# Thankamani (film)

Thankamani (also known as Thankamani: The Bleeding Village) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language survival crime thriller film written and directed by Ratheesh Reghunandan and produced by R. B. Choudary under Super Good Films and Raaffi Mathirra under Iffaar Media. The film stars Dileep, with Manoj K. Jayan, Neetha Pillai, Pranitha Subhash, Malavika Menon, Ajmal Ameer, Siddique, Sudev Nair, Azees Nedumangad, John Vijay, Sampath Ram and Major Ravi in supporting roles. The film is based on a real-life incident that occurred in Thankamany in October 1986.
The film was officially announced in January 2023 under the tentative title D 148, being the 148th film of Dileep. The official title, Thankamani, was announced in September 2023. Principal photography began in January 2023 in Kottayam and wrapped up in August 2023. The filming took place in Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Poonjar, Kuttikkanam, Peermade, and Kattappana. The musical score was composed by William Francis, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Manoj Pillai and Shyam Sasidharan. The film was theatrically released on 7 March 2024. This movie was a box-office bomb.

## Premise

Police officer Arpita Nath is investigating the murder of two people - Retd. CI Eapen Mattakavan and Politician Varadarajan - and believes it is the work of a serial killer. She then finds a connection to the 1986 Thankamany tragedy and we are shown the backstory of what actually happened then, including human rights violations on a massive scale by the police.
At the centre of the story in 1986 is Abel Joshua Mathen who comes to Thankamany from Saudi Arabia where he is working, to meet his wife Anitha, mother and sister Rahel . He also meets his four childhood friends, including Roy, and gets to learn some things about them which he is not happy with. But just as he getting ready to go back to Saudi Arabia for his job in October, a massive fight breaks out in Thankamany which changes the destiny of everyone there, including him. And Arpita's investigation into the murders leads her to Abel. What is the connection?

## Cast

* Dileep as Abel Joshua Maathan alias Thankamani, Anitha's husband
* Neeta Pillai as Anitha Varkey, Abel's wife
* Pranitha Subhash as ACP Arpitha Nath IPS
* Manoj K. Jayan as Mani Peter, the main antagonist
* Siddique as George Peruvanthanam, News reporter
* Sudev Nair as Roy, Abel's friend and Rahael's love interest
* Malavika Menon as Rahael Joshua Maathan, Abel's sister
* Sivakami Anantha Narayan as Sister Lisy Varkey, Anitha's elder sister and Abel's sister in law
* Azees Nedumangad as Thankachan, Abel's friend
* Ajmal Ameer as Robin Paul IPS
* Santhosh Keezhattoor as SI Nithin Panicker
* John Vijay as Retd.SP Michael Kuruvila, former DYSP of Kattappana
* Sampath Ram as Retd.CI Eppan Mattakkavan
* Kottayam Ramesh as Varadharajan
* Major Ravi as DIG Urmees Tharakan IPS
* Rajesh Sharma as Maniyan Pillai
* Remya Panicker as SI Roshni
* Ambika Mohan as Chakkarayammachi, Abel's mother
* Jordi Poonjar as Thankamani SI
* James Elias as Ayyappan
* Sminu Sijo as Lilly, Anitha's mother and Abel's mother in law
* Nisthar Sait as Varkey, Anitha's father and Abel's father in law
* Anjana Mohan as Jwala
* Durga Krishna as Mercy Mani Peter, Mani Peter's daughter (cameo appearance)
* Spadikam Sunny (PN Sunny) as Podippara Vakkan, Mani Peter's right hand
* Sreeya Ramesh as Human Rights Commission official
* Geethi Sangeetha as Sauda
* Thomman Mankuva as Aloshy
* Jibin Gopinath as Achankunju
* Arun Sankaran Pavumba as Avira Aanthappan
* Dasettan Kozhikode
* Arun Punalur
* Sujith Pookkalam as Doctor
* Dinu Sathyan as Simon
* Ratheesh Reghunanthan as News Reader (cameo appearance)

## Production
### Development

Thankamani marks the first collaboration of Ratheesh Reghunandan, who previously directed Udal (2022), with Dileep. It is produced by R. B. Choudary under the banner Super Good Films, in association with Iffaar Media of Raaffi Mathirra. It will be the 97th production of Super Good Films and the 18th production of Iffaar Media. The film was tentatively titled D 148, as it is the 148th film of Dileep. The film was officially announced on 27 January 2023 in Kochi with a pooja ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Joshiy inaugurated the function by lighting the Nilavilakku, while Jiiva performed the switch-on, and producer Raaffi Mathirra gave the first clap. The official title Thankamani was announced on 4 September 2023. In order to shoot the action sequences, the makers have hired action directors like Siva, Supreme Sundar, Rajashekhar and Mafia Sasi.

### Casting

After her previous appearance in Paappan (2022), Neeta Pillai signed to play the female lead. Pranitha Subhash, who is making her debut in Malayalam cinema, was cast to play another female lead.

### Filming

Principal photography commenced with the first schedule on 28 January 2023 at CMS College Kottayam, and reportedly, around 500 junior artists were involved. Dileep joined the shoot in the first week of February. Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Poonjar, Kuttikkanam and Peermade were other prominent filming locations. The first schedule was completed on 8 March 2023 after a 40-day shoot. The crew began the second schedule on 8 May 2023 in Kattappana and nearby locations. With the help of art director Manu Jagath, a set was constructed on 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) of land near Kattappana to shoot some important scenes, involving a thousand junior artists for 15 days. The shooting wrapped up on 17 August 2023 in Kattappana.

## Reception

The Indian Express rated 1 out of 5 stars and wrote: "Dileep's performance in the film is particularly dismal, even worse than his previous work in Bandra." The Times of India rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ratheesh Reghunandan's film based on real-life incident fails to impress". Hindustan Times wrote "Dileep's film is a major let-down, dilutes real-life tragedy with needless romance". Onmanorama wrote "Dileep walks a tightrope between daring, melodrama" Times Now rated 3 out of 5 and wrote "a decent premise let down by poor screenplay".
The film underperformed at the box office.