev Nair, Azees Nedumangad, John Vijay, Sampath Ram and Major Ravi in supporting roles. The film is based on a real-life incident that occurred in Thankamany in October 1986.

The film was officially announced in January 2023 under the tentative title D 148, being the 148th film of Dileep. The official title, Thankamani, was announced in September 2023. Principal photography began in January 2023 in Kottayam and wrapped up in August 2023. The filming took place in Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Poonjar, Kuttikkanam, Peermade, and Kattappana. The musical score was composed by William Francis, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Manoj Pillai and Shyam Sasidharan. The film was theatrically released on 7 March 2024.

Premise

Police officer Arpita Nath is investigating the murder of two people - Retd. CI Eapen Mattakavan and Politician Varadarajan - and believes it is the work of a serial killer. She then finds a connection to the 1986 Thankamany tragedy and we are shown the backstory of what actually happened then, including human rights violations on a massive scale by the police.

At the centre of the story in 1986 is Abel Joshua Mathen who comes to Thankamany from Saudi Arabia where he is working, to meet his wife Anitha, mother and sister Rahel . He also meets his four childhood friends, including Roy, and gets to learn some things about them which he is not happy with. But just as he getting ready to go back to Saudi Arabia for his job in October, a massive fight breaks out in Thankamany which changes the destiny of everyone there, including him. And Arpita’s investigation into the murders leads her to Abel. What is the connection?

Cast

• Dileep as Abel Joshua Maathan alias Thankamani, Anitha's husband
• Neeta Pillai as Anitha Varkey / Anitha Abel, Abel's wife
• Pranitha Subhash as ACP Arpitha Nath IPS
• Manoj K. Jayan as Mani Peter, the main antagonist
• Siddique as George Peruvanthanam, News reporter
• Sudev Nair as Roy, Abel's friend and Rahael's love interest
• Malavika Menon as Rahael Joshua Maathan, Abel's sister
• Sivakami Anantha Narayan as Sister Lisy Varkey, Anitha's elder sister and Abel's sister in law
• Azees Nedumangad as Thankachan, Abel's friend
• Ajmal Ameer as Robin Paul IPS
• Santhosh Keezhattoor as SI Nithin Panicker
• John Vijay as Retd.SP Michael Kuruvila, former DYSP of Kattappana
• Sampath Ram as Retd.CI Eppan Mattakkavan
• Kottayam Ramesh as Varadharajan
• Major Ravi as DIG Urmees Tharakan IPS
• Rajesh Sharma as Maniyan Pillai
• Remya Panicker as SI Roshni
• Ambika Mohan as Chakkarayammachi, Abel's mother
• Jordi Poonjar as Thankamani SI
• James Elias as Ayyappan
• Nisthar Sait as Varkey, Anitha's father and Abel's father in law
• Sminu Sijo as Lilly, Anitha's mother and Abel's mother in law
• Anjana Mohan as Jwala
• Durga Krishna as Mercy Mani Peter, Mani Peter's daughter (cameo appearance)
• Spadikam Sunny (PN Sunny) as Podippara Vakkan, Mani Peter's right hand
• Sreeya Ramesh as Human Rights Commission official
• Geethi Sangeetha as Sauda
• Thomman Mankuva as Aloshy
• Jibin Gopinath as Achankunju
• Arun Sankaran Pavumba as Avira Aanthappan
• Dasettan Kozhikode
• Arun Punalur
• Sujith Pookkalam as Doctor
• Dinu Sathyan as Simon
• Ratheesh Reghunanthan as News Reader (cameo appearence)

Production

Development

Thankamani marks the first collaboration of Ratheesh Reghunandan, who previously directed Udal (2022), with Dileep. It is produced by R. B. Choudary under the banner Super Good Films, in association with Iffaar Media of Raaffi Mathirra. It will be the 97th production of Super Good Films and the 18th production of Iffaar Media. The film was tentatively titled D 148, as it is the 148th film of Dileep. The film was officially announced on 27 January 2023 in Kochi with a pooja ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Joshiy inaugurated the function by lighting the Nilavilakku, while Jiiva performed the switch-on, and producer Raaffi Mathirra gave the first clap. The official title Thankamani was announced on 4 September 2023. In order to shoot the action sequences, the makers have hired action directors like Siva, Supreme Sundar, Rajashekhar and Mafia Sasi.

Casting

After her previous appearance in Paappan (2022), Neeta Pillai signed to play the female lead. Pranitha Subhash, who is making her debut in Malayalam cinema, was cast to play another female lead.

Filming

Principal photography commenced with the first schedule on 28 January 2023 at CMS College Kottayam, and reportedly, around 500 junior artists were involved. Dileep joined the shoot in the first week of February. Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Poonjar, Kuttikkanam and Peermade were other prominent filming locations. The first schedule was completed on 8 March 2023 after a 40-day shoot. The crew began the second schedule on 8 May 2023 in Kattappana and nearby locations. With the help of art director Manu Jagath, a set was constructed on 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) of land near Kattappana to shoot some important scenes, involving a thousand junior artists for 15 days. The shooting wrapped up on 17 August 2023 in Kattappana.

