marani Review: A still from Dhanush’s film
Mold: Dhanush, Malavika Mohanan, Samuthirakani, Smriti Venkat, Ramki
the director: Kartik Naren
Rating: 2 stars (out of 5)
Dhanush’s third straight direct-to-OTT platform release is a listless crime thriller that even an otherwise relatable actor can do little to salvage. maraniWritten and directed by Karthik Naren and streaming on Disney+Hotstar, there is a tangled mish-mash of generic tropes that just don’t add up to a single overall.
bow, whose Jagme Tandiram And atrangi re Left theaters last year and landed on the streaming platform without any ripples, is surprisingly dormant marani, Unlike the makers of the film, the actor seems to be acutely aware of the futility of the exercise and thinks better to invest direct effort in the role.
This does not mean that Dhanush sleeps through the film. There are many twists at which he springs for a minor part of life, but the entire film never does. It starts off soft and stays soft. fond of a script that lacks polish, marani fails to put his act together and stumbles through a jumble of diligent twists designed to surprise the audience. wonder that marani The springs are anything but pleasant.
For one, the screenplay stands on a foundation that is based on half-baked assumptions about journalism and the power of the pen. Not that his understanding of politics is more clear. The two domains that form the film’s backdrop are treated with a reckless disregard for truthfulness, even as the director reflects on a seriousness of purpose that is clearly beyond his comprehension.
In a strange literal interpretation of the much-anticipated axiom about the pen being mightier than the sword (in this case, the knife), marani There is a scene in which the protagonist takes a fountain pen out of his pocket, opens it and uses it to fend off an attack by a bunch of knife-wielding goons. The goons are quickly let down and the protagonist comfortably puts the writing device back in his pocket, likely to be used similarly at the next available opportunity.
Is that business as usual for a magazine? Well, for marani, this is. Our man is not only a formidable pen-pusher, but also a real one-man army. When he lets his fists fly, which happens quite often, his apparent calling takes a back seat and the streetfighter in him takes over. He seems to be a far better person than a newshound up for ‘action’.
Inspired by his fearless father (Ramki in a cameo), who sacrifices his life for the profession, Mathimaran (Dhanush), a young journalist, decides that he will never give up on his search for truth. His determination puts him on a collision course with Pazhani (Samuthirakrani), a corrupt former minister of the ruling party.
The latter plots to tamper with the electronic voting machines in the upcoming by-election and the protagonist is determined to thwart his frivolous designs. He performs a sting operation. It gives an objectionable audio recording. The crusader is dear to the politician’s anger and his life will never be the same again.
Beginning as the story of a fearless journalist who is killed for uncovering a powerful figure whose unexplained negligence leads to the death of forty school students, marani It turns into a sickly-sweet drama involving an older brother and a younger sister (Smriti Venkat), both entangled in one, before taking on a tale of half-hearted police procedure and a loose vendetta.
marani It’s a matter of stacking one narrative component over another without any clear logic or rhythm. The sibling part of the story is hackneyed as it comes. To be fair, the writer-director of marani A protective older male is aware of the time-lapsed nature of the sibling story. He is like the hero of old films, says sister. He is present.
The year is 2000. Mathimaran, still in his knees, sees his father hitting him on the way. The same night, his mother dies in childbirth. The self-sacrificing boy resolves to raise his newborn sister with the help of his poor maternal uncle (Adukalam Naren), who irons clothes for a living.
The next thing we know is that it’s 2021 and marani Have become a journalist who has a penchant for honesty. His uncompromising ways do not appeal to his editors, who are easily caught up in fake news and irrelevant reportage. But this is not where the movie begins. Mathimaran is taken to the police station after a drunken brawl breaks out at a bar. The man is a complete wreck.
The film returns a few months back to tell the story behind Mathimaran’s current situation. Once that’s out of the way, it’s time for the hero to get back on his feet and go after the bad guys who have thrown his life out of gear.
“You are the best investigative journalist. Get up and investigate,” someone encourages him. And lo and behold, Mathimaran jumps out of his tearful stupor and gets back into action. But this time he is not as a reporter with a nose for news but as a seeker of vengeance.
Barring Dhanush and to a lesser extent, Smriti Venkat, the actors have so little to do in the film that they themselves have no clue where they want to go. Malavika Mohanan plays a news photographer who works with Mathimaran, the protagonist’s romantic interest. However, she makes the worst deals of them all, popping in and out without adding much value to the film. Sadly, Malavika Mohanan is an actress who deserves more than this film and is ready to give it to her.
marani Malavika’s third Tamil film after Rajinikanth starrer petta and victory vehicle Guru ji, It is a forgettable walk. Her character is very clearly carved, although she has a few scenes in the pre-climate passage (these are dedicated to a hero who has lost his sway after a shocking turn of events) that gives him his emotional back. Allows skill to be demonstrated. too little too late.
Samuthirakani, who plays the main antagonist, is also in vain. He would have served the purpose of the film infinitely better if the character had been written more imaginatively. But, then, the script of marani Anyways is everywhere and all the characters, even Dhanush has to bear the brunt of what he portrayed. marani There are misfires on all fronts.