Pothanur Thabal Nilayam Movie Review

During this realm of OTT platforms, where heist thrillers from various continents are getting localized with dubbing and Insta reels for the punch dialogues, Pothanur Thabal Nilayam looks like a refreshing one. Directed by Praveen, who plays the lead role, PTN is about a post-office heist set against the backdrops of the 90s.

The year is the early 90s and the location is Pothanur. Praveen (Praveen) always aspired to be an entrepreneur and wanted to make a breakthrough in the computer business. But as it happens with the arrival of every innovative idea, many in the neighborhood, including the banks claim this as a failed model and disapprove of the loan applications. During this juncture, the protagonist’s father, a head in the local post office gets succumbed to a life-threatening situation, when a huge amount of Rs. 7Lacs gets stolen. With 36 hours left to save his father’s reputation, Praveen sets out to trap the culprits behind this heist, but what unfolds next is a series of unexpected twists and turns.

First things first! The art department deserves special mention for commuting us to the days of the 90s. Yes, every single aspect of the artwork looks perfect. The backdrop is Pothanur, and the limited characters and locations do a great favor for Praveen in presenting the film. The detailing in the post-office work pattern including the old-age locker systems, and the procedures followed while transferring big amounts has been neatly shown. When it comes to performances, almost all the actors stick to perfection. Praveen has played his part very well. Anjali Rao does a neat job. Venkat as Praveen’s father is apt for the role.

The tone in visuals that is retained throughout the movie gives a unique feel. The BGM looks good in places.

On the flip side, the running length turns out to be a slight minus as a few scenes look too stretched out. Heist thrillers need more intensity and minute-to-minute thrillers. Of course, it’s a retro-thriller, and director Praveen does everything to keep it engaged. In fact, to see a heist thriller without those hacking, gadgets, and drones itself is a special moment, but still, if he had tweaked the screenplay, PTN would have escalated itself to the next level.

For now, the team deserves special mention for making a decent movie. Except for the abovementioned elements on the flip side, the movie is watchable with its OTT release.