It’s fascinating how stories like Tholumadan can strike a deep chord when they echo a piece of history or culture close to our hearts. When I first came across this mini-web series, I felt an instant pull to watch it. Tholumadan is the story of a family in Kerala set in 1962 (approx.) – a man who is a soldier in the Indian Army, his wife and his son. Through three 10 minute episodes, this mini web series beautifully captures the depth of Kerala folklore, horrors of war and the damage it does to the world – all without a big budget and/or extravagant VFX.
The first thing I loved about Tholumadan is the “Tholumadan” itself – a supernatural being who abducts males and dons their skin, pretending to be human (a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” per se). The costume for the Tholumadan is very reminiscent of what a Kummati would wear, and that’s where this web series had me rooting for it – for sticking to its roots in Kerala folklore.
To add ot this, the pacing of the story in the first episode, especially the first 5-7 minutes, gets us invested in the core characters. I was completely awed by how Richie, the creator of this web series, could get me so invested in the fates of these characters in so little time. In the following episodes, we discover what becomes of these people and, in turn, teaches us a few things about human nature.
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In my opinion, the web series does not get overly preachy though it tackles a topic that could’ve easily made it so. The core theme of the series is the 1962 war, something that isn’t discussed as much in pop culutre – probably because of the trauma that it inflicted on our nation. Tholumadan tackles this “national trauma” head on; it does not bombard you with details, but throws you nuggets that will want you to explore the theme further. And that is why I believe this is a true work of art.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this web series isn’t perfect. You’ll notice some things that you might feel are off about Tholumadan, as with any work of art. But the creative genuis of this webseries is how Richie effortlessly weaves the core theme of the webseries around the Tholumadan folklore – crafting a near perfect metaphor.
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Needless to say, I would recommend that you watch Tholumadan on YouTube right-away.
All it costs you is your time and I assure you that this webseries is worth investing in as it is not just a good story but a good insight into the “status quo ante”.
