Certain films surprise us with their simple plot points, made on modest budgets yet delivering a captivating narrative. Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT) is one such gem.
After minting nearly Rs 60 crore at the box office, the film has now arrived on Netflix, ready to win over the OTT audience. Beneath its light-hearted surface lies a sharp and engaging satire on society.
The story unfolds in a village where two adjacent households share a long-standing dislike for each other. In one house, a marriage is scheduled for the very next day. In the neighbouring house, tragedy strikes when an elderly man passes away in the night.
What follows is a clash of emotions and egos. The deceased man’s son insists on conducting a grand funeral procession, while the wedding family refuses to postpone or shift the ceremony to the temple, citing sentiment and prestige.
Caught in the middle is the panchayat president, played with remarkable ease by Jiiva, who struggles to balance the sensitivities of both families.
What happens when a funeral procession and a wedding celebration attempt to pass through the same place at the same time forms the crux of this delightfully original film.
The beauty of TTT lies in its refusal to follow a formula. There is no conventional heroine-centric romance, no over-the-top villain, and no gravity-defying fights.
Instead, director Nithish Sahadev narrates the story organically, keeping the audience invested for its entire 1 hour 53 minute runtime, which clearly reflects his storytelling talent.
The film works best in the way it delivers a socially relevant message with humour and a sense of authenticity that feels natural and relatable, though the impact dips slightly in the latter half where the narrative stretches more than needed and a few overtly preachy moments could have been trimmed for a crisper experience.
Thambi Ramaiah, Ilavarasu, Prathana Nathan, Jensen Dhivakar and Jaiwanth appear in supporting roles, delivering their performances with effortless ease and convincing naturalism.
Overall, TTT is an interesting and refreshing watch and deserves a place in your OTT watchlist this week.
