IANS Review: “Maanaadu”: A charming entertainer that never disappoints (IANS Rating ***)).

By Manigandan K.R.Film: "Maanaadu" Duration: 148 mins (Playing in theatres).

Director: Venkat Prabhu Cast: Silambarasan, S.J.Suryah, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Daniel Pope, Karunakaran, Premgi Amaran, Y.G.Mahendran and S.A.Chandrashekar IANS Rating: Venkat Prabhu, the director, seems to have delivered a winner.He seems to have made a film that is both deeply engaging and compelling, despite the complex plot that is difficult to comprehend and difficult to tell.

The film opens with Abdul Khaliq (Silambarasan), boarding a plane.He is seated next to Seethalakshmi, played by Kalyani Priyadarshan.

He realizes that Seethalakshmi is going to the same wedding he has planned to attend.She is there to greet them and wish them well.

Abdul, however, is plotting with his friend Moorthy (PremgiAmaran) to help the bride elope.Abdul and his friends Moorthy (Karunakaran), meet him at Chennai and head to the wedding.

They meet Rafiq (Daniel Annie Pope), a man who is desperate to escape from someone following him.A rapid series of events occurs and before Khaliq even realizes what is happening the states Chief minister (S.A.Chandrashekhar), is assassinated as he addresses a rally.Just as Abdul, stunned, begins to believe that things cannot get worse, he is killed.

Only to realize that he is back in his plane, seated next Seethalakshmi.Abdul soon realizes that he is in a time loop.

Every time he dies, the loop starts again from the moment he boarded the plane.Abdul decides to make the time loop work for him and stop the assassination attempt on the Chief Minister.

What Maanaadu is all about is how he does it.Venkat Prabhu masterfully tells a time-loop story so that there is no room to boredom.The story picks up speed from the moment Abdul gets off the plane.There is no looking back.

Venkat Prabhus narration can be so natural that you wont mind repetitions.The first half is all about Khaliq.

Its about how the youngster realizes he is stuck in a time loop, and how he learns how to make the most of the difficult situation he finds.The second half is about Khaliq (S.J.Suryah, the Assistant Commissioner for Police, is determined to have the assassination take place.It is a joy to see Khaliq and Dhanushkodi work together to outwit one another.

Venkat Prabhu should also be commended for some dialogues in the movie that show he has his priorities in order.Abdul, for example, explains to his friends whats about to happen in a sequence.

He emphasizes the need to stop the assassination.Not only is the Chief Minister about to die but, more importantly, it would allow some elements to paint an entire community in black.

He claims that the latter is the greater problem of the two.The film also features two outstanding performances, both by the lead actors.Yes, Simbu & S.J.Suryah and Simbu give sterling performances and match each others moves for move.Its almost as if they are in a silent competition to see who will win the film.S.J.Suryah is a special example.His delivery of dialogue and mannerisms are so charming that even a dull sequence can be made to be a very enjoyable one.The background score by Yuvan Shankar Raja is amazing.It increases the pace of the plot when and where necessary.Editor K.L.deserves the most credit.Praveen is a great editor and entertainer "Maanaadu" is a decent entertainer, narrated with great skill.

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