Thudarum: Why Tharun Moorthy was not in favour of Mohanlal's Shanmugham humming Ilaiyaraaja song

Thudarum: Tharun Moorthy on why he vetoed Mohanlal's suggestion of the protagonist, Shanmugham, humming a Tamil song by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja.

Mohanlal, Tharun Moorthy

Tharun Moorthy’s Thudarum, starring Mohanlal, has been running successfully in theatres, winning much love from audiences who have been praising the director for bringing back the vintage Lalettan. The director, who previously helmed Operation Java and Saudi Vellakka has been giving titbits of information and several BTS moments as he joined hands with the Lucifer star for his 360th film. Recently, Tharun Moorthy spoke about why he vetoed Mohanlal's suggestion of the protagonist, Shanmugham, humming a Tamil song by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja.

Tharun Moorthy on Ilaiyaraaja song in Mohanlal’s Thudarum

Thudarum stars Mohanlal in the lead role of Shanmugham, a cab driver in Ranni, who was once a stuntman in films in Madras. The 2025 Malayalam film is replete with references to yesteryear Tamil films, stars and even evergreen songs. In a recent interview with The Cue Studio, Tharun Moorthy said that Mohanlal had wondered wouldn’t Shanmugham be humming Ilaiyaraaja songs during a particular scene. However, Tharun Moorthy was not in favour of this.

"There is a bit of Illairaaja song (in the beginning) in Thudarum. Then in the following days, he kept asking me about which all Illairaaja songs can we use. But I told him - 'there are rights issues and all. We have asked for these songs.'"

Tharun Moorthy further recollected that Mohanlal was wondering if Shanmugham would be singing Illairaaja songs in moments when he becomes unstable.

"So, I was like - 'Sir it is a problem of rights'," the young director again reminded the iconic actor of Malayalam. But even before the sequence in Kambam, the actor asked about Illairaaja songs, but Tharun Moorthy informed him that it is not in his hands.

Thudarum plot

Thudarum follows Shanmugham’s life in Kerala’s Ranni with his loving family. However, his life is upended when his beloved ambassador is seized by the police for no fault of his. This sets off chain of events, and Shanmugham takes on the vile George sir and his police force as he fights for his son’s justice.

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