MUMBAI – A.R. Murugadoss, celebrated for hits like Thuppakki and Kaththi, returns with Madharaasi, a psychological action thriller that aims high but struggles to maintain its pace. Sivakarthikeyan steps away from his usual on-screen image, taking on a demanding role alongside Rukmini Vasanth, Vidyut Jammwal, and Biju Menon.
The Telugu movie tries to mix gritty action with heartfelt moments. It succeeds in places, with energetic set pieces and a driven performance from the lead, yet pacing and a familiar script hold it back from greatness.
Story and Setting
Set in Tamil Nadu, the plot centres on a dangerous gun-running operation led by Virat (Vidyut Jammwal) and his associate Chirag (Shabeer Kallarakkal). Their actions threaten to overwhelm the state with illegal weapons. The National Investigation Agency, under the calm guidance of Premnath (Biju Menon), attempts to bring them down, but the criminals keep slipping away.
Raghu Ram (Sivakarthikeyan), an everyday man dealing with Fregoli delusion after past trauma, often imagines his lost loved ones in strangers, pushing him to act as their protector. When his girlfriend Malathy (Rukmini Vasanth) is caught up in the crime ring, Raghu is pulled into the battle, raising the personal and public stakes.
Murugadoss sets up an intriguing combination of social critique and personal struggle. The opening grips viewers, and Raghu’s backstory adds depth, making his condition relatable. As the film wears on, though, it takes on too much action, romance, and psychological drama compete for space, which blunts the impact of each.
Cast Performances
Sivakarthikeyan gives the film much of its heartbeat. His version of Raghu is raw and believable, switching between fragile and fierce. He brings comic relief early on, then shifts into intense action, matching Vidyut Jammwal’s presence with ease during key fights. His move to a hardened character feels convincing, especially in the bigger action moments.
Vidyut Jammwal stands out during the action, his martial arts expertise lifting each fight scene, although his villain lacks detail. Rukmini Vasanth adds weight to her role as Malathy and avoids being just another victim in distress.
Her chemistry with Sivakarthikeyan helps the romance, even if the script gives her few standout scenes. Biju Menon is quietly effective as Premnath, offering balance to the more dramatic moments. Supporting roles like Kallarakkal’s Chirag add sharpness, often making the most of limited screen time.
Direction and Writing
Murugadoss still knows how to create tension and emotion. The first hour is tight, with a strong mix of action and feeling during the interval block. Raghu’s mental health is handled with care, giving the character’s struggles meaning in both dramatic and action scenes.
The second half, though, runs into the usual issues seen in big commercial releases: slower pacing and a script that often looks too much like his earlier hits, Ghajini and Thuppakki. The ending goes for visual impact, but loses some believability to keep the hero at the centre.
The script mixes positive messages about gun violence, but sometimes feels tacked on, not fully woven into the story. The main love story is warm, though many musical numbers break up the pace. Murugadoss tries to build a world around gun crimes, but it ends up feeling like a copy of other franchise styles rather than something new.
Technical Highlights
On the technical side, Madharaasi impresses. Sudeep Elamon’s camerawork brings a real sense of urgency to the fight scenes, especially in the finale. A. Sreekar Prasad’s editing is snappy in the early going, but could have cut more from the slower second act. Anirudh Ravichander’s background score keeps the energy high, though his songs don’t leave a big impact this time. Fight choreography by Kevin Kumar is hard-hitting and mostly keeps away from digital effects, favouring more physical scenes.
Fans online are split. Many praise Sivakarthikeyan’s new action hero turn and the film’s big set pieces, with hashtags like #Madharaasi and #Sivakarthikeyan dominating release day. At the same time, some point to story problems and a dip in emotional pull during the last hour. One social media user summed up the mood, saying the first half works well, but the rest of the film changes tone. Others defended the action sequences but criticized some weak lines and the formulaic plot.
Madharaasi serves up a lively mix of action and emotion, led by a standout performance from Sivakarthikeyan. The film’s script and pacing hold it back, leaning on old habits and a familiar structure. Still, it manages to entertain, doing better than Murugadoss’ recent projects, if not quite reaching the level of his best-known work.
For those who love high-energy action and are fans of Sivakarthikeyan, Madharaasi delivers enough to make a cinema trip worthwhile. If you are looking for a standout thriller, however, you might find this one enjoyable but flawed. For anyone after a popcorn-friendly action film with a touch of heart, Madharaasi does the job, even if it doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking.
Madharaasi Viewing Details:
Now showing in cinemas across Tamil Nadu, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi (Dil Madharaasi). Streaming coming soon on Amazon Prime Video.
