Mayaanadhi (2017) Online

The two protagonists of Mayanadi, Apu and Mathan could have been one of the most loved couples if they happened elsewhere but in a Malayalam film. It isn't that they are unanimously denied by the people of Kerala. They are being the victims of a planned and organized attack from a certain sect of 'bhakts' who are just very very loud ever since the movie was set to hit the cinema. Of course there is a political situation this film industry is through right now and as in any part of the world, the beholders of the name 'bhakts' hold zero intelligence and hence their logic behind this campaign remain irrational, naïve and more significantly foolish.

However this does not stop a whisker, from the movie being appreciated. I can't think of many movies in Malayalam that came out presenting love. There had been a lot of films which represented love but they have all been timid, implicit and terrified of presenting love. Mayandi is different, the first of its kind and never did shy away from the reality of love.

Mayanadhi is a film that also presents you with well-developed characters whom you so often tend to realistically relate to yourself especially if you had ever been in love and I assume that to be everybody.

Into the plot and characters, it isn't certain whether Apu and Mathan are more similar or different or they are a filigree of contradictions. Apu thinks Mathan is a survivor and his cattitude gets him out of all situations and she trusts herself there. But then the truth is Apu is a product of a privileged household who has throughout her life clung onto her privileges whilst Mathan's survival instincts were more of a necessity than a character trait like Apu thinks and he could only survive so far. Though Apu hasn't loved anyone else in her life, Mathan remains only an option for her. Maybe that she lost the trust and needs time for repair. Nevertheless she shows constant apathy. However for him she is the last chance of survival. Now that's the enormity of the gulf in life circumstances of the two. The movie is so strongly built that as a viewer, these differences despite being implicit are so obviously felt. As in the case of sex, Apu can have sex with anyone she loves especially on a happy day. Mathan is a clear no there. It's either Apu or none.

When it comes to verbal skills (English), Apu hasn't been great in the past but she develops it thriving to survive. Mathan evidently is not the greatest of speakers but then it does not matter. Apu picks his thoughts easily even if it is loosely used language. He calls her a prostitute after her claim of sex not being a commitment. He meant to call her a whore or a slut or any random word that does prosper in character assassination but then it didn't matter. She picks it. It isn't that she didn't know that prostitutes are not bad people and they are just people who took up the profession either by choice or were falling victims. Mathan didn't mean any of those either. He only meant insult. He wasn't thinking too highly of her at that moment when he called her a prostitute. Not since he thought prostitutes were bad people either. He was being denied by Apu and he spontaneously wanted to inflict insult but was crippled by his verbal skills. However the intent did get to her and both were on the same page.

It isn't for a reason all these subtle distinctions and delicate qualities of the characters were cinematized nor are they random expressions contributing to the film's political proclivity alone without being part of the plot. The movie is well consolidated when Apu leaves Mathan to destiny and cattitude and herself choosing to live in earnest hope and despair. Her class has thrived her to struggle only so far. Doesn't it sound easier to let it go when the dynamics of struggle changes from what you are historically used to? This is exactly where the movie is thought to have done justice to its character development and that's so different from plots where the naïve villager at the face of threat grows up super-human with no evident training or supernatural ancestral genes and ends up beating the hell out of all the bad guys.

Mayanadi isn't all about Apu and Mathan either. There are these three friends, the wise Ashan, the jobless homeopathic mom, the pro-kiss of love brother, of course the three police men, a group of strong and independent urban women, voices against the institution of marriage, the trans-woman who isn't frowned upon, the extent to which the Muslim female is oppressed no matter how liberated they seem, how sex is about love and choice of expression and not a commitment, how easy, cruel and disturbing are encounter killings and how wrong it would be to celebrate them . In the end, such a splendid movie and it doesn't take a lot of intellect guessing its politics.

I'm a avid follower of Malayalam film industry, I make sure I do my research before going into the cinema but then came Mayaanadhi I didn't knew anything about the plot as it was keep as a secret by movie team but still I went for this movie as after a very long time I was excited about a movie release, movie's music and trailer has played an important role in building by excitement

Narration is non- linear, all actors have done justice to their roles stand out being Tovino, Aishwarya, Lijo Jose, Leona and Soubin Shahir with a brilliant cameo (impressed they way Soubin character played without single dialogue but powerful cameo), if dark movies showing realities is your cup of tea, please don't think just go for it. If you are more into masala movies you may not understand or enjoy this movie, this is a pure director movie Aashiq Abu had full control over this movie movie has his stamp all over it and climax is spine chilling, Aashiq has made Mathen immortal with such brilliant climax, another highlight is the shooting locales and cinematography, The Panoramic Gateway, Kochi Metro, Streets of Kochi and Mc Donalds beautifully shown and wisely utilized, Sarcasm, satire and black comedy is used to maintain some lighter moments in tense situations

