| Starring | Udhayanidhi Stalin, Prakash Raj, Hansika Motwani, Aishwarya Rajesh, Radha Ravi |
|---|---|
| Music | Santhosh Narayanan |
| Director | I Ahmed |
| Producer | Udhayanidhi Stalin |
| Year | 2016 |
Manithan Plot:
In a country like India, rich people getting away with their crimes by utilizing the greed for money among men, is not uncommon. There are so many hit-and-run cases that have seen the wrong side of justice, with the best possible example being that of actor Salman Khan's hit-and-run. This is pretty much the core plot of Manithan. When Udhayanidhi Stalin, a young lawyer who desperately wants to make it big gets entangled in a high profile case, he needs to fight himself first and then later on deal with Prakash Raj, a famous criminal lawyer who is up against him in a hit-and-run case. While Prakash Raj defends the accused, Udhayanidhi fights for justice.
Performances:
Udhayanidhi Stalin is at his best with subtle expressions that showcases the dilemma and the chaotic mind of human. Manithan is easily his best so far and by fair distance too. Hansika gets a meaty role and the actress, who often gets criticized for her lip-sync, has done a fabulous job in this film. Lot of credit needs to go to her stylist for making her look simple and gorgeous on screen. Radha Ravi is a performer alright and the finesse with which he portrays the role of a judge is commendable. Prakash Raj could've come up with a little more measured performance. With everyone around him fabricating a rather refined performance, Prakash's act might look a tad over the top at times.
Technicalities:
Technically, Manithan is a delight to watch. Cinematographer Madhi keeps the entire film colourful and his interesting angles while showcasing scenes involving the court room is intriguing. Background score by Santhosh Narayanan manages to lift certain scenes up. Unfortunately, his songs have been imposed at wrong places. Though Ahmed's screenplay is good initially, the latter half of the film gets predictable, causing a nosedive to a perfectly launched missile.
Overall View:
Manithan sure has its flaws and it hardly does justice to its original version. However, the emotional quotient and the well intentioned plot makes this film watchable.