Soori leads an intense ride through the world of sailboat racing
“Mandaadi”
– Review
The sea can be serene and inviting one moment and fiercely unpredictable the next. Director Mathimaran Pugazhendhi builds his latest film ‘Mandaadi’ around that very nature, using the coastal landscape not merely as a backdrop but as an integral part of the story.
At the centre of the film is Muthukaali, known as Kaali (Soori), a middle-aged man who has made a life for himself in Chennai after leaving his native village under difficult circumstances. His quiet existence is disrupted when his niece reaches out to him with an urgent request. A young man named Maari (Mithun Jai Sankar) has fled the village, and she wants Kaali to bring him back.
When Kaali learns what drove Maari away, he decides to return to his village with the young man and seek justice for him. This journey gradually opens the door to Kaali’s own troubled past.
Two decades earlier, Kaali was himself a skilled sailboat racer. His life changed dramatically following a betrayal involving his closest friend, Saattappuli (Suhas). What was once a strong friendship eventually turned into a bitter rivalry, with an old boat race becoming the defining event in their fractured relationship.
The past resurfaces when another race brings the two men together. What begins as a sporting contest soon becomes intertwined with pride, revenge, survival and the responsibility of protecting their people. The film gradually reveals what happened during that fateful race years ago and why it transformed Kaali and Saattappuli into sworn opponents.
Tamil cinema has explored several sporting disciplines over the years, but ‘Mandaadi’ finds freshness in taking audiences into the relatively unexplored world of traditional sailboat racing.
Set in the coastal villages of Ramanathapuram, the film introduces the culture surrounding these races and the importance attached to the person who leads a boat crew — the mandaadi. Here, the sport represents much more than victory or defeat. It is closely connected to the community’s pride, identity and social standing.
The basic underdog template may be familiar to viewers who have watched sports dramas, but the film’s biggest strength lies in the world created around its characters. The fishing communities, boats, coastline and everyday lives of the people give the narrative a strong sense of place.
More importantly, the sea and the sport are woven into Kaali’s personal journey. His attempt to confront his past becomes connected with his larger desire to bring together a community that has been divided by old wounds.
The emotional conflicts themselves may not always feel new, but the presentation gives the film its distinct identity. The boat-racing sequences are particularly effective, with the action unfolding across the unpredictable waters and creating genuine tension. These portions are among the film’s biggest highlights.
Following films such as ‘Viduthalai Part 1’, ‘Garudan’ and ‘Kottukkaali’, Soori continues to choose roles that move away from conventional commercial hero territory.
As Kaali, he opts for restraint rather than theatricality. The character is not written as a loud or aggressively heroic figure. Instead, Soori gives him a quiet confidence and an underlying emotional weight.
The physical demands of the role are also evident, particularly during the racing and action sequences. His performance makes Kaali’s gradual emergence as a leader feel organic rather than forced.
Suhas makes an impression as Saattappuli, bringing an unsettling intensity to a character who carries shades of grey. His controlled performance works particularly well because he doesn’t rely on exaggerated mannerisms to establish the character’s menace.
Mahima Nambiar gets a meaningful role and serves as an important emotional link between several characters. Sathyaraj adds considerable presence as Muni, while Mithun Jai Sankar makes Maari convincing as the young man whose predicament sets the larger story in motion.
The cinematography by S. R. Kathir is one of the film’s major strengths. The coastal locations are captured with striking detail, while the sailboat races benefit greatly from the expansive visuals. The racing portions, in particular, succeed in making viewers feel the scale and danger of the sport.
The pre-interval action sequence is another notable moment, with the choreography and staging giving it the required punch. Pradeep E. Ragav’s editing ensures that the narrative generally maintains its momentum, although certain sections could have benefited from a sharper trim.
G. V. Prakash Kumar’s background score plays an important role in establishing the film’s atmosphere. His music complements both the coastal setting and the high-pressure racing sequences, adding considerably to the tension during key moments.
‘Mandaadi’ may work with familiar themes of friendship, betrayal, rivalry and redemption, but its unusual sporting backdrop and rooted portrayal of coastal life give it a distinctive flavour. The film’s biggest victory is the way it brings traditional sailboat racing to the forefront and makes the sport an essential part.
Rating: 3.9 out of 5