Will definitely watch this movie again if given opportunity, Thank you Aashiq for giving this masterpiece, I'm listening its music on loop Rex Vijayan another plus of this movie. Still the climax haunts movie hope there is a good sequel someday

After watching its clueless trailer, I thought it to be another misfire from aashiq Abu after gangster and rani padmini but I was wrong. Before mayanadhi, the last time I saw a realistic love story in malayalam was Annayum Rasoolum. Mayanadhi narrates the complicated and poignant love story of a runaway criminal Maathan and struggling actress aparna. Tovino, aishwarya and rest of the cast performed their roles well but the real show stealer is soubin who proves that for an actor only one scene and no dialogues are enough to strike an impact among audience. Climax leaves a lump on your throat. You feel like a fresh air coming slowly on your face while watching mayanadhi. Maayanadhi is Aashiq Abu's best work till date.

The latest Aashiq Abu offering is a pretty good film. Sort of a noble failure. A thriller that's also about life in the Malayalam film industry. There are lots of good moments (like the part where the director says "let the malayalm film industry get destroyed" when a Muslim actress makes him chop off a sexy scene in the film fearing backlash from her conservative brother) but there are too many ordinary moments as well.

The makers tried to make the film too subtle. Some of the acting by the two leads was crap. Aishwarya Lakshmi, the female lead, has an interesting dour screen presence. But her acting in some scenes should have been chopped off on the editing room table. Tovino Thomas didn't nail the character either, he phoned it in. The actors who played the three encounter cops could walk into an Anurag Kashyap movie.

I recommend it.

Mayanadi is a malayalam language romantic drama film directed by Aashiq Abu and written by Syam Pushkar and Dileesh Nair. It is a fact that the script of the film is weak but it is not a bad script.Love is floating throughout the film. Most of the actors have done justice to their roles especially Tovino Thomas who has done the role of Mathan brilliantly. Aashiq Abu has beautifully directed the movie.It is probably the best directional venture of him. Rex Vijayan has once again won in understanding the tone of the film and composing music in that tone.The song "Uyirine Nadye" really has no tune but the composing of Rex Vijayan has made it a beautiful song. Cinematographer Jayesh Mohan does'nt had to do much movement with camera but he has beautifully captured the visuals especially the visuals at night. Mayanadi is a beautiful love story that is watchable for all people especially those who love love stories

The only thing that comes to my mind after watching this is the word 'Beautiful'. The craftsmanship in this film is just a pure joy to watch.

Inspired by Breathless but with a soul that's grounded in Kochi. Tovino and Aishwarya gives fantastic performances as the lead pair.Even though there have been a lot of films that have Kochi as a predominant location, no films have managed to show it so beautifully. Especially the roads under the metro rail which I've wondered in the last few months why this beauty isn't explored by filmmakers. Music is another department that exelled in convaying the emotions which stays after the film. There are some minute treatments in characters and plot which are quite important considering Malayalam film industries' general approach towards several subjects.

Aashiq Abu's Mayaanadhi is excellently executed romantic thriller which is having a balanced amount of romance and thrilling elements! And really the best on from Christmas releases!

Must watch

As the name sounds, this is a mystic movie. Actually if you think, there's nothing new. And the story is somewhat typical. But it's music, editing and some other technical aspects given this the state it deserves. Enjoyed every minute.

Great one from Aashiq Abu and team.Not a simple movie to understand,but it contains more and more thoughts.The cinematography is excellent and editing is also notable in various istances.And the great great music that's flows like a river gives us a deep mood.What a voice Shahabaz Aman..

Mayaanadhi is more about morality than it is about romance, yet at the end your heart aches for the latter. And that is the biggest problem with Aashiq Abu's mostly ambitious, but sometimes pretentious, drama about a naive young man (Tovino Thomas) and an aspiring actress (Aishwarya Lekshmi) who are in a casual relationship and who are unable to decide whether to commit to it or not. There's an authentic attempt at describing the plight of youngsters and millennials of today who are unable to commit to anything, be it love or work or passion. Thomas's character is someone who got into bad company thanks to his directionless childhood, whereas Lekshmi's character has shades of social awkwardness and depression - all of which have been captured with essence by Abu and writer due Dileesh Nair and Syam Pushkaran. However, Abu's try at this subtle art falls flat when his two main actors put up a show that is hardly natural or convincing. Both Lekshmi and Thomas are lethargic in their portrayal, and despite achieving the impossible in some sequences, seem to falter at some crucial points. These crucial points in the film are also the ones that are truly commonplace, and go against the subtle dramatic grain of Mayaanadhi. It's a dull atmosphere overall, with some boost added by Rex Vijayan's music and an electrifying performance by Ilavarasu. There are also these short sequences that are bound to put a smile on your face, but that obviously never happens in the lead characters' faces anytime in the film. Just a notch above average. TN.

