Mayaanadhi, written by screenwriter duo Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair, is directed by Aashiq Abu. Cradled inside this crime thriller is a romantic drama. It’s is a compelling watch with its exquisite writing and top notch performances of all the actors. I repeat: all.
Mathan (Tovino Thomas), a driver for a gang that deals with counterfeit currency, is on the run after he accidentally kills a policeman. Close at Mathan’s heels are a team of three policemen from Tamil Nadu. He decides to escape to another country, but before that he meets up with Aparna (Aishwarya Lekshmi), the woman he loves.
Mathan’s idea of a dream life is sharing it with his beloved Aparna in a beautiful home with dogs for company. That’s our first introduction to him. We only hear him talking. Whetting our appetite further is his friend’s reply — “You are always talking about the future”. Mathan replies, “Because I [messed up] my past and the present.”
There is no hurry in the story telling. Little by little we peek into their past while observing them in the present.
Mathan arrives in Kochi to meet Aparna, an aspiring actress juggling between auditions for that big break and doing advertisements on the side. Aparna is at a roadside eatery waiting for her order. Hungry and irritated with his presence, Appu retorts with a slap on his face when he asks her, “Is there hope in our relationship?
Bringing in characters from the fringe of their lives, the canvas becomes an interesting watch: Appu’s widowed mother who still believes in their rich past; the chechi (elder sister) who lives with Aparna and always has something to lament over; Sameera, Appu’s friend, a glamorous star who passes on the gown she wore for an event to Aparna; the counsellor friend (Darshana Rajendran) helping Sameera deal with depression — every character is finely crafted and the actors with their spontaneous performance bring them alive onscreen convincingly.
Mathan, an engineering college drop-out, began making money as an admission broker and later joined a gang. Belying his tough exterior, Mathan is a little boy at heart who craves for Aparna’s love. And when on the run, he seeks refuge under his old boss, who is not happy as he has turned over a new leaf.
Thomas is splendid. He infuses Mathan with a child-like charm. Not one to lag behind, Lekshmi matches him for every step. Their onscreen chemistry roars. The emotions are profound. Lekshmi deftly conveys Aparna’s insecurity and her confidence with a finesse seldom seen in newcomers.
Tamil actors Ilavarasu as the Tamil Nadu police officer is at his best. Harish, who has been mostly playing negative characters that are loud and dagger-happy, is a junior police officer here. His subtle performance is commendable. Look out for Lijo Pellisery, Soubin Shahir and Basil Joseph in amusing cameos.
Several moments stay with you. The scene with the three friends, Appu, Darshana and Sameera bonding over drinks is one. Darshana’s rendering of Bavra Mann (a song from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi) is a beautiful poetry under the night sky.
You just can’t miss Mayaanadhi.
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Don’t miss it!
Mayaanadhi releases in the UAE on March 1.
