Review: Maamannan

Film: Maamannan
Director: Mari Selvaraj
Cast: Udhayanidhi Stalin, Vadivelu, Fahadh Faasil and Keerthy Suresh among others
Production House: Red Giant Movies
Music Director: A R Rahman
Cinematographer: Theni Eswar
Rating: 3.5 stars

Director Mari Selvaraj is back with another gripping drama that shines the light on social injustice.

Maamannan, however, is quite different from his other two superhit films — Pariyaerum Perumal and Karnan– as it is a political drama.

Maamannan highlights the fact that no matter what positions people from the oppressed classes hold, they still are not given their due respect in society. At the same time, it also shows a beautiful love-hate relationship between a father and a son, both of whom are equally committed to the cause of social justice.

The story in brief…
Maamannan(Vadivelu),who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly(MLA), is an honourable man. He hails from the oppressed classes and therefore is committed to the cause of social justice.

He has a son Adhiveeran (Udhayanidhi Stalin), a man who will not forego his self-respect for anything in this world and someone who deeply believes in the concept of equality.

Adhiveeran and his father are not on talking terms. But Adhiveeran’s classmate Leela (Keerthy Suresh), who knows nothing about the cold silence that prevails between the father and his son, harbours the opinion that Adhiveeran must be arrogant as his dad is an MLA.

However, when she gets to know that her perception of Adhiveeran was based on literally nothing substantial, she falls in love with him.

Leela, along with some friends, runs a free coaching institute for students from the underprivileged sections. Needless to say, another coaching centre looking to make money is annoyed that Leela is offering for free what they are offering for a lot of money.

The owner of the coaching centre, who happens to be the brother of powerful politician Rathnavel(Fahadh Faasil), warns Leela to close her institute down. When she does not oblige, he sends goons to smash the place down.

When Adhiveeran gets to know of this, Leela and he return the favour by smashing the coaching centre of the man who sent the goons.

This brings politician Rathnavel into the picture. Rathnavel, a shrewd but ruthless and inhuman politician, realises that the tiff his brother has is with the son of his own partyman Maamannan.

He summons Maamannan and Adhiveeran to his home in the belief that he can force Maamannan into following his instructions. However, that is not to be…

‘Maamannan’ is definitely one of Mari Selvaraj’s landmark films as it looks to make a pertinent point about positional power and the mental preparedness of those from the oppressed classes to accept it as a matter of right instead of treating it as a gift from the privileged classes.

This is a point that has never before been established in any Tamil film. And just for that, Mari Selvaraj deserves a brownie point.

The film showcases how power is wielded surreptitiously by those who have been enjoying it for generations on the one hand. Simultaneously, it also shows how those from the present generation are not going to forsake their self-respect and forgo their rights, even at the cost of their relationship with their parents going sour.

The film has some fantastic performances to offer. Fahadh Faasil delivers a commanding performance as politician Rathnavel. But it is Vadivelu who steals the thunder with his measured and dignified performance as Maamannan.

Udhayanidhi Stalin looks a neat and perfect fit for the character of Adhiveeran. He delivers a very convincing performance.

Keerthy Suresh as Leela looks a little out of place in the scheme of things.

Overall, Maamannan is a good entertaining film that has some significant points to make about social justice and power.