What happens when a smart young cop lands in the midst of 33 women? Built on this curious scenario is Manoj Palodan’s Ithu Thaanda Police starring Asif Ali in the lead. “Asia’s first all-woman police station was started in Kozhikode 42 years back. The basic concept of the film sprang from a news paper clipping of this news,” says the director.
Arundhati Varma is a strict, no-nonsense police officer and her station limit is almost free of crimes. “She ensures the safety of women even at midnight. If there is a case of domestic violence she takes care of that in the best possible way,” he says. Abhirami, who is back on screen after Apothecary, steps into the shoes of Arundhati.
Ithu Thaanda Police unravels a slew of funny situations when Ramakrishnan (Asif Ali) joins the women police station as their driver. “He is a B Tech graduate and joins police at the insistence of his mother. At the police training camp he comes to know about the vacancy and requests the authorities to consider him. He plans to have a blast with his female colleagues but lands in the most uncomfortable situation at his work place,” he says. Sajitha Madathil plays head constable Lathika, who is Arudhati’s confidant and chief assistant. Krishnanprabha, Shrutilakshmi, Neena Pillai and Sunil Sukhada also appear in key roles. Janani Iyer is the heroine of the film. An all-woman police station has certain limitations. “Male culprits cannot be kept at the station after 6 pm and should be transferred to the nearest police station before that. Arundahti’s police satiation come under the circle of CI Razak played by Sudheer Karamana,” says Manoj. Though Ithu Thaanda Police is basically a comedy, the film has its dose of suspense as well. “There are certain characters and situations that will lend another flavour to the film ,” he says.
Manoj says he has tried to bring in the real problems faced by women police stations through the film. “The film definitely ends on a positive note,” he adds. Ithu Thaanda Police, produced under the banner of Elu Films, hit the screens yesterday.