The promos of 'Mayaandhi' didn't reveal much about the plot of the film and was more or less confusing without any high-point in particular to evoke excitement in the mind of the audience.On the contrary,Mayaanadhi,the film is an intense and emotional romantic thriller that offers a haunting cinematic experience making it undoubtedly one among the best feature films to come out from Mollywood this calendar year.

The screenplay scripted by the duo of Dileesh Nair and Syam Pushkaran is top-notch and utilizes subtle humor and real emotions to deliver an utterly realistic romance that's presented in the best possible way by Aashiq Abu who has created yet another passionate handiwork after his 2015 drama film 'Rani Padmini'.The narrative by Aashiq is riveting and utilizes its realistic pace to make us root for the lead characters Mathan and Appu in just few minutes into the presentation.

Mollywood has seen many intense romances in the past,but Mayaandhi will be long remembered for its uniqueness in expressing bold statements like "sex is not a promise" without being offensive for any section of the audience.The best thing about the romance here is that its volatile like every other real life romance and the subtle variations in the relationship has been presented brilliantly without any element of melodrama and cinematic masala.There are plenty of satirical one-liners that exposes the social scenario of today and the writer duo have worked-out them pretty well to evoke smiles from such social commentary bits without losing the element of thought underneath.

The movie can boast of the career best act by Tovino Thomas who has given out a splendid act as Mathan who is madly in love with the female protagonist Appu.Aishwarya Lekshmi who debuted earlier this year with the Nivin Pauly starrer 'Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela' has done a brilliant job as Appu,a struggling actor in the industry.All the supporting performances were impressive with notable ones being that of Leona Lishoy,Harish Uthaman and Ilavarasu.

This review will be incomplete without penning atleast a line about Rex Vijayan who has created a stunning background score and 4 haunting songs that uplifts the mood of the film big time.The solo 'Mizhiyil' sung by Shahabaz Aman is an awe-inspiring work that's sure to be in the playlist of music lovers for long time.Jayesh Mohan's frames were literally poetic and complimented the beauty of the narrative.Edits by Saiju Sreedharan were good.

Overall,Mayaanadhi is a brilliant on-screen romance that's not to be missed from the big screens this holidays.Go for it!

Mayaanadhi is an excellent peace of art from mollywood. poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words this movie found its thought and the thought captured in its all emotions.. Good acting of lead actors ,excellent cinematogrphy ,great musics nd bgm however excellent choosing of these and making of Aashiq Abu..

The only things came good from this movie were the songs as well as the opening 20-25 minutes. The rest is illogical and unrealistic. Tovino character had no consistency and the effort from the female lead wasn't convincing either. And the Tamil cops didn't make any sense to me. It's not family friendly by the way and it has annoying stereotyping. I don't recommend it, but this movie will be liked by much new gen, It's just the way it is. Its a 5/10 movie for me.

Good romance experience after a long time of Malayalam cinema Tovino boy you are oru rakha ella.. Songs made movie more romantic Director needs special nominations.. Magical climax..

Lovely movie !!! Excellent casting & acting ,esp the heroine character !!! My rating is 8.5 !!!

One of the best entertaining film I ever watched. The movie will touch ur hearth deeply .superb acting by tovino . A simple and honest character of tovino will touch our heart

Reat Movie: "is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level, where each character, scene, costume, and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Different from the usual love stories, this is more new gen love story, directed ably by Aashiq Abu.Very focused movie, no unnecessary tangential lines to the story. Tovino was good with controlled acting, madly in love with his girl to the end.

Didn't seen such a heart touching story before.Ashik abu done a great work.such a beautiful movie.one of the best movies in malayalam. I didn't see such an ending in while world films

Why do i watch low rated or flop movies with very few good ratings or movies which failed to catch public attention? well, there is some beauty in this type movies. one of them is, they don't make it for public attention. these are natural. these are pure. And sometimes these are boring also, as like your life. And after finishing it, sometimes your emotion will be numbed thinking who is right who is wrong or what's wrong with this damn movie? well, This movie is one of them.

An excellent movie. The best romantic movie in Malayalam ever............

Tovino just rocked...Superb cinematography...