Title – Dhoomam, Duration 2H 23M, Genre – Drama – Thriller, Verdict – Dhoomam usher caution.
Writer-Director – Pawan Kumar, Producer – Vijay Kiraganduru, Music – Poornachandra Tejasvi, Cinematographer – Preetha Jayaraman, Art Director Anees Nadodi
Cast – Fahadh Faasil, Aparna Balamurali Roshan Mathew, Vineeth, Achyuth Kumar, Dharmanna Kadur, and others.
‘Dhooomam’ the first Malayalam film directed and produced by well-known filmmakers from Karnataka Pawan Kumar of Lucia and U-turn fame along with Hombale films of KGF and Kantara fame was one of the most awaited films for the film admirers this year. A film that revolves around the impact of smoking not just on primary participants but also on those who are victims of passive smoking.
Pawan Kumar who is known for his thriller genre films with societal messages that are popular ignorant mistakes of everyday living this time too creates another immersive experience viewing bringing awareness towards the world of smoking a cigarette by not just the generic information like how it is a slow killer or cancer stick but goes in depth from the manufacturing, marketing, and lifestyle elements that are working together to keeping people addicted to the habit.
The dialogues of the film are informative and thought-provoking. There are subtle elements like when Fahadh’s character says “You can’t tell the food is bad openly in public when it is popular” which points out the FOMO culture that is built around us adding a thin layer of dark humor to the moment; also when the character played by Aparna Balamurali is made to smoke the cigarettes to staying alive was ironic and paradoxical.
Having said that the movie has its elements in place, this dream team of actors and makers of Indian cinema coming together had big expectations created for the film that the audience are skeptic wondering if it was up to its true potential nevertheless movie like this with the BIG message like how we humans are individually and societally falling traps to marketing techniques and becoming victims of addiction should be viewed at least ones by all the members of the family.
Though the movie has been originally shot in Malayalam, the makers have informed that they have given minute attention to the Kannada dubbed version which is released in more than 150 screens across.
