Madharaasi Movie Review: Sivakarthikeyan and AR Murugadoss unite to deliver a stylish action feast!

One of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated directors – AR Murugadoss returns after a gap with Madharaasi, a stylish action drama that serves as a solid reminder of his flair for big-screen entertainers. While it may not be a full-blown comeback on the scale of a Ghajini or a Thuppakki, this is undoubtedly his best since Kaththi, balancing mass thrills with a psychological edge.

The film thrives on its action sequences which are staged with flair and energy. Every fight scene feels like a high-voltage knockout sequence, constantly keeping the audience engaged and on their toes. The action feast is complemented by a screenplay that moves briskly in the first half, hardly leaving any dull moment. The second half however, narrows its focus to the interplay between characters, which occasionally slows things down. But thanks to the engaging conflict and strong performances, it still works on the whole.

Sivakarthikeyan shoulders the film with a career-defining performance. He brings both intensity and charm together, boiling with rage in the action-heavy stretches while still holding onto his trademark humour in lighter moments. The psychological disorder angle written for his character adds freshness, giving him depth and an edge beyond the usual template that we see for our mass heroes.

Opposite to him stands Vidyut Jammwal, who is back with a bang in Tamil cinema. Playing a villain tied to the gun culture angle, he commands the screen with his physique, charisma and menace, drawing equal cheers from the audience. Their face-offs lie as the core of the film and deliver dramatic beats. The supporting cast is well utilized too, with Biju Menon having a reliable presence, bringing gravitas to his role. Rukmini Vasanth delivers a neat performance, though her scope is limited and repetitive. Shabeer as a psychotic side player is another interesting touch by AR Murugadoss, his portions are rocking.

Technically, the film is top notch with Sudeep’s cinematography lending it a slick and stylish texture, while the editing keeps the action crisp and racy, even though a few minutes could have been trimmed in the second half. Anirudh’s background score is powerful and energizing, amplifying the action superbly. However, it is not wrong to expect better songs from him, given his track record with Murugadoss last time.

On the whole, Madharaasi is a fast and satisfying entertainer that works best as a star-driven action feast. It is not without any flaws, it has uneven pacing in the second half and underwhelming songs bumming it down a bit. But it has enough adrenaline pumping sequences, memorable elevations and good performances to take it through as a good theatrical watch. At a time when star-driven films are rarely good this year, Madharaasi fills that gap.

Madharaasi Movie Rating: 3.5/5