Thudarum

Benz, a former stuntman turned taxi driver, leads a quiet and content life in the hill town of Perunad with his wife Lalitha and children. His prized possession is an old black Ambassador Mark 1, which symbolizes his modest but stable routine. His days are peaceful until his son Pavi is introduced into the picture by bringing home friends.

Pavi and his friends take Benz's car for a joyride without permission, leading to a crash. Benz reacts angrily, slapping Pavi, and later regrets his harshness when Pavi stops answering calls, indicating hurt and alienation. Benz then entrusts the car for repairs to his friend Kuttichan.

Benz travels to Chennai to attend the funeral of his former stuntmaster, reflecting on his past and the tragedy that led him to leave the film industry. The journey marks a temporary departure from his peaceful routine as he reconnects with his former world.

Upon returning home, Benz discovers that his beloved Ambassador has been confiscated by the police. The officers reveal that Kuttichan’s assistant was using it for smuggling marijuana. Benz’s pleas to recover the car are initially ignored, leading him to seek intervention from senior officer CI George Mathan.

George Mathan intervenes to have Benz's car released but on the condition that Benz drives him and other officers to a wedding celebration. Benz reluctantly agrees, marking the start of a series of confrontations with the police and his involvement in darker events.

The officers take Benz to a remote farmhouse in Panchalimedu, where George reveals that the dead body in Benz’s car is actually Pavi, implicating him in a cover-up. Benz is shaken as he witnesses the dumping of the body, unknowingly involved in a grave crime.

Back at home, Lalitha notices Benz’s disturbed behavior and blood on his shirt. When Benz searches the car, he finds Pavi’s wallet, leading to the horrifying realization that the corpse was his son’s, and he was unknowingly involved in his son's murder.

Benz takes matters into his own hands, abducting Sudheesh to extract a confession. Sudheesh reveals that George and Benny orchestrated the cover-up, and that there was no harassment regarding the sister, revealing a conspiracy driven by George’s desire to hide the truth.

A landslide uncovers Pavi’s body, and forensic tests confirm his identity. George and Benny fabricate a lie that Benz murdered Pavi in a family dispute, leading to the arrest of Lalitha and her daughter and escalating the conspiracy against Benz.

Held captive in the police station’s basement, Benz erupts in anger and kills Benny, then escapes. He confronts George and learns the shocking truth that George murdered Pavi because of a love affair with Mary, Pavi's girlfriend, revealing a deep betrayal.

In a brutal act of revenge, Benz kills George during a confrontation, avenging his son's death. The conflict ends with Benz standing over George's body, with Mary witnessing the heartbreaking truth unfold.

At Pavi’s funeral, Mary chooses to stand with Benz, accepting her love for Pavi despite the tragedy. The scene emphasizes themes of love, loss, and social stigma surrounding honor killings, highlighted by impactful title cards.

As Benz is taken to court, a reporter questions whether he killed his son. Benz responds ambiguously, implying he holds the real perpetrators accountable, leaving the audience reflecting on justice and moral ambiguity in the story.

The film concludes with Mary integrated into Benz’s family and the resonance of the title, 'Thudarum', suggesting a continuation of hope and healing amidst the tragedy. The story emphasizes the enduring nature of love and resilience against injustice.