Reception

The Indian Express rated 1 out of 5 stars and wrote: "Dileep’s performance in the film is particularly dismal, even worse than his previous work in Bandra." The Times of India rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ratheesh Reghunandan's film based on real-life incident fails to impress". Hindustan Times wrote "Dileep's film is a major let-down, dilutes real-life tragedy with needless romance". Onmanorama wrote "Dileep walks a tightrope between daring, melodrama" Times Now rated 3 out of 5 and wrote "a decent premise let down by poor screenplay".

The film underperformed at the box office.

References

1. "First look of Dileep's Thankamani out". Cinema Express. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023.
2. "Dileep starrer 'Thankamani's first single titled 'Kaathileeran'; release date announced!". The Times of India. 26 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
3. "'D 148': Dileep to team up with 'Udal' director for his next". The Times of India. 24 January 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023.
4. "Dileep's latest film 'Thankamani' based on true incidents wraps up shoot". Onmanorama. 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023.
5. "ദിലീപും 'ഉടലി'ന്റെ സംവിധായകനും ഒന്നിക്കുന്നു; നിർമാണം രണ്ട് പ്രമുഖ ബാനറുകൾ ചേർന്ന്". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023.
6. "'D148': Makers to launch the title of Dileep starrer on THIS day!". The Times of India. 1 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023.
7. "Dileep starrer 'D 148' begins with a pooja function; see pics". The Times of India. 27 January 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023.
8. "ദിലീപിന്റെ ബിഗ് ബജറ്റ് ചിത്രം; സിച്ച് ഓൺ നിർവഹിച്ച് ജീവ". Manorama Online (in Malayalam). 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023.
9. Nirmal (27 January 2023). "'ഉടല്‍' സംവിധായകന്‍റെ ദിലീപ് ചിത്രം; പ്രണിത സുഭാഷ് മലയാളത്തിലേക്ക്". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023.
10. "Dileep-Ratheesh Reghunandan's film titled 'Thankamani', title poster out!". The Times of India. 5 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023.
11. "Four Popular Action Directors Roped In For Dileep-starrer Malayalam Film Thankamani: Reports". News18. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023.
12. "Top South News: Dileep's Thankamani Enlists 4 Action Directors, Vijay Raghavendra's Heartfelt Tribute To Spandana". Times Now. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023.
13. Madhu, Vignesh (25 January 2023). "Neeta Pillai to play the female lead in Dileep's next?". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023.
14. Sidhardhan, Sanjith (24 January 2023). "Dileep's next with Udal director titled Thankammani? Neeta Pillai joins team as female lead". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023.
15. Madhu, Vignesh (28 January 2023). "Pranitha Subhash debuts in Malayalam with Dileep's next". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023.
16. ^ "ശേഷം സ്‌ക്രീനിൽ; ദിലീപ്, രതീഷ് രഘുനന്ദൻ ചിത്രം 'D148' ചിത്രീകരണം പൂർത്തിയായി". News18 Malayalam (in Malayalam). 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023.
17. "Dileep Completes Shooting For Ratheesh Reghunandan's Next Project". News18. 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023.
18. "Dileep joins the set of 'D148'; see pic". The Times of India. 7 February 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023.
19. ^ "വൻ മുതൽമുടക്കിൽ ഡി 148, സെറ്റിൽ ദിലീപ് ജോയിൻ ചെയ്തു". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023.
20. ^ "Second schedule of Dileep starrer 'D148' goes on floors in Kattappana". The Times of India. 12 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023.
21. Sidhardhan, Sanjith (14 March 2023). "Pranitha Subhash, Dileep wrap up first schedule of their big budget film, helmed by Udal director". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023.
22. "Second Schedule of Dileep-starrer D148 Begins In Kattappana". News18. 15 May 2023. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023.
23. "D 148: Dileep's next with Ratheesh Reghunandan wrapped up". Cinema Express. 18 August 2023. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023.
24. "It's a wrap for Dileep starrer 'D148'". The Times of India. 18 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023.
25. "Thankamani movie review: Dileep film offers a subpar 'fictional' take on a real-life incident of police monstrosity". 7 March 2024.
26. "Ratheesh Reghunandan's film based on real-life incident fails to impress". The Times of India. 7 March 2024.
27. "Dileep's film is a major let-down, dilutes real-life tragedy with needless romance". Hindustan Times. 7 March 2024.
28. "Dileep walks a tightrope between daring, melodrama". Onmanorama. 7 March 2024.
29. "A Decent Premise Let Down By Poor Screenplay". Times Now. 7 March 2024.
30. "'Thankamani' box office collection day 6: Dileep starrer goes downhill on Tuesday". The Times of India. 14 March 2024.

External links

• Thankamani at IMDb

• 2024 films
• 2020s Malayalam-language films
• Indian crime thriller films
• Films shot in Kottayam
• Films shot in Kattappana
• Films shot in Peermade
• Films shot in Kuttikkanam
• Indian films based on actual events