Dhoomam Movie Review Critics Are Raving About This Blockbuster Hit

Pawan Kumar‘s “Dhoomam” attempts to shed light on the manipulations and marketing tactics employed by the tobacco industry, presenting itself as a thriller. Starring Fahadh Faasil, Aparna Balamurali, and Roshan Mathew, the film follows a couple, Avinash and Dia, who are kidnapped and forced to confront their past involvement with the tobacco company. However, despite its intriguing premise, the movie falls short of engaging the audience and fails to strike a balance between its message and entertainment value.

The film’s opening introduces Avinash, a former marketing head of a tobacco company, and his wife Dia, who find themselves in a life-threatening situation after being kidnapped. As they grapple with their predicament, Avinash reflects on his past work in the tobacco industry, providing a detailed account of its operations, marketing strategies, and the ethical dilemmas associated with promoting a harmful product. While the intention to expose the inner workings of the industry is commendable, the movie becomes too focused on delivering this message, neglecting its primary goal of engaging the audience. Unlike “Thank You For Smoking,” which successfully balanced its exploration of the tobacco industry with quirky characters and witty dialogues, “Dhoomam” struggles to maintain a captivating narrative. The film delves too deeply into the manipulations and marketing techniques of the tobacco giants, overwhelming the audience with an abundance of information. Consequently, the thrilling aspect of the plot takes a backseat, and the audience’s interest wanes.

Although Fahadh Faasil delivers a commendable performance as Avinash, showcasing the internal conflict and moral dilemmas faced by his character, the film fails to capitalize on its talented cast. Aparna Balamurali and Roshan Mathew, while competent in their roles, are underutilized and do not have sufficient character development or impactful moments to leave a lasting impression. The direction and execution of “Dhoomam” lack the finesse and balance required to make it an engrossing thriller. The pacing of the movie feels uneven, with a heavy focus on expositional dialogue and flashbacks, which hinder the flow of the narrative. Additionally, the film’s attempts at building suspense and tension fall flat, and the resolution of the plot feels rushed and unsatisfying.

While the film’s message about the tobacco industry’s deceitful practices and the dangers of smoking is important, it overshadows the entertainment value and fails to provide the necessary engagement for the audience. A more effective approach would have been to strike a better balance between the social commentary and the elements that make a thriller engaging. In conclusion, “Dhoomam” falls short of its potential as a captivating thriller due to its heavy-handed focus on the manipulations of the tobacco industry. Despite commendable performances from the cast, the film lacks the necessary balance between its message and entertainment value, resulting in a lackluster viewing experience.