Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Why Mammootty and Nayanthara’s Thaskaraveeran Went Horribly Wrong
Thaskaraveeran is a Malayalam movie starring Mammootty and Nayanthara.
It is about a robber named Kochu Baby who returns home after many years.
He wants to help his parents and take revenge on a powerful enemy.
Baby uses masks to pretend to be other people.
The reviewer says this idea does not make sense because the masks also seem to change his height and body.
The review also points to confusing day-and-night scenes and weak character writing.
It criticizes the dialogue, romance, costumes, music videos, and flashing visual effects.
The movie had famous actors and writer Dennis Joseph, but the critic believes the direction failed badly.
The article says it was very poor, though not necessarily Mammootty’s worst film.
The review calls Thaskaraveeran a major failure by directors Pramod Pappan, despite its Mammootty-Nayanthara cast.
The plot follows robber Arakkalam Kochu Baby, who returns to Kerala to help his parents and seek revenge.
The film’s mask-based impersonation premise is criticized for lacking logic, including unexplained changes in Baby’s appearance.
The review attacks the movie’s continuity, characterisation, dialogue, romantic scenes, visual effects, and direction.
Although written by acclaimed screenwriter Dennis Joseph, Thaskaraveeran is described as one of Malayalam cinema’s notable 2000s disasters.
- Who
- Thaskaraveeran stars Mammootty as Arakkalam Kochu Baby and Nayanthara as Thankamani; it was directed by Pramod Pappan and written by Dennis Joseph.
- What
- A review and criticism of Thaskaraveeran, a drama-thriller about a robber who uses masks to impersonate people while pursuing family and revenge goals.
- When
- The film followed the directors’ 2004 debut Vajram and was released the following year, in 2005.
- Where
- The story moves between Mumbai, where Baby became an infamous robber, and his native village in Kerala.
- Why
- The article examines why the film failed, citing an implausible premise, poor continuity, weak characterisation, awkward dialogue, and inept visual presentation.
- Film
- Thaskaraveeran, also referred to as The Great Robber
- Lead cast
- Mammootty and Nayanthara
- Director
- Pramod Pappan
- Screenwriter
- Dennis Joseph, based on a story by Antony Eastman
- Central character
- Arakkalam Kochu Baby, a robber who returns to Kerala
- Main premise
- Baby creates facial masks to impersonate others and rob them
- Song noted
- Ouseppachan composed “Chenthamareye Vaa”
- Review context
- The article’s Memories of Blunder column examines poorly received South Indian films