Critics Review
2.50
Technically sound but just moderately engaging!
Fantasy element is fine when it stands alone, falters when blent with reality. The film misses to hold the interest except for the initial chunk in the latter half. Had immense potential to be a hard-hitting flick, but it never took off from the ground level.(more)
Source: Ashwin Ram, MovieCrow
2.00
Vikram-Pa Ranjith's film drowns due to convoluted storytelling
Actors Chiyaan Vikram, Parvathy, Malavika Mohanan and Daniel Caltagirone do the heavy lifting with their brilliant performances. Vikram as Thangalaan is simply extraordinary, fully embodying his character. Parvathy's Gangamma is feisty, and she once again proves why she is one of the best performers we have. Malavika Mohanan and Daniel Caltagirone also give commendable performances. 'Thangalaan' is a wasted opportunity in terms of storytelling. (more)
Source: Janani, India Today
2.75
Vikram delivers a spellbinding performance in this Pa Ranjith film
Pa Ranjith has once again given us a film in a completely new genre - Thangalaan is a period film that is intertwined with some fantasy and mystical realism. The characters and the setting are raw and rustic and it adds to the allure of this drama which is based on the Kolar gold fields and the labourers who worked there. Thangalaan is definitely a visual extravaganza - right from the costumes to the make-up and the stark settings of the dry, arid land and the poverty-stricken look of the people creates a strong impact. You feel the suffering and desperation of the tribals just by looking at them and Ranjith and his team must be praised for this. The first half of the film takes its own time to set up the stage and this slow pacing is an issue. The second half meanders and is not as gripping as one expects which is a let-down. The hallucinations the characters face also get a bit jarring. Given that the characters speak a different kind of Tamil, it�s not easy to follow the dialogues which is a drawback. Thangalaan has a great new concept and fine performances but could have been more engaging.(more)
Source: Latha Srinivasan, Hindustan Times
3.00
Pa Ranjith, Vikram revisit history to give a compelling but flawed tale
The film rambles around quite a bit, and there are well-made portions that don�t always feel cohesive with the narrative. Some of his audacious attempts at storytelling in Thangalaan get overburdened by the novelty factor. He isn�t always ably supported by the technicalities of the film that keep us at an arm�s length at times. Sync sound and the underwhelming mixing drown the lines in places. However, it is the compelling performances that tell the story even if the words don�t. The same is true of the film�s VFX, which isn�t always at par with the international standards Thangalaan aspires to have. But when they all come together in the terrific final act, Thangalaan becomes a different beast altogether. The editing pattern, GV Prakash�s thumping score, the stellar art direction, the brilliant cinematography, and the consistently effective performances from all actors give us an all-important insight into why Ranjith made a story about the search for gold.(more)
Source: Avinesh , Indian Express
2.75
An ambitious Pa. Ranjith and regal Vikram aim for gold, but settle for less
Thangalaan, like Ranjith�s previous works, might offer a lot to those who have what it takes to tweak their vision and decipher and interpret the various references and ideologies expressed on-screen. In the filmmaker�s most ambitious project to date, everything we love about him is present: the symbolisms, the statues, the animals, the theme of the common folk rising against their oppressors, spectacular visuals and exemplary performances. But for those looking for an intriguing story headlined by Vikram � fresh from the success of the Ponniyin Selvanfilms � Thangalaan is, ultimately, disheartening.(more)
Source: GOPINATH RAJENDRAN, The Hindu
4.00
Pa Ranjith's Thangalaan is a stunning spectacle on greed, societal oppression and self-assertion
The magical realism in the final act does make us wonder how much of what's unfolding is happening inside Thangalaan's head, but Ranjith's refusal to spell it out is what makes the film singular. And while history may have played out otherwise when it came to deciding the fate of the workers who worked in the Kolar gold fields, the director's revisionist take doesn't come across as fanciful, but only as an effort at self-assertion.(more)
Source: Suganth, Times Of India