Rating: 3/5
Director Nithish Sahadev makes a confident Tamil debut with Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil, a Pongal entertainer that juggles weddings, funerals, politics, and ego clashes with playful absurdity. Set in a fictional Tamil Nadu village, the film thrives on an outrageous premise and largely succeeds in turning it into a breezy, crowd-friendly comedy—despite a few tonal stumbles along the way.
In Tamil tradition, weddings and funerals are moments where personal egos are expected to be set aside. For a politician, however, humility often becomes a strategic performance rather than a virtue. Sahadev cleverly merges these ideas to create a farcical narrative that unfolds within a tight two-hour runtime.
Jiiva plays Jeevarathinam, popularly known as Jeeva, the village Panchayat President who is determined to retain his position at any cost. A master pacifier, Jeeva inserts himself into every major event in the village, believing visibility equals votes. When Ilavarasu’s daughter Sowmiya is set to be married, Jeeva eagerly takes charge of the wedding arrangements—much to the annoyance of Mani (Thambi Ramaiah), who harbours an old grudge against Ilavarasu.
Fate intervenes with wicked timing. Mani’s bedridden father passes away, and Mani decides to conduct a grand funeral procession at the exact same time as the wedding. What follows is a political and emotional tightrope walk for Jeeva, who must ensure both events proceed smoothly without alienating a single voter.
The film’s biggest strength is Jiiva’s measured performance. He understands the comedic pulse of the character and plays Jeevarathinam with restraint, allowing the humour to arise organically from situations rather than exaggerated antics. His constant efforts to appease both households, his fear of losing political ground, and his carefully curated humility form the backbone of the film’s best moments.
Sahadev’s writing shines in the way multiple characters and subplots intersect, often creating laugh-out-loud situations with minimal effort. The screenplay is peppered with cleverly planted “laugh mines,” where even small interactions snowball into comic chaos. Characters like Benny the one-sided lover, the Nanji gang, and even Arnold the Shi Tzu are all given their moments to shine, adding texture to the village setting.
However, Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil struggles to maintain tonal consistency, particularly in the second half. Certain stretches feel forced, especially the prolonged subplot involving the bride’s escapade and the resulting misunderstanding that erupts in Mani’s household. These moments briefly derail the film’s comic rhythm, with the writing slipping into tacky territory.
That said, the film benefits immensely from its crisp 115-minute runtime. No misstep is allowed to linger long enough to cause lasting damage. Even the weaker sequences are quickly offset by fresh humour and sharp dialogue, keeping the narrative moving at a brisk pace.
Comedy-wise, the film scores more often than it misses. Thambi Ramaiah’s stern delivery of absurd lines works wonderfully, and his timing remains impeccable. Jenson Dhivakar, as the sly opposition party candidate, brings a mischievous edge to the political rivalry, despite the absence of a conventional antagonist. Several throwaway lines and situational jokes land effectively, sustaining the film’s overall levity.
On the thematic front, the film touches upon ideas like ego, gossip, and social harmony, while also taking a mild jab at caste-based pride. These messages are woven lightly into the narrative without overpowering the comedy. However, the recurring gag involving the dark-skinned groom edges uncomfortably close to colourism, briefly disrupting the otherwise cheerful tone. Thankfully, the screenplay pulls back before the discomfort overshadows the film’s strengths.
Despite its flaws, Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil remains a zany, farcical, and largely entertaining watch. Jiiva continues to make interesting choices by backing films that explore less-trodden genres in Tamil cinema. For Nithish Sahadev, this Tamil debut marks a promising start—one where mistakes are made, quickly corrected, and gracefully brushed aside.
In the end, the film’s energy, humour, and compact storytelling ensure that the ride remains engaging from start to finish, making it a decent festive entertainer with more hits than misses.
Director: Nithish Sahadev
Cast: Jiiva, Ilavarasu, Thambi Ramaiah, Prathana Nathan, Jenson Dhivakar