Small Budgets, Big Impact: How ‘Thudarum’ and ‘Chitram’ Sustained Momentum of Major Releases

What is the connection between L2: Empuraan and Thudarum, as well as Aaryan and Chitram?

While L2: Empuraan and Thudarum are two Mohanlal-starrer releases in 2025, Aaryan and Chitram were two Mohanlal movies released in January and December of 1988, respectively.

In January 1988, the Mohanlal-starrer big-budget movie Aaryan, directed by Priyadarshan, was released. However, the crime drama set in the Mumbai underworld did not perform well at the box office. Made with a budget of ₹7 crore, the movie grossed only ₹1.34 crore worldwide.

To recover from this loss, director Priyadarshan and producer P.K.R. Pillai decided to make a low-budget film. Thus, Chitram was created with a modest budget of ₹44 lakh. Released in December 1988, the film was a massive box-office success, running for over 366 days.

With a box office collection of ₹3.9 crore, Chitram became one of the classic Malayalam films and was the highest-grossing Malayalam movie at the time. It helped revitalize the careers of everyone involved in its making.

Thudarum Budget

Thudarum was reportedly made with a budget of ₹28 crore and has had a successful run since its release four days ago, with an opening weekend collection of ₹24.10 crore worldwide. It is expected to continue its successful theatrical run. Thudarum is said to be a simple family drama featuring Mohanlal in an engaging performance that recalls his old-time charm.

Meanwhile, L2: Empuraan, made with a budget of approximately ₹180 crore, has grossed over ₹260 crore worldwide. The movie is directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and produced by Antony Perumbavoor, Subaskaran Allirajah, and Gokulam Gopalan.

Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy and produced by M. Renjith, was released two months after L2: Empuraan, on 25th April 2025. Although the makers of L2: Empuraan and Thudarum are different, Thudarum plays a role similar to Chitram — providing balance.

While Thudarum may not reach the masterpiece status of Chitram, it helps balance the overwhelming stardom and demi-god portrayal of Mohanlal in L2: Empuraan by offering a more grounded, relatable performance