Maareesan — A Movie Review

A total entertainer with a very emotional core

Seems like Fahadh Faasil is a seal of trust which will never disappoint you with his movie choices. A movie which has equal parts Comedy, Thriller, Road Trip and Heroism. A well blend of varied themes which is held tightly by the director. This review will be filled with SPOILERS, please read at your own discretion.

The Premise

The movie starts at a brilliant premise where a thief helps an Alzheimer’s patient run from his captivity in return for money. All this while he is making plans of how to milk this old more by misusing his condition. That’s why he takes him on a road trip, hoping he will be able to get his ATM card and pin on the way. By the end of the movie there are several twists and their respective roles have almost reversed. Well written film which makes you marvel not only at the storyline but also at the internal journey of each character.

The Memorable Moments

The strength of the film lies in very well written and directed scenes. Some of them really stayed with me.

Especially, Just when the reality of the old man is revealed to the audience, In the very next shot two men are seen sitting under a tree on a unknown road side, just signing their hearts out, carefree. They could have been two kids unaware of what life has planned for them rather than two grown up men gone through their share of ups and downs. This is the stuff core memories are made of. Only this much is all that is required.

In another scene the old man realises that his wife is suffering from alzheimer’s while his wife is walking past him in her phase of memory loss. Here the old man sees that one person who means most to him in the whole world - passing him by as if he is a mere stranger. With every step she was taking away for him, my heart was sinking further.

Then comes some nonchalant comments which really makes you stop and think. When the old man asks the thief that he should have stayed with his mother. Thief replies that his mother will be alright without him. On this the old man comments “Have you ever really asked her if she is okay or just assumed on your own that she is. “ It was just a causal comment but made me think that how easily we end up taking our parents for granted.

In another sequence when the mother of the victim reflects “

Who can a girl come to if not her parents, what kind of family we are otherwise” That just speaks volumes about the kind of basic comfort we need to provide to our kids. I might have invested more in the emotional part of the film but there was plenty to crack you up. My favourite one liner was when a police officer quips “

He is a serial killer should he not know that there needs to be a pattern?” The film is truly funny and entertaining with its heart at just the right place.

The Verdict

A very well written and executed story where both the lead actors shine. The film is called Maareesan — hindi speaking audience will know it better as Marich — The golden deer from Ramanyana who come as a distraction while Sita Haran happens. Once you go through you realise how the name of the film is so fitting for it.