Maattrraan review

3.25 / 5

The much expected Maattrraan finally released today. On to the review straightaway!

We are introduced to the conjoined twins Vimalan and Agilan who are born with a common heart after a failed experiment by their father, who is a genetic scientist. He actually intended to give birth to a superhuman through his experiments but it doesn’t work out the way he planned.

The twins are totally opposite to each other and as they grow up, their father also becomes a big shot and has a company named Locus Lacto, which sells a milk product called Energion that brings their father to the limelight thanks to its supposed performance enhancement capabilities. This powder is meant for children.

We also have a Russian journalist named Volga who wishes to dig out this company’s secrets and she is relentless. The twins (Suriya) meanwhile befriend Anjali (Kajal) who happens to be a Russian translator and Vimalan and Anjali fall in love too. Volga’s intentions are understood by Vimalan after a point and he comes to know from her that she has a lot of evidence about the Locus Lacto Company in a pen drive. These evidences point to a lot of wrongdoing on the part of the twins’ father in his company.

Why is there such a fuss about Energion? Why is Volga so bent on exposing the Locus Lacto Company’s modus operandi? In search of all the truth, there are lives lost and the action shifts to a country which was part of the erstwhile USSR (Ukvania is what they say). And Suriya is at the center of all the action as expected. He uses adequate doses of brain and brawn to bring to light the truth.

The director has exposed how professional sports athletes are forced to take extra medications and shady supplements by their own country’s officials, ahead of big international sports events just to boost their medal tally. The repercussions and consequences of such drugs are also shown. He has also touched open how genetic science can be a potent weapon in the coming years (this was touched upon in 7aum Arivu too)

Cheers

• Suriya’s hard work in shooting each scene twice is palpable. That said, the VFX for all the scenes when the conjoined twins are shown, is substandard to put it mild. Expected much more authenticity in this department.
• Suriya’s antics as the extroverted and outgoing Agilan are enjoyable. His styling is trendy. His prowess at dance and stunts are visible yet again. He is adept at emoting too. Another solid show from the star.
• Harris’ songs sound great on screen thanks to the beautiful picturization. Rettai Kadhire is a delight while Theeye, Nani Koni and the two songs in the second half are decent too. The locations in Nani Koni are dreamlike and Suriya has differentiated his actions and body language for his two characters in the songs.  
• Kajal is refreshing and she rocks in the Kaal Mulaitha Poove number with her flexibility and long legs. She is more than just the eye candy and is there for most of the movie. Should prove to be a good break for this charmer. 
• The pre-interval scenes in the theme park are the best part of the movie. The fight between the conjoined twins and a group of thugs on the rides in the theme park, have been very well executed. Must have been an ordeal. Hats off. The film also makes a huge emotional connect in this portion. Catch the flick to find out.

Jeers

• As said before, the VFX for the scenes showing the conjoined twins is very ordinary.
• The film drags towards the end with elaborate stunt scenes (reminiscent of the climax fight in 7aum Arivu) and a long scene in a cave in Gujarat.
• Harris' BGM has a few recurrent themes - a loud distortion guitar portion, some loud male chorus chants and a dramatic classical humming with veena and mridangam support. This movie needed more in this department.  

Comments

• The villain’s intentions actually make you wonder if such a crude thought process can actually exist.
• Kajal is actually the voice of the movie in the 2^ndhalf as there are lot of scenes involving translations and narrations. Don’t know how the general masses would take to the second half.
• This is not a mindless movie. You ought to pay a lot of attention to what’s happening on screen. 

FINAL WORD

Commercial entertainer with a difference. Worth a watch for people who are prepared to pay attention to what’s happening on screen. It’s not mindless.