After a string of acclaimed experimental roles — Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, Kaathal – The Core and Bramayugam — Mammootty returned to full-blown mass entertainment in 2024 with Turbo. In this Turbo movie review, we take an honest look at the action-comedy directed by Vysakh and written by Midhun Manuel Thomas: what works, what doesn’t and whether it is worth your time.
The verdict in short: Turbo is an enjoyable one-time watch powered by Mammootty’s charisma and some well-choreographed fights, but its story is too familiar to leave a lasting impression.
Quick Verdict
- Rating: 3/5
- Best for: fans of Mammootty and mass action entertainers.
- Highlights: Mammootty’s swagger and comic timing, the car chases and fights, Raj B. Shetty’s villain.
- Weakness: predictable plot and underdeveloped supporting characters.
Table of Contents
Turbo: Movie Details
| Director | Vysakh |
|---|---|
| Writer | Midhun Manuel Thomas |
| Cast | Mammootty, Raj B. Shetty, Sunil, Anjana Jayaprakash, Bindu Panicker |
| Music | Christo Xavier |
| Production | Mammootty Kampany |
| Release date | 23 May 2024 |
| OTT | SonyLIV |
Story (No Spoilers)
Jose (Mammootty), nicknamed “Turbo Jose” for his short temper and love of speed, is a jeep driver in Idukki who lives with his mother (Bindu Panicker). He has a habit of jumping into other people’s problems with his fists. When he helps a friend and the friend’s girlfriend, Indulekha (Anjana Jayaprakash), he unknowingly becomes entangled with a powerful financial racket run by Vetrivel Shanmugha Sundaram (Raj B. Shetty) in Chennai.
Jose has to leave his village and fight his way through a city where he has no power and few allies. The story follows the familiar template of a small-town hero taking on a big-city villain.
Mammootty as Turbo Jose
Mammootty is clearly having fun, and that fun is infectious. Turbo Jose is a mix of village innocence, mother-fearing comedy and explosive action, and Mammootty switches between these moods easily. At over 70, his screen presence in action sequences is remarkable. The scenes with his mother are among the film’s most enjoyable, adding light comedy to the high-octane plot.
Raj B. Shetty, the Kannada actor-director known for Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana, makes his Malayalam debut as the villain. He brings a cold, calm menace, though the script does not give him enough to do. Telugu actor Sunil appears in a supporting role.
Turbo Movie Review: Action and Technical Aspects
The action is the film’s main selling point. The fight sequences are slick and energetic, and a car chase in the second half is among the better action set pieces in recent Malayalam cinema. Vysakh, who directed Pulimurugan, knows how to stage crowd-pleasing moments.
Christo Xavier’s background score — the same composer who later won acclaim for Bramayugam — gives the action punch. The cinematography and editing are polished, with a fast pace in the second half.
Where It Falls Short
The biggest issue is the screenplay. Midhun Manuel Thomas has written sharp films like Anjaam Pathiraa, but here the story feels generic. The financial scam plot is not explored in detail, the heroine and friends are mostly plot devices, and the villain’s motivations are thin. The emotional moments do not land as strongly as they should, and the film’s final stretch sets up a sequel without resolving every thread.
The first half also takes time to get going, with some comedy sequences that feel stretched.
Turbo vs Mammootty’s Earlier Mass Films
Mammootty has a long history of mass entertainers — from The King and Rajamanikyam to Pokkiri Raja and Madhura Raja. Compared with those, Turbo is more grounded in its action choreography and less reliant on punch dialogues. It also borrows the “small-town man in a big city” idea that worked so well in Rajamanikyam. Fans who loved those films will find plenty to cheer, while newer audiences may notice how formula-driven the narrative is.
Rating Breakdown
| Aspect | Score |
|---|---|
| Story & screenplay | 2.5/5 |
| Mammootty’s performance | 4/5 |
| Action | 4/5 |
| Music | 3.5/5 |
| Direction | 3/5 |
What Works and What Doesn’t
What works
- Mammootty’s energy and humour.
- Well-staged fights and a strong car chase.
- Light-hearted mother-son scenes.
What doesn’t
- A predictable, thinly written plot.
- An under-used villain.
- Weak supporting characters.
Who should watch it?
If you are a Mammootty fan or simply want a weekend action film with minimal thinking required, you will enjoy Turbo. If you prefer layered stories, start with his other 2024 release, Bramayugam — read our Bramayugam review — or our full guide to Mammootty’s best movies.
Box Office Performance
Turbo opened to strong collections thanks to Mammootty’s fan base and the festival-season buzz around it. It recorded one of the strongest Malayalam openings of 2024, though word of mouth was mixed and the run slowed in the following weeks. It still ended as a commercially successful film for Mammootty Kampany, confirming that audiences enjoy seeing the star in a mass avatar between his experimental projects.
Best moments (spoiler-free)
- Jose’s introduction in Idukki, which sets up his temper and humour in one go.
- The interval-block fight, the most crowd-pleasing sequence in the film.
- The second-half car chase through city streets.
- Every scene between Jose and his no-nonsense mother.
Final Verdict
To conclude this Turbo movie review: it is a fun, fast-paced mass entertainer that showcases Mammootty’s star power, but it is held back by a formulaic script. Watch it for the action and the actor, not the story.
Cinemas Diary Rating: 3/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Turbo online?
Turbo streams on SonyLIV, where it premiered in August 2024.
Who is the villain in Turbo?
Kannada actor-director Raj B. Shetty plays the villain Vetrivel Shanmugha Sundaram.
Is there a Turbo 2?
The film ends with a sequel tease, but no sequel has been officially released.
What is the rating in this Turbo movie review?
We rate Turbo 3 out of 5.
Where can I find more Malayalam cinema coverage?
Cinemas Diary publishes daily news, reviews, OTT guides, celebrity profiles and trailer breakdowns. Browse our Malayalam Cinema, Movie Reviews and OTT Releases sections for more articles like this one.
More information on Wikipedia.
