Thampu (1978): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1978, Thampu is a drama film directed by Govindan Aravindan, running about 129 minutes.

What it’s about. Across a dirt road, the circus truck comes to a village. The tent goes up. Schoolboys run to the tent. Village women come and watch an acrobat roll a hoop across a tightrope. A lion leaps from the edge of one stool - across darkness - on to another stool. A gap-toothed old woman gazes at a goat on a tight rope; her eyes are wide with curiosity. For three days the circus makes small ripples in the life of this village. Municipal permits are required. At a toddy shop, a soldier befriends the circus strongman; a pump attendant sits on a rock each day watching a village girl bathe and dry her hair. The dwarf brings back to the circus a watermelon larger than his head. In the film's three days, we, the viewers, learn the geography of the village: the banyan treewith leaves like transparent film, the shining water, the light on the sand at sunset. When the circus leaves the village, it leaves us. The narrative says: The circus comes and leaves; life goes on.

Who’s in it. Thampu stars Jalaja, Nedumudi Venu, V K Sreeraman and Gopi as Circus Manager, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Thampu has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Thampu page.

If you liked it. Fans of Thampu tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.