'It was Mohanlal who suggested it': Ranjith reveals secret behind 'Thudarum' character

Actor Mohanlal played a major role not just on screen but also behind the scenes in shaping his character for the film Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy.

According to producer Rajaputra Ranjith, several key elements in the movie were Mohanlal’s suggestions.

Initially, the script portrayed the lead character as a retired taxi driver based in Madras. However, it was Mohanlal who proposed changing the character to a former stuntman, which, according to Ranjith, made the action sequences more convincing. “Even the shout of ‘Murugha’ before a major fight sequence was Mohanlal’s idea,” Ranjith revealed, adding that such a call was common among veteran stuntmen.

The film stars Mohanlal as Shanmughan, a taxi driver, with Shobana appearing as Lalitha, a homemaker. The cast also includes Farhaan Faasil, Maniyanpilla Raju, Binu Pappu, Irshad Ali, Prakash Varma, and others.

The script was co-written by director Tarun Moorthy and K.R. Sunil. 'Thudarum' was released on April 25, and within just three days, the film entered the 50 crore club. By the sixth day, it surpassed 100 crore in global earnings.

Thudarum collected a remarkable Rs 5.5 crore on its opening day. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, it marks the second-biggest opening for a Malayalam film this year. Topping the list is none other than Mohanlal himself, with L2: Empuraan registering a massive Rs 18.6 crore on its debut day.