Mandaadi Review: Second Half Drowns

Soori Suhas Pic in Mandaadi

BOTTOM LINE
Second Half Drowns

RATING
2/5

Story, Screenplay, Director: Mathimaran Pugazhendhi
Cast: Soori, Suhas, Mahima Nambiar, Sathyaraj, Mithun Jai Sankar, Ravindravjay, Bala Saravanan
Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar
DOP: S R Kathir ISC
Editor: Pradeep E Ragav
Producer: Elred Kumar
Presented By: RS Infotainment
Production Company: RS Infotainment
U.S. Distributor:

Related Links: Trailer

What Is the Film About?

Kaali (Soori) is a naturally talented boat rider, but is forced to leave the sport and the place and work as a lifeguard in a city. However, a life-and-death situation involving his friend’s son forces him to return to Kalinga Patnam.

Why did Kaali leave the place in the first place? Who is Sattapuli, and why is he hell-bent on taking revenge on Kaali? The basic story of Mandaadi is how the enmity ends, and Kaali redeems himself via a boat race.

Performances

Soori is reliable as usual. He brings his ‘heroic’ intensity to the action sequences. The actor doesn’t go overboard, sticks to the basics, and delivers. The role gives him the right mix of emotions, with heroism in good doses. He fulfils the various requirements with ease.

Suhas makes his Tamil cinema debut with the movie. He plays the antagonist Sattapuli and is in fine form. He also delivers an intense performance and holds his own in the crowded space. However, his characterisation eventually becomes a one-note villain role. The way the role is presented is a letdown.

Mahima Nambiar also gets a good role. She starts off in the background, as seen in her intro where she literally comes out of the darkness. A scene in the first half involving her character and son stands out, and she brings strong presence and impact in the second half as the movie marches towards the end. It is a good outing for her.

Analysis

Mathimaran Pugazhendhi writes and directs Mandaadi. It’s a mass movie set against a sea-sports backdrop in a coastal setting.

The sport and setup are what instantly bring freshness to the movie. Strip it down, and you get a typical revenge drama we’ve seen countless times before.

The characters, their dynamics, and the world-building take time to settle in. Once the Kaali character enters Kalinga Patnam, that’s when the momentum begins in the proceedings.

The stretch involving the training block, followed by the internal politics, and finally the race is the best part of the movie. It is followed by a proper action interval sequence that makes one excited for the second half.

But the moment the narrative resumes post-intermission, and as soon as the flashback begins, the proceedings slip into the utterly predictable zone. The beats touched are as routine as they come. Everyone does their parts well to move things forward, but the bite is missing, and the writing, too, is lacking.

Once again, the sports sequence after the elaborate flashback brings back the attention. It is imagined grandly, but the same grandness doesn’t entirely reflect on screen. It’s either tiny boats or the focused close-ups; the sense of something epic happening doesn’t translate to the big screen. There is no question about the effort being put in, though.

The climax ends flatly, but it is still better than the flashback, which leaves Mandaadi with just a pass mark in the end.

Overall, Mandaadi is a typical mass movie with backstabbing and shifting loyalties. What brings freshness is its unique backdrop and sports-drama angle. However, after a decent first half, the movie descends into an overwhelmingly predictable zone and ends up as a strictly passable affair.

Performances by Other Actors

Apart from the three main characters, several actors play bit-and-piece roles. Sathyaraj, Mithun Jai Shankar, and Ravindra Vijay are better among them as they get parts that drive the story forward. The rest of the cast is fine too. Everyone chips in with a decent act in whatever screen time they get.

Music and Other Departments?

GV Prakash Kumar provides the songs and background score. The songs are alright, but it’s the background score where he shines. The cinematography is good, and the visual effects during the boat race sequences are too. The editing could have been sharper. The movie feels longer than necessary. The writing is okay.

Highlights?

Sea Sports Backdrop

Casting

Performances

BGM

Drawbacks?

Second Half

Utterly Predictable Flashback

Flat Ending

Length

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes, parts of the movie, especially in the first half, are good and set things up perfectly. The race sequences, when shown first, feel unique and engaging.

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, but with expectations really low. The second half is a drag and bores until the climax arrives.

Reviewed by Kalyan, M9 News

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