Year: 2018
Runtime: 158 mins
Language: Malayalam
Director: Mohsin Kassim
A coming-of-age story set in Kochi, India, this 2018 Malayalam-language film is directed and co-written by Mohsin Kassim. The film follows the experiences of three friends as they navigate life’s challenges. It stars Sharaf U Dheen, Krishna Shankar, and Siju Wilson, and features music composed by Rajesh Murugesan. Produced by Alphonse Puthren and Sukumaran Thekkeppat, the film explores themes of friendship and self-discovery.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Thobama (2018), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Thommi (Thomas), Balu Siju Wilson and Mammu Krishna Shankar are thick friends with a shared taste for quick money. They dream of a fat, easy payout and keep their eyes peeled for a shortcut that doesn’t involve long hours or hard work. Their plan begins to take shape under the shadow of Thommi’s uncle Xavier, known as Aashan, with the help of two trusted staff members, Mani Rajesh Sharma and Vijay Shabareesh Varma. What starts as a risky night-time supervision of illegal sand extraction from a river soon becomes their main source of income, pulling them deeper into danger as the law closes in.
The trio’s scheme expands when they cross paths with Markose Nisthar Ahamed, an illegal lottery broker who fixes winning numbers behind the scenes. Mani, who works with Markose, learns that the next bumper prize hinges on a ticket kept with Aashan. But Aashan has already sold five tickets to five different people before the information reaches Mani, forcing the trio to improvise a high-stakes plan to reclaim the tickets and claim a payout of three lakhs.
Meanwhile, Balu’s world grows more complicated when he makes a new neighbor—a circle inspector and his family. His daughter Nithya Punya Elizabeth Bose becomes a growing presence in his life, adding a personal layer to the group’s criminal undertakings. At the same time, Mammu’s dream of stardom tempts him to chase an acting opportunity that comes with a hefty price tag: two lakhs demanded by the film unit. The trio decides to help, but their efforts quickly spiral into a web of deception as they identify two of the five sold tickets—one from an LIC agent and the other from a prostitute, Maya Viswanath(/actor/maya-viswanath)—by outsmarting their marks.
Aashan remembers a fourth ticket sold to a hotel labor, and the pursuit intensifies. Vijay, freshly released from custody, is wary of bringing them back into the fold, while Mani and Markose press on with their own agenda. Thommi and Mani corner the hotel labor in a tense confrontation, but the ticket remains elusive, and a subsequent search of his room leads to the ticket being found—only to trigger a violent scrape with locals as they try to escape.
The mission is further destabilized when Mammu learns that his mentor, Ustad, has been arrested as part of a larger set of crimes. The blow shakes Mammu’s resolve, and he withdraws from the scheme, leaving Balu and Thommi to fend for themselves for a time. Thommi pushes on in search of the elusive fifth ticket, tracking a lead to a hospital where the ticket holder lies after an accident. A perilous night of searching ends with Thommi slipping into unconsciousness, and Mammu and Balu rushing him to the hospital for care.
In a climactic turn, Vijay exposes Mani and Aashan as traitors, turning the spotlight onto Markose as the betrayed broker looks to square accounts with those who double-crossed him. The truth comes to a head just as the bumper prize is finally announced: the winning ticket belongs to the father of an auto driver involved in the accident, a ticket Thommi had replaced on the last night of the hunt. With the scheme unraveled and the danger behind them, the trio reaffirms their resolve to seek a fresh start and a new life, free from the shadows that once defined them.
Throughout their journey, the film threads in glimpses of home life and law, including moments with Thommi’s mother Sreelakshmi and the police presence that peppers the story, such as the Police HC James Eliya. The narrative keeps a steady, grounded pace, balancing bravado with vulnerability, and few moments feel sensationalized; instead, the film leans into a humanized portrayal of friendship, risk, and the lure of easy money. The result is a morally aware, tense caper that never loses sight of its core trio and the uncertain futures they chase.
Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:05
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Friendships are tested during high-risk schemes that promise easy money.If you liked the story of friends navigating criminal risks in Thobama, explore these films. This section features movies like Thobama where relatable characters get involved in schemes for easy money, testing their friendships amidst tense, grounded situations.
These stories typically begin with a seemingly simple, lucrative opportunity that quickly spirals into something more dangerous. The central conflict arises from the tension between the characters' ambitions and their personal bonds. The narrative explores moral ambiguity and the consequences of risk-taking, often culminating in a moment of truth that defines the future of the relationships.
Movies are grouped here because they share a specific blend of crime, comedy, and drama. They feature a steady pace, medium intensity, and a tense-but-grounded tone, focusing on how criminal endeavors affect the dynamics of a central friend group.
Young adults find their path by navigating dangerous shortcuts and moral dilemmas.Find movies similar to Thobama where young characters face defining moral choices. If you liked how Thobama blended friendship and self-discovery with risk-taking, these films feature coming-of-age journeys shaped by tense, high-stakes situations.
The narrative follows characters at a crossroads, tempted by a fast track to their goals. Their initial optimism is challenged by the real-world dangers and ethical compromises their plan requires. The central arc involves a crisis that forces introspection, leading to a clearer understanding of themselves and what truly matters, resulting in a hopeful resolution.
These films are united by their focus on the coming-of-age theme explored through a lens of risk and consequence. They share a moderate complexity with intertwining personal subplots, a steady pacing that allows for character reflection, and an ending that feels hopeful after a period of tense adversity.
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