'Thudarum’ trivia: Jyothika was first considered before Shobana for the Mohanlal starrer

‘Thudarum’ director Tharun Moorthy recently revealed that Tamil actress Jyothika was initially considered for the lead role opposite Mohanlal, before Shobana was finalized.

“We had Shobana in mind from the beginning but..”
Speaking during an interview with Red FM, Tharun Moorthy opened up about the casting process. While the team always envisioned Shobana as Lalitha, the female lead, they initially faced difficulty in contacting her. “We had Shobana in mind from the beginning, but there was uncertainty about how to approach her. That’s when we considered Jyothika,” he shared.
Jyothika was impressed by the script
The director went on to reveal that Jyothika was deeply impressed after hearing the narration and even agreed to do the project. However, due to prior personal commitments — specifically, a long-planned world tour with her family — she had to opt out during the film’s scheduled shoot. “Jyothika loved the script, but unfortunately, her travel plans clashed with our shooting timeline,” Tharun Moorthy added.
“The idea of reuniting Mohanlal and Shobana stayed with me”

Eventually, the team circled back to Shobana, which Moorthy said felt like the most natural choice. “The idea of reuniting Mohanlal and Shobana stayed with me. That pairing holds a special place in the hearts of Malayali audiences,” he said.
Tharun Moorthy worried about the genre confusion
In another interview with The Cue, Moorthy also addressed concerns about the film’s genre being misinterpreted. “There’s excitement when a film features someone like Mohanlal. But what concerns me is how quickly people label it as a crime thriller. Thudarum is fundamentally a family drama, and I hope the audience views it through that lens.”
The film, which marks the return of the iconic Mohanlal-Shobana duo after 15 years, is scheduled to hit theatres on April 25, 2025.
Also See: Best Malayalam Movies Of 2025 | Top Rated Malayalam Movies Of 2025 | Latest Malayalam Movies