Thankamani (film)

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 and 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. The film received highly negative reviews from both critics and audiences and emerged as a commercial failure.

Premise
In Idukki's Thankamani, the narrative centers on Abel Joshua Mathan, a Gulf returnee. Abel is spending a holiday at home when the infamous Thankamani incident occurs. His family becomes embroiled in it, and so does the plot's resolution. Even though he loses his wife, Anitha, in the incident, he decides to fight the people responsible.

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 acre 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
Thankamani received highly negative reviews from both critics and audiences with criticism for the screenplay, direction, making, and Dileep's performance. 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". It emerged as a box office bomb.

Controversies
The teaser of the film, which was released on 2023 December, depicts women being sexually assaulted inside a police station. V R Biju argues that such scenes will paint Thankamani in a bad light. Showing such scenes will isolate the village from mainstream society, the petitioner argued.