Maareesan Movie Review: Vadivelu & Fahadh Hit The Road—But It’s No Joyride

Maareesan is not entirely a feel-good film. The second half takes a sharp turn into crime thriller territory.

After their memorable face-off in Maamannan, actors Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil reunite for a very different cinematic ride in Maareesan. Directed by Sudheesh Shankar and produced by Super Good Films, the movie also features an ensemble cast including Kovai Sarala, Vivek Prasanna, Sithara, Livingston, Renuka, Saravana Subbiah, and others. Maareesan hit the screens on July 25.

Plot

Fahadh Faasil plays Dayalan, a recently released prisoner who served time for theft. While attempting another burglary, he encounters Velayudham (Vadivelu), a man who claims to suffer from Alzheimer’s and insists that his son has locked him up. Velayudham offers Dayalan ₹25,000 if he helps him escape. However, Dayalan soon discovers that Velayudham is carrying ₹25 lakh and secretly plots to steal it all.

What follows is an unlikely journey as the duo travel by bike from Nagercoil to Tiruvannamalai. But is Velayudham really suffering from memory loss? Why is he heading to Tiruvannamalai? And does Dayalan succeed in his plan? These questions form the crux of Mareesan.

Performances & Chemistry

Watching Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil together in a road movie is refreshing. While they were adversaries in Maamannan, here they share a more intimate, complementary dynamic. Their on-screen chemistry—especially in the first half—is effortlessly charming. The humor between them doesn’t feel forced and is naturally embedded into the script.

Genre Shift & Weak Spots

Maareesan is not entirely a feel-good film. The second half takes a sharp turn into crime thriller territory. Despite an interesting twist, the supporting characters and subplots don’t make a lasting impact. Kovai Sarala, though uniquely cast as a police officer, has limited scope.

The film touches on child abuse in its second half through flashbacks, but these scenes feel underwhelming in execution. That said, the screenplay cleverly introduces twists without overstepping character boundaries.

Technical Aspects

While the songs may not stand out, Yuvan Shankar Raja’s background score elevates the mood significantly. Cinematographer Kalai Arasan deserves praise for capturing rural landscapes with realism and depth.

Despite some flaws, the unusual Fahadh–Vadivelu pairing brings a smile and offers a fresh experience that’s worth watching.