Review: Maayon

Director: Kishore N
Cast: Sibi Sathyaraj, Tanya Ravichandran, Radha Ravi, K S Ravikumar, Bagavathi Perumal and Hareesh Peradi among others
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography: Ram Prasad
Rating: 3 stars

Director Kishore’s ‘Maayon’ is a gripping thriller that manages to hold your attention right till the very end.

The story has an interesting plot which primarily revolves around a bunch of archaeologists working for the government at a particular excavation site in the state.

A senior officer of the group, Devaraj (played by Hareesh Peradi), gets to learn from literature found in one of the sites that the kings of the past had constructed a secret chamber in a particular temple with a glorious history. He gets to learn that the kings, who had ruled several centuries ago, had stored gold and other precious valuables in the chamber.

Instead of passing on the information to his higher ups, Devaraj, who covets the treasure calls up Arjun Manimaran ( played by Sibiraj), a department man who is an expert in not just replicating statues but also someone who has thorough knowledge of history and archaeology. More importantly, he also happens to share Devaraj’s desire to become rich through short cuts.

Devaraj arranges for Arjun’s transfer to the particular site. By the time Arjun arrives, he already has a team in place to find the secret chamber before word of it gets out and others jump in for a share in the spoils.

He entrusts the task of finding the secret chamber in the temple and procuring its contents to Arjun and makes him the leader of the team.

However, getting the treasure isn’t going to be easy as to find the way to the secret chamber, one must decipher riddles and codes buried in ancient poems. That apart, there are rumours of those who look to venture into the temple at night going insane.

What happens next is what Maayon is all about…

Sibiraj as Arjun Manimaran does a fantastic job. From delivering dialogues to convincing body language, Sibiraj seems to have done his homework. Director K S Ravikumar, who plays the honest head of the department, is exceptional as well.

Tanya Ravichandran as the literature expert looking to decipher palm leaf manuscripts does an impressive job. Bagavathy Perumal as DK too does a fine job.

Ilaiyaraaja’s music is perfect and Ram Prasad’s visuals are pleasing to the eye.

Director Kishore tells a gripping story in a clean and neat fashion. ‘Maayon’ is an interesting thriller that is bound to keep you hooked!