Maha Veerudu Review

Siva Karthikeyan, who shot to fame with Doctor, Don and Prince is back with his new flick Maha Veerudu. The trailer was intriguing and raised anticipation around the movie. Did it live up to expectations? Let’s find out:

Plot:

Sathya (Sivakarthikeyan) is a reserved individual hailing from the slums who prefers to avoid conflicts at all costs. He is willing to compromise and adapt to any situation. Despite being a talented cartoonist, Sathya’s modesty leads him to let others take credit for his work.

However, when Sathya and his family, along with the residents of the slum, are relocated to a new apartment complex, their lives take an unexpected turn. They encounter various challenges and obstacles in their new surroundings. These difficulties bring Sathya face to face with the minister who is responsible for the predicament.

The central theme of the movie revolves around Sathya’s transformation from a timid individual to a hero for the people, as he defies the authority of the minister and confronts the higher power. This remarkable journey depicts how Sathya overcomes his fears and emerges as a champion for the community.

Performances:

Sivakarthikeyan once again embodies a relatable character that offers him a fresh opportunity to showcase his talent. Here, he portrays the quintessential boy next door with a touch of fearfulness. He skillfully portrays the character’s body language, exhibiting a gradual growth as the story unfolds.

Aditi Shankar, although having a smaller role compared to the hero, manages to make her presence felt. While her character doesn’t indulge in conventional romantic scenes, she delivers a couple of powerful moments that make her role worthwhile.

Ravi Teja brings a pleasant surprise to the movie by providing the voice inside the protagonist’s head. His dialogue delivery is straightforward, yet the situations add a layer of amusement, giving it an extra edge.

The supporting cast, although limited, is exceptionally talented. Saritha shines as the upright and outspoken mother, portraying her character with excellence. The chemistry and emotional moments are handled masterfully. Mysskin adds a touch of fun to his portrayal of the corrupt Minister, breathing life into the typical villain role. Sunil delivers a decent performance in the significant role of the Minister’s secretary. Finally, Yogi Babu steals the spotlight with his punchy and satirical comedic style. Monisha Bleesy also delivers an okay performance. The rest of the cast, appearing in smaller roles, showcase their competence.

Technicalities:

In terms of the technical aspects, Madonne Ashwin’s writing and direction are commendable, although a more captivating screenplay in the second half would have greatly improved the overall outcome of the film.

The cinematography and music maintain an average quality, while the dubbing is skillfully executed. To enhance the overall pacing, the editor could have trimmed certain laggy scenes. Nevertheless, the production values meet the satisfactory mark.

Thumbs up:
Siva Karthikeyan
Plot point

Thumbs Down:

Poor Execution
Second Half
Slow Takeoff in the beginning

Analysis:

Mahaveerudu falls into the category of a typical commercial entertainer, but it incorporates a slight twist that allows the narrative to shift into superhero mode when necessary. However, director failed in executing this novel point in an engaging manner.

The core plot revolves around a commoner taking on a politician, a premise that feels familiar. The director takes his time to reach the turning point that changes the power dynamics. Setting up the conflict a bit early would have made the film more interesting. The first half predominantly focuses on establishing the world and, although slow and predictable, the actors and director skillfully hold everything together.

The narrative gains momentum and excitement with the introduction of the ‘X-Factor,’ represented by an internal voice. Director utilized it partially and failed to use this interesting point to its fullest. Though the internal voice scenes provide entertainment, they become repetitive after a point.

The interval builds anticipation for the forthcoming action, despite following predictable lines. One would expect interesting confrontation scenes between the protagonist and antagonist. But these scenes are portrayed in a stereotypical manner, upsetting the viewers.

The entire second half moves in a predictable watch and is full throughout. Finally, the film picks up some pace during the pre-climax. Again, a generic climax ruins the watching experience.

Sivakarthikeyan’s Mahaveerudu is an action comedy film that manages to strike a chord only to a minimal extent. Sivakarthikeyan delivers an impressive performance, and the first half offers decent comedy as its positive aspects. However, the narrative loses its momentum in the second half, leading to moments of boredom. The second half is contrasting from the initial half and ruins the entire proceedings. On the whole, Mahaveerudu is an underwhelming affair where a novel and exciting point was completely wasted in the second half.

Bottom-line: Only First Half Veerudu

Rating: 2.5/5