Genre: Action/Comedy
Release Date: 2024
Language: Hindi
Film Overview: Turbo is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film directed by Vysakh and written by Midhun Manuel Thomas. Produced by Mammootty under his banner Mammootty Kampany, the film stars Mammootty in the titular role alongside an ensemble cast including Raj B. Shetty, Sunil, Kabir Duhan Singh, Anjana Jayaprakash, Niranjana Anoop, Bindu Panicker, Dileesh Pothan, and Shabareesh Varma. The film’s music was composed by Christo Xavier, with cinematography by Vishnu Sarma and editing by Shameer Muhammed. Turbo was released theatrically on 23 May 2024.
Plot Summary: The story follows Aruvipurathu Jose, also known as Turbo Jose, a jeep driver from Idukki who often finds himself in fights. When his best friend Jerry, a bank manager, is attacked by henchmen sent by the family of his girlfriend Indulekha, Jose intervenes to stop Indulekha’s engagement and brings her to Jerry. However, Jerry refuses to accept Indulekha out of fear for his family, leading Indulekha to return to Chennai. Jose follows her to Chennai to help resolve the situation, but things take a dark turn when Jerry uncovers a major bank scam orchestrated by a kingmaker named Vetrivel Shanmugam Sundaram. After Jerry is murdered, Jose and Indulekha join forces to expose the scam and avenge Jerry’s death, culminating in a brutal showdown where Jose kills Vetrivel. The film ends on a cliffhanger, with Jose receiving a threatening parcel from Vetrivel’s business partner, setting the stage for a potential sequel.
Production: Turbo was produced on a budget ranging between ₹23.5 crore and ₹70 crore, excluding Mammootty’s remuneration. The film was officially announced on 24 October 2023, with principal photography beginning shortly after in Coimbatore and wrapping up by 18 February 2024. The music, composed by Christo Xavier, includes tracks like the “Turbo Trailer Theme,” released on 12 May 2024, and singles “Burnout The Engine” and “Maayika Maname,” released on 29 May 2024 and 5 June 2024, respectively.
Release and Box Office: Turbo was released on 23 May 2024 and later made available on digital streaming platforms, with Sony LIV and Zee Keralam securing the rights. The film premiered on Sony LIV on 9 August 2024. On its opening day, Turbo earned ₹6.25 crore from Kerala and ₹3.40 crore from the rest of India. By the second day, it had grossed ₹8.1 crore worldwide, bringing the total to ₹15.50 crore. In its first week, the film grossed ₹58 crore worldwide, with ₹29.5 crore from India and ₹28.5 crore from overseas markets.
Critical Response: Turbo received mixed reviews from critics. Anna Mathews of The Times of India gave it 4/5 stars, praising Mammootty’s performance and hinting at the possibility of a sequel. Goutham S of Pinkvilla rated it 3.5/5 stars, noting that the film would satisfy action movie lovers, particularly fans of Tamil cinema. On the other hand, Sanjith Sidhardhan of OTTplay awarded the film 3/5 stars, acknowledging the strength of the action scenes but criticizing the generic script and weak villain. Janani K of India Today and Arjun Menon of Rediff both gave the film 2.5/5 stars, with Janani calling it a predictable action drama and Arjun highlighting Mammootty’s enduring appeal despite the film’s lack of innovation. Anandu Suresh of The New Indian Express rated it 2/5 stars, commenting on the film’s sluggish script and the performances that partially salvaged it. Latha Srinivasan of Hindustan Times and S. R. Praveen of The Hindu were also critical, noting that the film relied heavily on recycled tropes and lacked strong comedic elements, with the action sequences ultimately carrying the movie.
