Dhanush's Mariyaan Review

by Raven

Before getting into the review of 'Mariyaan', let us a spare a minute to wonder how far Dhanush has come from his ‘Thulluvadho Ilamai’ days. He has been setting a benchmark for himself after every film. And, he has definitely set a new benchmark with ‘Mariyaan’. Popular ad film-maker Bharat Bala, who has directed this film, has relied completely on Dhanush to keep this movie engaging. AR Rahman’s songs have become chart-busters already and the movie’s teasers promised some stunning visuals in the film. The movie starting with ‘Sonnapareeya’ song looks like a fitting tribute to late lyricist Vaali.

Plot

Mariyaan (Dhanush) struggles in Sudan for two years to rescue his girl friend Panimalar (Parvathi Menon) from financial constraint. Just when he is about to leave for India, he gets kidnapped by African terrorists for ransom. Will he unite with his love or will he be killed? Watch the film to know the answer.

The movie might remind one of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Roja’, due to similarities in the plot. At times, you could also be reminded of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ when Dhanush overcomes all odds.

Performances

Dhanush is definitely the life of the film. It is doubtful if any other actor in the current generation could have carried this author-backed role. He is more than impressive throughout the film. Watch out for his instant expression changes when he calls his love instead of his company and the way he shows his helplessness after losing his friend. Dhanush can expect top honours for his amazing performance in the film.

Parvathi Menon, who has a flawless face, is not left far behind. She complements Dhanush brilliantly and surprises us with some intuitive acting. She has carried on from where she left in ‘Poo’. It is heartening to see a good actress getting sufficient screen time to showcase her talent. Appukutty and Jagan do justice to their roles, and other actors have fit into their roles aptly.

Technicalities

AR Rahman’s music has taken the movie to the next level for sure. He has mesmerized the audience with soul-stirring background score and songs. However, couple of songs could have been removed or placed at a better place in the film. ‘Naetru Aval’ and ‘I Love My Africa’ songs hamper the flow of the movie.

Cinematographer Marc Koninckx has used different colour tones to differentiate between different terrains. There is a particular long shot on Dhanush in which the blue sky merges seamlessly with the sand on the ground. The under-water sequences are breathtaking and kudos to the team for their hard work. Editor Vivek could have trimmed certain portions in the second half, which would have made the film more appealing to the common audience.

Direction – Bharat Bala  

Director Bharat Bala has tried to prepare the audience for an unhurried experience right from the title cards. It is a very demanding film for the actors as well as the people behind the camera. He has marshalled his cast and crew very well. There are few scenes that would get instant critical acclaim like the emotional phone conversation between Dhanush and Parvathi Menon post intermission.

On the flip side, he has relied too much on Dhanush to carry the film forward. The screenplay could have been made more interesting, especially in the second half and the African terrorists are too loud. Many of the scenes take too much time to end. Although those scenes look poetic, they often bring down the interest level of a neutral viewer.

Bottomline

‘Mariyaan’ may not be a great entertainer, but all movies are not meant for entertainment. Watch it for Dhanush, who has taken acting in Tamil cinema to a different level.

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