Marudhu Movie Review

May 20, 2016

2 minutes read

Review Overview

Performances

Screenplay and Direction

Technical Aspects and BGM

Solid rural drama!

Vishal's Marudhu is a solid rural drama from director Muthaiah. Barring the lackluster romance track in the first half, everything works well in the film. Muthaiah, who made a ghastly Kutti Puli and a worthy Komban, is on the verge of mastering the art of executing a mainstream masala drama with empathy and without overblown banalities in Marudhu. Overall, Marudhu looks like a sure-shot money-spinner for Vishal and Muthaiah, who continues his Midas touch at the box-office.

Cast: Vishal, Sridivya, RK Suresh, Kulappulli Leela, Soori, Radha Ravi & others

Cinematographer: Velraj

Music: Imman

Editing: Praveen KL

Stunts: Anal Arasu

Dialogues: Gowtham Raj

Direction: Muthaiah

Produced by: Gopuram Films

Release Date: 20-05-2016

Run Time: 02:25:00

Vishal’s Marudhu is a solid rural drama from director Muthaiah. Barring the lackluster romance track in the first half, everything works well in the film. Muthaiah, who made a ghastly Kutti Puli and a worthy Komban, is on the verge of mastering the art of executing a mainstream masala drama with empathy and without overblown banalities in Marudhu.

Muthaiah hasn’t made a flawless film yet though. Marudhu has its fair share of shortcomings like the lengthy, zestless romance sequences between Vishal and Sri Divya in the first half, and the euphuistic punchlines that are mouthed by almost everyone in the film. But, these minor glitches don’t paralyze the brilliance in Muthaiah’s rooted, earthy writing which brims with dynamic, upstanding characters including women. In fact, powerful adversaries, strong women characters – which does not happen often in stories set against rural backdrops with few exceptions – and a veritable, non-judgemental portrayal of village life are what make Marudhu a fine drama.

RK Suresh as Rolex Pandian proves that he’s not a one-hit wonder. He makes a great comeback from Thaarai Thappattai and stands his own against Vishal. Marudhu is yet another substantiation that effective villain characters are one of the make or break factors in a commercial drama. Radha Ravi as Bayilvaan is his usual self; calm and composed with a measured underplay. Soori provides justice to his role as Kokkarakko. For once, he is minimally annoying and largely entertaining.

Vishal as Marudhu (watch out for the slightly immoderate reasoning behind the naming of his character) is a tailor-made choice for playing the role of a load-man. His burly physique makes the stunt sequences believable. When he exchanges blows and crosses swords, it appears within the bounds of possibility. Even, Sri Divya has come up with a fine performance in the role of Bakkiya Lakshmi, a gutsy woman. However, Malayalam actress Kulappulli Leela is horribly miscast as Vishal’s grandmother. For a character which shares screen in a fair amount of running time, her lip sync totally diminishes the essence of her role.

Muthaiah centers the film majorly on grandmother-grandson relationship and has neatly woven the entire plot around it with genuinely acceptable surprises here and there. His soundness in the screenplay is perceptible towards the fag end of the film, where various unanswered questions are gradually unlaced.

Imman makes up for the not-so-exciting soundtrack with his terrific background score, which sits well with the film’s theme. Velraj’s lovely frames capture the rural life authentically like Komban and he, surely, is a backbone of the film. Editor Praveen KL’s inch-perfect coherence helps audiences to watch the action sequences delightfully, particularly the pre-interval block and climax scenes.

Overall, Marudhu looks like a sure-shot money-spinner for Vishal and Muthaiah, who continues his Midas touch at the box-office.