People often say, “We put our heart and soul into this film.” Those words may apply to many films, but they perfectly suit Mandaadi.
I was blown away by the visuals throughout the film. The action sequences in the middle of the sea are so naturally shot that I kept wondering, How did they actually pull this off? We are used to watching cricket and hockey, so boat racing feels fresh and different. Director Mathimaran Pugazhendhi has done a great job setting up the world and the sport.
The first half doesn’t really get into the main story. It mainly establishes the rivalry between the hero and the villain. But the film picks up strongly from the interval, and that entire sequence is terrific.
The second half starts a little slow once the main story begins, but the moment the conflict between Soori and Suhas kicks in, the film never really slows down. Both actors compete with each other and deliver some excellent performances.
Friends turning into enemies is not a new concept, but the director keeps it moving with an engaging screenplay. And Soori…what more can you say? You almost forget that this man was once primarily known as a comedian. His transformation and wonderfully settled performance deserve to be appreciated. Suhas is the surprise package and is in no way inferior to Soori. He matches him step for step.
GV Prakash Kumar’s music is one of the film’s biggest strengths, while the cinematography is simply top-notch.
