Maragatha Nanayam Movie Review - Aadhi | Nikki Galrani | ARK Saravan | Dhibu Ninan Thomas

Maragadha Naanayam is an Tamil Fantasy Adventure Comedy film Written & Directed by ARK.Saravan, starring Aadhi and Nikki Galrani in the leading roles. The teaser of the movie released on March 11th.

In May 2016, Axess Film Factory announced that they were making a fantasy-adventure comedy film directed by newcomer ARK.Saravan, who had worked an associate director to Ramkumar during Mundaasupatti (2014). Aadhi and Nikki Galrani were signed on to play the leading roles, marking their second collaboration after Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka. The film's shoot commenced on 2016 May 26, and by August 10 the shoot was completed.

Just when we were thinking that ghost comedies are turning repetitive and going out of fashion comes Maragatha Nanayam, an entertaining ghost caper that shows that you can still make your film feel fresh and keep the laughs coming with some inventive strokes. Debutant ARK Saravanan’s script, which jumps between fantasy, heist, comedy, action, adventure, and even a bit of romance, demands kitchen-sink filmmaking, and he is up to the challenge.

The plot revolves around cash-strapped Senguttuvan (Adhi), a small-time smuggler, who, along with his co-smuggler Ilango (Daniel Pope), agrees to stealing the titular Maragadha Nanayam, a historical artefact belonging to the king of Irumporai, whose ghost, it is believed, is said to kill anyone who lays his hand on it. And on the advice of a swami, they seek the spirit of Ilango’s uncle, Chidambaram, to guide them. Circumstances result in Chidambaram’s spirit entering the (dead) body of their boss Nochikuppam Ramadas (Ramadoss). And Chidambaram calls upon the spirits of three of his dead friends — Mahendran (Nikki Galrani), Nesamani (Arunraja Kamaraj) and Tamil Ayya (Sangili Murugan). The four are among the 132 victims of the Irumporai King. Meanwhile, Twinkle Ramanathan (Anandraj), a gangster, too, gets into the mix!

Maragatha Nanayam does take some time to set up its characters and initially, the changes its tone are jarring, but once the plot kicks in, the film starts to entertain, handsomely. Director Saravanan also convinces us that he knows what he is doing and makes us understand that the jumps between genres are very much intentional. Even the small dose of romance between Senguttuvan and Chanakya (Nikki Galrani), which we get in the beginning and makes us apprehensive, gets a unique, comic twist.

That said, the quirkiness sometimes feels forced and even repetitive, like the moments featuring the Twinkle Ramanathan’s goofy underlings. The narration could have also been tighter, as many a scene goes far too long despite making its comic points. This is also why the thrill of a heist/adventure feels amiss, despite the presence of a chase scene involving a monster truck that feels like a nod to Spielberg’s Duel.

But these shortfalls do not rob the amusing quality of the film. For Saravanan’s supporting cast (the lead actors are more or less functional) turns in excellent performances that ensure that we are always amused.

MARAGATHA NANAYAM MOVIE

Cast: 

Aadhi

Nikki Galrani

Anandaraj

Ramdoss

Danie

Mime Gopi

Kota Srinivasa Rao

Arunraja Kamaraj

M.S. Baskar

Brahmanandam

Kaali Venkat

Sangili Murugan

K.Pooranesh

Crew:

Directed by : ARK Saravan

Produced by : G. Dillibabu

Screenplay by : ARK Saravan

Story by : ARK Saravan

Music by : Dhibu Ninan Thomas

Cinematography : PV Shankar

Edited by : Prasanna GK

Production Company : Axess Film Factory

Release date : June 16, 2017