When the Plot Rides Pillion : My quick take on Tamil movie “Maareesan” (Netflix)

When the Plot Rides Pillion : My quick take on Tamil movie “Maareesan” (Netflix)

Some films take you for a ride and leave you stranded. Mareesan is not that auto-wallah who refuses a short trip. It’s a Tamil movie with the soul of Malayalam writing—deep, layered, and witty. A slow-brewed story that goes down like filter coffee and leaves a single malt–style afterkick.

The magic lies in its simplicity: the entire plot rests on just two characters on a bike. No side characters to bail it out, no fireworks to distract you—just solid storytelling fuel that keeps the intrigue alive till the very last frame. That’s rare, and that’s gutsy.

Performances? Out of the park.

Fahadh Faasil, my perennial favorite, once again proves he’s a chameleon. Whether he’s the menacing villain in Pushpa or the sly con man here, he switches gears smoother than a Ducati.

Vadivelu, the eternal king of comedy, is the biggest surprise. The man known for making generations laugh suddenly trades his comic toolkit for gravitas, and boy—what a revelation. This isn’t just hatke; this is career-defining.

The road trip itself may test your patience at first—it cruises at village-road speed, not express highway. But stay with it, and it rewards you like a slow sip of aged whisky. The Tamil hinterland may not be Kerala’s lush backwaters, but it has a raw, earthy charm of its own, beautifully bottled in sweeping drone shots.

Even the title—Mareesan (Marichan)—is a spoiler wrapped in mythology. Recall your Ramayana: the golden deer was never just a deer. Enough said.

This is not a movie that shouts; it whispers, teases, and lingers. If Drishyam or Thudaram thrilled you, this Shankar-directed two-man bike ride will feel like a natural next stop.

Hop on. The journey may be slow, but the destination is worth every mile.