Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige movie review: Ramenahalli Jagannatha's relationship drama doesn't quite come together

Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige movie review: Ramenahalli Jagannatha's sophomore feature has an idea, but wobbly execution and plot holes.

Nihar Mukesh and Rajesh Nataranga in Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige

Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige movie story: Travel vlogger Pruthvi Sanchari (Nihar Mukesh) has a fraught relationship with his single mother Janaki (Sithara), whom he blames for the absence of a father in his life. Little does he know that she’s shielded him from devastating family secrets, the revelation of which sends Pruthvi back into his mother’s arms. They then set off in search of the man who walked out on them.

Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige movie review: As I watched Ramenahalli Jagannatha’s sophomore directorial, the initial thought was that the film was actually an ode to motherhood. By the end of it, though, I wasn’t as convinced, because she’s the one who’d lost the most in the bargain – husband, child and best friend. There were also logical issues that had me wondering about the whole purpose of the film. Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige’s plot revolves around the disappearance of the hero’s father under certain circumstances.

We are told that the family faced a terrible situation, as a result of which, he, Prof Shivshankar (Ravindra Vijay), walks out on his wife and very young son. But that situation was never actually a situation, as revealed later, so why did he then abandon his family? That’s the logical inconsistency that’s been bugging me since watching the film.

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Shivshankar’s act is never really condemned; instead, the narrative goes to great lengths to establish him as the do-gooder beyond fault, who has turned lives around and even managed to impose Kannada on the people in Shillong. He’s apparently paid his penance. And since Janaki’s relationship with Pruthvi’s been mended, that’s all that matters – as a woman and mother, she’s fulfilled. Like really?

A lot of the first half, including Pruthvi’s rivalry with a school mate could have easily been dispensed with to instead focus on tying up all loose ends in the actual story. It may seem that I am nit-picking and looking for just about anything to tear this film apart, but I must say that there was one element that I did like about Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige – the establishment that an adult man and woman can have a deeply emotional platonic relationship. Even when Janaki quizzes Vishwanath (Rajesh Nataranga) why he’s stayed single, it’s never an invitation for him to initiate anything more in their relationship.

Debutant Nihar Mukesh shows promise, but has a long way to go. Sithara and Rajesh are solid and should have gotten more screen time together. Rachana Inder and Ravindra Vijay provide adequate support.

Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige movie verdict: Theertharoopa Thandeyavarige is a lost opportunity to present a heart-warming tale of family and relationships. There’s an attempt, but it doesn’t quite come together cohesively.

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