Maamannan

Maamanan A review by Rajesh Puvvada

Mari Selvraj once again paints caste based strokes on a culturally stigmatic canvas!! After pariyerumal and Karnan, he used the same starting ritual, which is to have a hound killed or slaughtered!! This time it got a little predictable.

Casting Vadivelu as the protagonist in a realistic appearance gives great strength to this movie. After a long hiatus, we could witness a larger screen presence of this seasoned actor. I enjoyed every bit of his performance largely. The maturity in which he handles his character tells us how strongly he lived into it.

At the very beginning of the movie when the titles were coming up there was a huge applause when the name of Fahad Fazil came up. He definitely raised the bar of his own best performance. Every move if his was unique and natural.

I am not going to mention any one from the caste because their roles or performances were not pivotal or palpable.

Years of stigma around the lower and higher castes dominate our rich social fabric and that is well brought out in this movie. Honestly, the true value of this movie was delivered right at the time of intermission. What ever came out from Mark Selvraj after the interval had lesser value plot wise. The plot got diluted into a political portion that stinks. However the end state was very well handled. Many directors these days suffer to handle the crispness of a fine plot for a longer duration. Presenting something solid for a longer duration requires great degree of detail and an emotional grip. The way Mari Selavaraj held our emotions firm around Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan is felt well because he did not hold it well in this movie. Especially in the second half.

Red giant wanted a platform to put its political agenda forward and the second half was a gift to red giant by Mari Selvraj.

A R Rehamans score jelled well with the movie but I think, no tune or a BGM or a song is playing repeatedly in my head after watching the movie. Which means the musical manifest of this movie evaporated very quickly.

Given the movie did not employ any illogical parts this movie holds water on a thin paper cup. Without the protagonist and the antagonist performances the movie would have lost its worth.

I recommend a one time viewing with family. And, I am going with a 7.5/10. You can also wait for it to come on OTT.

The Movie starts on an engaging first half but falls fully flat in the second half. Honestly, the last half an hour of the movie was so slow and UNBEARABLE!

Performance: Fahadh Faasil was brilliant as always, he is a shapeshifter who aces literally every role he plays. He incredibly played the evil role he was offered. Vadivel was good too, the rest others were average.

Plot and screenplay: The start of the film was very engaging and the plot was being built up pretty well, especially the flashback part.

The director was able to hold the movie in place till the interval.

The second half was incredibly boring and unbearable, it was such a task to control my urge to take out my phone and scroll through Instagram! But I somehow managed to complete the movie with an utter nonsense 2nd half.

I regret not taking my phone out and spending my time watching a few reels. It did not feel that the same director had directed the 2nd half. I was so done after it.

Conclusion and Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-6/10

I'm rating it a 6 only for its first half as it was a good watch with an engaging screenplay and the performance of FAFA and Vadivelu.

The second half was absolute garbage.

What worked for Pariyerum Perumaal & Karnan was it was more grounded in reality. It was relatable, I was able to sympathize with the director's view. It felt like some dialogues were intentionally planted for Udhayanidhi's gain. The film felt too dramatic & lost the touch of reality. Casting Fahadh only added more to it. He did deliver what he was paid for, but I just couldn't see him as his given role. At times, the pacing feels slightly uneven, with certain scenes dragging on longer than necessary. Also Keerthy suresh was not justified. Felt like she was there just for the sake of having a female lead.

The film, directed by a visionary with an impressive track record and featuring a stellar cast, generated enormous anticipation, and it certainly did not disappoint. While the story may have had some predictable elements, it was the director's skill in crafting an exceptional screenplay that truly stood out. The emotional scenes were breathtaking, evoking a profound sense of connection with the characters.

Vadivelu's performance was nothing short of impressive, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Fahad Fazil, Udayanithi, and Keerthi Suresh also delivered outstanding performances, adding depth and authenticity to their respective roles. The chemistry among the cast was palpable, enhancing the overall impact of the film.

A. R. Rahman's musical genius shone through once again, with his marvelous compositions and captivating background scores perfectly complementing the narrative. The soundtrack was a true auditory delight, enhancing the viewing experience to another level.

Contrary to preconceived notions, this film is not just another tale of caste-related issues. It presents a unique perspective on how society can be misled by powerful individuals. However, it is worth noting that certain scenes might be distressing for younger audiences, so parental guidance is advised.

Although the predictability of the story prevents me from giving it a perfect rating, the film's overall excellence far outweighs this minor flaw. "Title of the Film" is an absolute masterpiece that will leave a lasting impression on its viewers. It is a must-watch for cinephiles and anyone seeking an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Mari Selvaraj is refining his stance on caste politics through his movies. Karnan and Maamannan did not come close to Pariyerum Perumal in regards to the number of days the movie stayed with me after the watch. However, from a scale perspective, the later movies are much bigger and impressive from a grandeur standpoint.

Fahad Fazil is back! Very much a director's actor, Mari has utilized the actor very well for a very convincing portrayal of the upper caste protagonist.

A R Rahman did great work in the movie. Unlike Malaykunju where Rahman's symphonies were not aligning with the rustic backdrop, Rahman has been able to align his work with the movie very well on this one. Some of the songs are very touching. Background music is the king in many scenes.

Great dialogue less aura from Udhayanidhi Stalin, seasoned performance from Vadivelu.

First half script and delivery was top notch. Lot of action (and violence) with matching background scores bring out the stance/spirit/emotion that the movie is taking.

Feels like Mari is deeply bothered by the caste based injustices, and is trying to discover and present his perspectives through his movies.