Maamannan review: Vadivelu, Fahadh stand tall in this engaging political drama that offers solid moments

3.5/5

Story: An unexpected circumstance forces an MLA from an oppressed community to stand up against the unjust treatment meted out to him by a few people after his son urges him not to compromise on self-respect. The sudden change in the people's representative's behaviour leaves an egoistic, caste-fanatic politician upset. The latter resorts to various uncivilized ways to sideline the former socially and politically. Finally, the two of them indulge in a political battle that is poised to change their fate. Who will have the last laugh?   

Review: Mari Selvaraj, who uninhibitedly speaks his politics through films, is back with Maamannan in which he has again attempted to elucidate how people from the oppressed community are often at the receiving end because of the existing social hierarchy. Unlike the protagonists in his earlier movies Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan, this time around, the central character wields power. 

However, power isn't something he has gained by virtue. In fact, he was offered power by a higher authority in the hierarchy to stay silent on a heart-wrenching issue. But he realizes after a point that his power has limitations, and that he is still looked down upon by those who control the hierarchy.

The prime conflict in the story begins on a lighter note. A shrewd businessman, who is irked with a group of youngsters for offering free education to children, asks them to stop their service, and attacks their workplace when they did not pay heed to his threat. This snowballs into a conflict between the businessman's brother and leading politician Rathnavelu (Fahadh Faasil) and Athiveeran (Udhayanidhi).

The conflict takes unexpected turns, after which Maamannan (Vadivelu), Veeran's father, and a politician in Rathnavelu's party realizes his mistakes and worth. Veeran's friend Leela (Keerthy Suresh) is also part of the strife. The ego clash coupled with caste politics between the two parties intensifies and they indulge in a political battle.

Mari takes ample time to register the pivotal characters of Maamannan in an effective manner and the metaphors using animals and a few past incidents in a few character's lives enhance the narration. What appears to be a wafer-thin plot initially is intriguingly developed into a solid plot with the help of a few relevant sub-plots.

Vadivelu's character easily stands out among all; the veteran actor portrays the titular role effortlessly. It's a treat to watch him emote helplessness, warmth, repentance, calmness, and courage. There are many sequences that he carries single-handedly on his shoulders, leaving the audience hooked.

Fahadh's menacing depiction of the antagonist is another attraction of the movie. His acts lent the right support to Vadivelu's character. Udhayanidhi and Keerthy are apt in their respective roles. The former's agility in stunt scenes is justified with a sub-plot and the latter has a meaty character, though it shrinks as the central conflict thickens.

Theni Eswar's appealing visuals and AR Rahman's effective music act as a catalyst for the actors' performances and screenplay. 

On the downside, the latter half of the movie is comparatively weak, thanks to the predictable staging of events and lack of novelty. The conflict loses steam after a point and the antagonist appears fragile towards the climax.      

Verdict: Mari's third outing is an engaging watch, thanks to a few solid moments coupled with riveting performances from lead actors. The movie has minor flaws, but those do not deter from offering an interesting experience.