A Sentimental Family Drama Laden with Emotional Highs and Lows – ‘Maaman’ Movie Review
Director Prashanth Pandiyaraj brings together a powerhouse cast including Rajkiran, Soori, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Suvashika, Geetha Kailasam, Baba Baskar and others in Maman, a film that explores the intricacies of familial bonds, unspoken emotions, and the challenges of relationships.
The story revolves around Soori and his elder sister Suvashika, who has been childless for over ten years. After numerous temple visits and prayers, she finally gives birth to a child. This child forms a deeply emotional bond with his uncle, Soori, who becomes a central figure in his upbringing.
In parallel, Soori marries Aishwarya Lekshmi in a love marriage. However, their marital life faces an unexpected challenge where their intimacy is constantly disrupted due to the child’s attachment and constant presence. This leads to mounting tensions within the family and strains their personal relationship. The crux of the film lies in how they navigate this emotional minefield and help the child understand the situation, all while keeping the family together.
Soori who has shined in previous roles, once again proves his performance in ‘Maaman’ too. On the other hand, Aishwarya Lekshmi who had been continuously proving her performance in every film delivers a powerful and emotionally resonant performance and steals the show. Suvashika stands out with her compelling portrayal, while veteran actors Rajkiran, Viji Chandrasekhar, Geetha Kailasam and Bala Saravanan all deliver strong performances. Special mention goes to Baba Bhaskar, whose role is surprisingly authentic and well-executed.
The screenplay starts off briskly, promising a gripping narrative. However, it gradually loses momentum, only to regain its footing after a series of emotionally charged scenes. The film’s pacing fluctuates throughout, creating an inconsistent narrative rhythm that may leave some viewers disengaged at times.
Dialogues could have been used more polish and while the subplot involving Rajkiran and Viji Chandrasekhar’s romance adds depth, it might have benefitted from further exploration. Dinesh Purushothaman’s Cinematography is a strong point, capturing the emotional intensity with visual finesse. However, the music and songs of Hesham Abdul Wahab fall short, lacking memorability.It looks like Ganesh Siva’s efforts on the Editing Table has really helped in reducing the lagging scenes.
Director Prashanth Pandiyaraj, known for his web series Vilangu, looses his flavour in ‘Maaman’ with a lagging screenplay. Though the intention of the director was to deliver an emotional family drama, the dramatised sorrowful scenes disappoints the audience.
‘Maaman’ is an emotionally driven family drama packed with sentimental moments, but it tends to overindulge in sorrow. It’s a film that resonates with audiences seeking heartfelt stories, though it could have struck a better balance with more refined storytelling.
Rating: 3.25/5