Slow burner elevated by stellar performances

“Maareesan”

– Review

Dhayalan (Fahadh Faasil), is a conman fresh out of jail, who sets his sights on a seemingly easy target: Velayudham (Vadivelu), an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Velayudham mistakenly believes Dhayalan to be his son, Kumar, and possesses a significant sum of money in his bank account.

Dhayalan, driven by his ulterior motives, plays along, embarking on a road trip with Velayudham from Nagercoil to Tiruvannamalai.

What begins as a calculated scheme to exploit the old man’s condition gradually transforms into an unforeseen journey filled with humour, suspense, and unexpected emotional depth, as the layers of Velayudham’s past and Dhayalan’s own evolving conscience begin to unravel.

Director Sudheesh Sankar, along with writer V. Krishna Moorthy, crafts a narrative that is primarily a character study disguised as a thriller.

The first half meticulously establishes the con, albeit at a leisurely pace that might test some viewers’ patience. The meandering journey, with its minor mishaps and fumbling attempts at accessing Velayudham’s money, serves to build the unusual dynamic between the two protagonists.

The film truly finds its pulse in the post-interval segment, where it sheds its initial pretense of a simple con-game and veers into a more provocative vigilante thriller.

Vadivelu delivers a revelation as Velayudham. Moving beyond his iconic comedic persona. Vadivelu embraces a complex, quiet, and mysterious character. His portrayal of an Alzheimer’s patient is nuanced, balancing moments of confusion and vulnerability with an underlying intensity that hints at a hidden past.

Fahadh Faasil, ever reliable, embodies Dhayalan with his characteristic depth. He expertly navigates the character’s arc from a cunning, self-serving thief to a man grappling with newfound ethics. Fahadh makes Dhayalan’s transformation feel earned, even when the script takes shortcuts. His interactions with Vadivelu are a joy to watch, forming the emotional backbone of the film. Rest of the supporting cast have also done their part well.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is a significant strength. Both the songs and the background score are effectively balancing the film’s shifting genres.

Kalaiselvan Sivaji’s cinematography captures the essence of the road trip and the varying moods of the film, complementing the rawness of the story.

Rating: 3.6/5

By Naveen