Mahabalipuram Movie Review

Cast: Karunakaran, Ramesh Thilak, Karthik Sabesh, Vinayak, Vetri, Angana Roy, Vithika Sheru 

Cinematography: Chandran Pattuswamy

Music: K

Editing: Kim Aam

Direction: Don Sandy

Production: Vinayak for Clap Board Movies

Release Date: 13-03-2015

Run Time: 01:51:00 

Don Sandy’s Mahabalipuram is an intense drama masquerading as an entertainer. The two halves of the film belong to totally contradicting genres. While the first half is a tedious comic caper which captures the story of five friends in Mahabalipuram, the second half, especially the last thirty odd minutes, is a mushy emotional drama. While the intentions of Don Sandy look sincere on paper, the making demanded more than an amateurish setting to stage a story which carries so much vividness and a better writing to transform the doomed emotions on screen.

Mahabalipuram is about the story of five friends – Panja (Vinayak), Kuppan (Ramesh), Sathish (Vetri), Sammy (Karthik) and Othavada (Karunakaran) – who make ends meet with petty jobs in the tourist town. A sudden turn of unfortunate events leaves one of the friends’ marriage-life in jeopardy and the couple commits suicide. This forms the curiosity-inducing interval twist. While the rest mourn their death and battle to come to terms with their normal life, the story takes an unexpected turn which puts everyone’s life at risk.

Everyone has delivered a decent performance that demands underplay. Karunakaran will be seen in a surprising role very unlike the characters he has been known for. Vinayak, who has also produced the film under Clap Board Movies, has enacted the role Panja brilliantly in emotional scenes but he appears stilted in other scenes that form a major chunk of the first half.

The most happening part of the film is the last half an hour that culminates in a schmaltzy climax. While the source material based on real life events looks solid, the making could have been better.

Music director K has shouldered the film with his excellent background score. In fact, the last leg of the film in the second half thrives on K’s splendid score. Vithika Sheru as Mahalakshi and Angana Roy as Sangeetha have chipped in good performances. Jayakumar as Durai has come up with an impressive outing.

Mahabalipuram is a passable drama with a scratchy blend of humor and emotions at equal proportions.  The underlying message the team wanted to convey is indeed shuddery and worth knowing.

Mahabalipuram Movie Review Rating:  2.5/5