Maan Karate

My review: Maan Karate

Being ambitious and self-confident is a proven recipe for success. However, being over-ambitious and over-confident is a sure path for self-destruction. The writer-director, Thirukumaran and the protagonist, Sivakarthikeyan of the movie "Maan Karate" must realize this if they intend to continue their endeavor in the Tamil movie industry. 

Sivakarthikeyan must understand that he is a  performer first. He is not yet a star and trying to do a Rajnikanth or Vijay on screen is not his cup of tea nor the audience are that dumb to get taken in by all his narcissistic cravings. Even the big "stars" of Tamil cinema themselves have started to either do away or tone down the self-reverential introduction songs. But it is not only plain irritating but also hideous to see these wannabe stars trying to boost their so-called "image" after just two or three movies of their's doing well at the box-office. He is still brilliant with his comedy timing, humorous body language and expressions, Siva is a blast in the first half. When he can perform so well with his comical avatar, one gets taken aback when suddenly there is a jump in his character sketch from that of a clown into a mass hero just in matter of minutes. Tamil audience have not yet become that retarded to buy into these juvenilities.   

Movie starts of in a promising note with the fantasy element interestingly staged to prime the curiosity of audience. And the first half is a laugh riot, though more of the infantile type, nonetheless keeps the audience in good humour. Thirukumaran has done well in these sequences, his flair for comedy is very much evident here. But post intermission, movie takes a nose dive sagging with unwanted sentiments, protracted hero-building and a very ordinary, if not pathetic ending.  The last 40 minutes of the movie spoils the whole movie to a point of no return, making it a futile watch undoing all the revelry of the first half. 

Sivakarthikeyan this time in his endeavor to become a "star", apes Vijay's style and mannerisms for the substantial portion of the movie. In between inspiration from Rajnikanth, Dhanush and Silambarasan are also evident at various sequences. Whenever he is on his own doling out his razor sharp witty one-liners and sarcastic interludes Siva is terrific. But in the sentimental sequences and action sequences he is all at sea and the viewers may find it difficult to take him seriously in those. Hansika Montwani is there in the movie to scare the viewers with nonsensical expressions in her attempt to look cutesy and "bubbly" (a word that seems to have been specifically invented to  describe the average Tamil movie heroine). Less said about the characterizations and performances of the others in the support cast the better with the exception of Satish who is getting better with every movie of his.  

Anirudh's music is not up to the reputation he has created for himself in his brief career so far. The usual energy and pep that is evident in his music is missing this time. Sukumar has done his job pretty well as the cinematographer of the movie. 

On the whole, what could have been a fun-filled no-brainer gets bogged down by the lofty over-ambitious tweaking by Thirukumaran to cater to the demands of a wannabe "mass" star.

Bottomline: Losses the fizz halfway.

2/5