No dull moments and so much to laugh! This could be the easiest and briefest way to describe Thamasha, directed by debutant Ashraf Hamza. The movie that narrates the story of Sreenivasan (Vinay Forrt), a Malayalam college professor with a bald head who finds it difficult to find a life partner because of baldness, comes with a message against body shaming. How the lead characters, especially one of the female leads, confront the situation with a touch of humour and elegance is what makes Thamasha worth a watch.
Vinay Forrt as Sreenivasan is a delight to watch though he shares a few traits of Forrt’s earlier portrayal ‘Java mash’ from the movie Premam. He has beautifully pulled off mannerisms of a character who is hopeless about life, and mistakes he makes in a hurry to find a life partner. Equally good is Navas Vallikkunnu, who plays Sreeni’s friend. They take the centre stage in the first half and tickle the audience’s funny bone with their quick-witted dialogues. In fact, the makers need mention for crafting the movie in a concise manner. Interestingly, food plays a key role in Thamasha. Not only those delicious dishes look appetising on screen, but they also serve as catalyst in igniting romance. Without being preachy, the movie says it is unfair and unnecessary to intrude into another person’s life. Most importantly, this realistic narrative also discusses how marriage market in Kerala is discriminative towards people considering their age and features. Many would be able to relate to the sequences.
Set in Ponnani, Thamasha has some scenic frames that enhance the mood of the characters and the movie as a whole. Although all three women have done a good job, Chinnu Chandini steals the show, perhaps because she enters at a very crucial point in the movie, a time when viewers yearn for such a move. Actually, besides Sreeni, it is Chinnu, the strong, smart and kind woman, who stays in our hearts while leaving the theatre. In short, Thamasha is a good stress buster!
