Movie: Maareesan
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Vadivelu, Fahadh Faasil, Kovai Sarala, Vivek Prasanna, and others
Director: Sudheesh Shankar
Streaming On: Netflix
Sudheesh Shankar directs Maareesan, featuring veteran Tamil comedian Vadivelu and renowned Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil, produced by R.B. Choudary of Super Good Films.
The film hit theaters on July 25, 2025, and started streaming on Netflix on August 22, 2025. Let’s find out how this road thriller/drama has been shaped up in our review.
Story:
Dhaya (Dhayalan), played by Fahadh Faasil, is a small-time thief addicted to stealing precious items. He steals a motorbike after coming out of jail, and breaks into a house, discovering Vela/Velayudham Pillai (Vadivelu) chained inside.
Vela tells Dhaya he has Alzheimer’s, and his son locked him up to stop him from wandering. He offers Dhaya ₹25,000 for assistance in escaping. As Vela takes money from the ATM, Dhaya observes ₹25 lakhs in his account. Tempted, he stays behind Vela to grab all the cash. Next up, the narrative tracks their journey and reveals what kind of time Dhaya has with Vela.
Performances:
Vadivelu fits the character of Vela perfectly, capturing that chill yet intense vibe, and his acting in the emotional moments is simply fantastic. Fahadh Faasil shines as Dhaya, keeping it simple but making a strong impression. Kovai Sarala, Sithara, Vivek Prasanna, and the rest fit perfectly.
Analysis:
In Maareesan, Sudheesh Shankar creates a gripping atmosphere and builds suspense steadily. The story begins on an intriguing note with two lead characters setting on an unusual journey. One can guess the dramatic beats of it but still the film holds the interest with slowly opening other characters and opens a crime link.
The second half, after some interesting proceedings struggles to maintain the grip once the backstory behind the crime is revealed, but it again impresses with the emotional scenes towards the climax.
Positives:
- Vaidvelu – Fahadh Faasil’s Performance
- First Half
- Emotional Scenes/Dialogues
- Climax
Negatives:
- Slow Pace
- A Few Predictable/Stretched Moments in the second half
Maareesan Movie Review and Verdict:
Mareesan is a slow burn thriller/drama that works for most of parts with the natural performances from Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil. While the second half has some flaws, the way it makes the emotions work is what makes an appealing journey.
