Directed by Johny Antony and produced by Milan Jaleel of Galaxy Films, Thuruppu Gulan, modelled on the megahit Rajamanikyam is supposed be a full length comedy thriller. In the earlier movie, Mammooty with his rendition of the Travancore slang and gesticulations had tickled the funny bone of audiences, but in Gulan, the dialogues are much cruder and actions farcical. The cast ensemble of this film includes Mammootty, Innocent, Jagathy Suraj, Kalashala Babu, Kochin Haneefa and Sneha.

Thuruppu Gulan is the tale of Kunjumon a.k.a gulan, a clever gambler who is also a street thug and thattukada owner. As gulan, Mammooty has adopted the dialect spoken in Central Kerala; obviously the filmmaker has attempted to repeat the success of Rajamanikyam that altered cinegoers’ perceptions of Mammooty as a serious thespian.

Albeit with a rough exterior, Kunjumon is a simple man and a child at heart. He likes reading children’s comics and dreams of becoming a star dancer. Based in Kozhikode, the gulan has powerful friends among the billionaires, police and street dwellers. He is forced to relocate with his cronies to Kochi, when his father Kochuthoma (Innocent) has a falling out with some rich hoteliers. The cause of the fracas is Kochuthoma’s thattukada that spoils the façade of Hotel Raj Palace. The troubleshooter Kunjumon sorts out the differences and in the course of events, meets Lakhsmi, the daughter of the original owner (Devan) of the hotel. She is in town from Singapore to sell the franchise in order to save her father who is in jail following a financial debacle. Kunjumon and Lakshmi join forces to outwit their common foes and the rest is a comedy of errors.

Mammooty as the omnipotent, streetwise comedian is in his element. But he seems to have gone too far in trying to please the audiences. The actor, in loud hues and elaborate dance sequences, has apparently forgotten his age and even mimics himself. And the film, a take off on Rajamanikyam has nothing original to offer. But abounding in instances of slapstick humour, Thuruppu Gulan is a Mammootty film through and through and is poised to become a superhit. The musical score is by Alex Paul and Kaithapram, and the cinematography has been handled by Sanjeevsankar.