Thangalaan

“Thangalaan offers a satisfactory experience in visual and cerebral storytelling, blending the search for gold with supernatural mythology and the moral consequences of greed during the British Raj.”

“The magical realism in the final act does make us wonder how much of what's unfolding is happening inside Thangalaan's head, but Ranjith's refusal to spell it out is what makes the film singular. And while history may have played out otherwise when it came to deciding the fate of the workers who worked in the Kolar gold fields, the director's revisionist take doesn't come across as fanciful, but only as an effort at self-assertion.”

“THANGALAAN works due to its theme and Pa Ranjith's execution”

“Pa Ranjith really knows how to create a world. Never once during Thangalaan do you doubt the authenticity of its period setting—of clothes, of language, of behaviour.”

“Pa Ranjith conjures up a familiar world with familiar beats but gives it a neo-magical touch that reimagines the plight of the oppressed by giving their thoughts a platform, and meaning to their suffering. Thangalaan is that kind of film that could have done with more breathing space, and a more expansive, even briefly expository, narrative.”

“The film is too abstract for its own good.”

“Thangalaan has quite a few momentous segments fuelled by Ranjith's unapologetically pertinent politics and fantastic performances. But whether they come together cohesively is a different question; the shimmer dims every now and then. The writing also lacks depth and gives very little space for us to establish an emotional connection.”

“Pa Ranjith's film is intertwined with some fantasy and mystical realism. A must watch for Vikram fans.”