Such themes are one of the strengths of Pawan Kumar's movies who unlike his contemporaries creates a narrative around slices or little experience of life that we don't really pay attention to. Take for example - In U turn his focus was on perils of citizens not following basic civic rules. Or even more interesting and basic concept was Lucia where he focused on one's wish to lead an alternate life. Whilst many thought it to be on lucid dreaming, the theme was more basic and importantly humane one. 

In Dhoomam, Pawan Kumar wants to talk about "passive smoking" where you are forced to breathe the same air that smokers use generously. I found this observation quite striking because we all have been in this situation isn't it? In public places, in theatres , bus stops. I remember when my father took me to theatre, my mother used to request people seated around us to stop smoking. The torch guys often visited the smokers and requested them to stop. Thankfully it has stopped now. He also raises a question of " adult consent" for smoking. Whilst consent is required for smokers, how does it work for those who don't smoke but are still expected to live in the same environment. Consent of non-smokers are taken for granted in such cases. It is this theme that Pawan Kumar uses to build his screenplay around.

At the centre of this screenplay is Avinash(Fahadh Faasil), a marketing head whose only job  is to increase cigarette sales at any cost. At the start FaFa is thrown into a hostage situation and is held ransom for 1 core at the cost of his wife 's life(Aparna balamurli). A bomb is ticking in her body and only way to save her is to follow the instructions.He works for a tobacco company run by power hungry Roshan  Mathew whose employees are so thick skinned that one of his employees pretends -"what is cancer".  He ascends companys ranks as he comes up with inventive ways of cigarette. For example : How about replacing Mukesh kumar ads with pretty ladies who still communicate the same message ! So far soo good. 

Pawan Kumar takes a familiar route on establishing how and why his characters have landed in this situation.Whilst many of these events that happen in tobacco company makes for a compelling watch, it's the other bits that make it slightly tiring and tests your patience. In trying to hold the suspense till the last moment screenplay goes through a lot of events that didn't really engage me, be it involvement of politics or his chase around the city to hand over the ransom.

Pawan always writes some special moments that makes you root for central characters. Lucia had plenty of them, U turn had few but Dhoomam there is hardly any. This is surprising since it's FaFa in the middle,  prime open batsmen at play. He appears to be a project manager running around to complete the tasks. I could hardly connect with him. I strongly connected with Aparna's character, helplessly thrown into the situation, caught up in a situation that she hardly has control on. Though she has full control of her life(remember she has to keep smoking to stay alive) she is still dependent on FaFa to find the reason.I liked the way it ended where the reason and identity of perpetrator is revealed, he still keeps it generic( he calls himself a soldier of the country).  I wish he could have spent more time on this.

In the end, i felt dissatisfied. Dhoomam tests your intelligence, sometimes patience but if you are looking for something edgy then Pawan doesn't disappoint.

For me, I am done with Pawan Kumar's Shankar-like approach of revenge based soft themes. 

No more Dhoomam or Nicotine or any thrillers please. Thank you