Mayanadhi Malayalam Movie
This is the romantic portrayal of destiny at its best in recent times. Trapped in the large current of destiny, the hero struggles to extricate himself to begin life afresh. Like a double-edged sword, the persona of Mathews aka Maathan (Tovino Thomas) is unpredictable and that factor becomes decisive in his life. The travail of Aparna Ravi (Aishwarya Lekshmi) to become an actress and the dilemma of embracing the romance float in "Mayanadhi." Intermittently, the flow is hindered by her consciousness and realisation.
Aashiq Abu conceives the movie with an extra sense aesthetic approach and it's crystal clear like the water in a wild stream. Through the mirror-like view in the stream, the filmmaker guides us to witness the real status of a modern woman, who comes from an orthodox family. The character Sameera (Leona Lishoy), an actress, echoes many things in one of the scenes where her furious brother, forces her to end her acting career and takes her back to a foreign country.
Like his earlier films, Aashiq's female characters announce themselves their freedom by battling against their difficult circumstances. The intensity he sustains throughout the film is remarkable.
Aishwarya Lekshmi finds herself in the whirlwind of emotions and she smartly executes it. Quite often, she is dithered over the love expressed by Maathan. The 'trust' in love, according to her, eludes in their romance. Tovino is equally amazing in portraying the hapless youth, who is mired in troubles. The innocence he exudes in his romance and the pain he feels in his conscience are vivid expressions of a trapped soul.
Scenarists Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair present a simple story in a different premise. They don't rack their brains to bring the effect of suspense; instead a travel through the emotions and conflicts of characters is more than enough to arrest the attention of the viewers. The duo accomplishes the task simply because the individuality they lend to each characters (even the roommate of Aparna gives a clear identity).
Apart from the stellar performances of the lead pair, Jayesh Mohan's visuals and Saiju Sreedharan's editing have contributed the essential pace for the movie. Bold, beautiful and sometimes disturbing, "Mayanadhi" explores the realistic and romantic domains of two youngsters. It's the aesthetic treatment that makes the difference.
OTHER REVIEWS
Kiran & Allan