Maanagaram

This hyperlink narrative happening in a day is superbly written with emotions hitting the cord at the right place. Though there are few logic loopholes, it keeps you at the edge of the seat throughout. Muniskanth is simply brilliant. Must watch and one of the best hyperlink films in Tamil!!

In spite of getting good reviews, I mostly put off watching neo-noir films, coz I doubt whether it would appeal to my kids. This was a surprise indeed, and we were all hooked from start to end.

With a non-studded star cast, the movie moves intelligently from frame to frame. We surmise the characters would be interlinked at some point, but it was an unexpected points.

Maanagaram gives a realistic portrayal on a metropolitan city and the opinions of migrators. Normally, we feel secure in the safe confines of our local hometowns and villages and dread going to a metro without contacts. We are apprehensive to the lurking dangers in public transport, night time alleys and basically of people themselves. All this still holds true, but the punchline of the movie gives a much needed insight here." We cannot blame the city for the doings of the inhabitants, so if we expect help from others, we need to initiate offering help from our side."

Each character is etched artistically, without much intro or explanations. There is no irrirating love side plot or needless songs woven into the storyline. Kudos to the director, technicians and the whole team on an impeccable job.

Maanagaram (2017): Few films make me realize about the importance of young talent in Indian Cinema.Especially in Kollywood,there are lot of such talented youngsters who are waiting for their chance.Karthik Subbaraj,Ashwin,Nalan Kumaraswamy etc..Now Lokesh Kangaraj is the debutante who is another gift to Kollywood.

Plot:

Set in the big city of Chennai, a youngster (Sree) from a small town comes to the city for a job opportunity at an IT firm. After he bags the job, on the same night he is beaten up on the road for mistaken identity and no one seems to come for his help. He gets annoyed about how insensitive are the people of the city.On the other hand, there is this young brash Sundeep Kishan who is good at heart and madly in love with his college mate and HR in charge at the IT firm (Regina Cassandra) and goes to any extent to safeguard her. Then you have this soft-natured migrant driver (Charlie), who comes to Chennai for the treatment of his ailing son and lands up the job as a call taxi driver. There's also this notorious mafia gang leader PKB (Madhusudhan), a corrupt policeman who is Sundeep's uncle, and a group of ruthless thugs with a misfit amongst them (Ramdoss.) He kidnaps the wrong child (who happens to be PKB's son) and ever since is on a damage control exercise. How all the characters get interlinked in the climax forms the rest.

Plus Points:

1)Screenplay and Direction: We have seen lot of hyper linked films like Yuva,Manamantha,Vedam and lot of Hollywood films. With a solid story, deft handling and a seamless screenplay (despite a complex script), extracting the best of performances from the entire cast, picture perfect frames (Selvakumar), engrossing music (Javed Riaz) and crisp editing (Philomin Raj), Lokesh has weaved a captivating thriller which is not to be missed. Lokesh scores the most is in how superbly he interlinks all these different stories and characters. The interlinking does not come across as mere coincidences or conveniences for the plot to progress, but as an observation of the interconnectedness that marks life in the city.

2)BGM: BGM is rocking and raised the intensity in scenes to the top.

3)Dialogues: In one scene in film,Hero asks a person about the most commonly used vulgar work "La..Ko..Ka".The way he criticizes the nature of folks in city using the word for everything is one of my most fav scenes in the movie.There are lot of such amazing dialogues in this film.

4)Performances: Everyone in the film has given their career best performances Especially Sree and Charlie stole the entire movie with their brilliant performances.Sundeep Kishan is amazing as rough guy in love with a girl.

Minus Points:

1)Lengthy Climax: Even though the screenplay is engaging at its best lengthy and feels dragged.

So,Maanagaram is an engaging realistic crime dram with terrific direction,amazing performances and dialogues.

My rating 7.5/10

Maanagaram (2017) : Brief Review -

A smartly written and intelligently executed crime anthology by Lokesh Kanagaraj on useless city pride. Crime anthologies are always fun to watch because we expect some new stuff, innovative storytelling and lots of surprises. Maanagaram is a perfect fit for that even though it doesn't prove its point property. Well, if the motive doesn't matter to you then Maanagram is fantastic watch for you and if it matters, you can still give it a watch for excellent filmmaking. Maanagaram is a story of Four youngsters who arrive in a big city and with dreams and accidently their lives become interlinked. Actually, this crossover hints a dangerous ride all the time, and it works too but the problem appears in the motiveless screenplay. Maybe, even that's not an issue untill you are enjoying the show but then you have to ask yourself that what was the point of narrating this story at the end? Unfortunately, this question remains unanswered but fortunately it provides a happy ending to almost all the characters as per the justification in cinematic Liberty. There are few useless things in the film which could have been avoided to keep it more curved towards the crime zone. I personally feel that this love story angle and emotional struggle for it actually spoils the main theme of crime dramas unless it has some suspense to reveal at the end, something like we have seen in Aaranya Kaandam (2011). Nevertheless, Maanagaram still has a lot to offer in its own zone. It has smartly written script with gripping screenplay and brilliant direction of Lokesh Kanagaraj. Little more care and it would have been a classic film but its still very much worthy. I didn't understand the logic behind glorifying the fake city pride otherwise it's a terrific crime anthology to watch.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Lokesh Kanagaraj a debutant (Which is hard to believe) has delivered an exciting movie watching experience. Managaram is a kind of movie which doesn't fall even for a minute (Not even in the songs).

The movie starts off with different characters and different lives moves into something unexpected. Though it has too many characters, Lokesh hasn't wasted time in introductions. The story webs around us from frame one.

No character is wasted, each and every character contributes something to the plot. The story travels at a phase, that if a scene is missed we might lose track. The planning and execution of each scene is a master class of Lokesh's screenplay.

The suspense that travels along with the plot keeps the audience hooked, even a one minute song might make us restless- an edge of the seat thriller. Lokesh's brilliant yet again takes him high in the climax, the end of the movie might give a confident booster because of the message it delivers.

Technical aspects: Technically the movie is strong, thought eh technicians are almost new. Cinematography by SK Selvakumar shows the reality of the metro. Each and every frame of his is real. We might encounter any of it in our real life.

Music by Javed Riaz has taken the movie to another extent. Though he doesn't have much to prove in songs the BGM works great time. Philomin's editing is tight packed. She has done an exceptional job in bringing Lokesh's screenplay to life.

Above all its Lokesh Kanagaraj's who has done ample of hard work which is evident throughout. His screenplay, the characters, the technical brilliance everything is a clear indication of his passion towards cinema. Though this is his debut he has taken over some experienced directors with his work for sure. Kollywood has got a brilliant director.

Cast performance: Cast has worked great time for the movie. Sundeep Kishan as a kind hearted rough guy has exhibited excellence. He was equally contributed by Sri who has lived his character throughout. Though Regina doesn't have much to contribute still she impresses. Charlie's acting has proved he wasn't used well by other directors. He does his character with ease. Above all its Munishkanth (Ramdoss) , he steals the whole movie with his funny dialogues. His comedy has worked in a great time and never falls flat. One of his career bests.

On the whole Managaram is a must watch for any moviegoer. It will stay in the hearts as one of the best screenplays ever.