This movie is the best of Vikram in the last decade. The plot takes father son - 'criminal and cop' story after Dhruv shares the screen. Kudos to KS for making it an emotional turmoil for Vikram's character rather than the physical changeover he has done in his last few films. Do watch!!
241 Reviews
Definition of a "KARTHIK SUBBARAJ PADAM"
Eelavanjj10 February 2022
This is what we want....this is the type of gangster/mafia we want. Thanks to karthik subbaraj for creating this masterpiece. This movie was honestly just amazing in every aspect. Hopefully as time and cinema evolves, tamil cinema will create more gangster and mafia films like this, and even better.
Vikram Electrifies The Gangster Drama With Brilliant Act
ketgup8311 February 2022
Mahaan tells the story of a simple school teacher, Gandhi Mahaan (played by Vikram), who leads a boring and regular life. He is frustrated as he has just turned 40 and has not done anything which excites him. He wants to break away from the shackles and lead an adventures life. His life turns topsy-turvy when his wife and son abandons him which gives him a chance to live the way he wants. He soon partners with his childhood friend and become a liquor baron only to meet his son later, who has turned into a police officer and vows to bring down his father's empire at any cost.
Directed by Karthik Subbaraj (Pizza), Mahaan is like a bottle of wine which you will enjoy with each and every sip as you will get involved in the film with diverse characters that entertains you right to the core
With his god-like performance, style and attitude, Vikram makes Mahaan a must watch film.
Directed by Karthik Subbaraj (Pizza), Mahaan is like a bottle of wine which you will enjoy with each and every sip as you will get involved in the film with diverse characters that entertains you right to the core
With his god-like performance, style and attitude, Vikram makes Mahaan a must watch film.
Well Done
kalaiarasan-9461510 February 2022
A good comeback from the director Karthik Subbaraj and the actor Vikram.
A solid role for the actor to perform after a long time and this guy aced it. He literally owns the screen to himself in all stages of his life style.
His son Dhruv Vikram is equally performed well with the legendary actors like Vikram, Simran and Bobby simha. This young man has long way to go though.
The camaera work and editing is equally compensaing each other and the music by Santhosh Narayanan just lifts the mood of the film to different level.
On the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
A solid role for the actor to perform after a long time and this guy aced it. He literally owns the screen to himself in all stages of his life style.
His son Dhruv Vikram is equally performed well with the legendary actors like Vikram, Simran and Bobby simha. This young man has long way to go though.
The camaera work and editing is equally compensaing each other and the music by Santhosh Narayanan just lifts the mood of the film to different level.
On the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
A brilliantly written emotional game
viswasuryapalkumar10 February 2022
This movie is Karthik Subbaraj's career best and this movie is amazing. The amount of care and thought put into every scene makes this movie the masterpiece that it is. It makes us think about duality of the society, what is morally corrupt and what is not and it is very well written. Karthik Subbaraj's team strikes again with one of the best camera and editing work in Kollywood history. This movie is a miles better than Jagame Thandhiram and Navarasa's Peace. Chiyaan and Dhruv Vikram, Bobby Simha, Sananth and Simran's characters were very well written and one of the best characters from Indian Cinema ever.
#Mahaan Pakka Theatre Material!
cvfteam-7229810 February 2022
1st half builds up the story and 2nd Half is crazy emotional ride! #Vikram & #Dhruv Natural Acting!
#Bobby & #Sanath were great too!
BGM is great! Santhosh narayanan It's a comeback for all! Karthiksubbaraj ✌🏼cinematography was at its best!! ❤
#Bobby & #Sanath were great too!
BGM is great! Santhosh narayanan It's a comeback for all! Karthiksubbaraj ✌🏼cinematography was at its best!! ❤
Vikram...Vikram...Vikram....
PANDIAN12062110 February 2022
It's Chiyaan's performance that holds us untill the end,with a big logical mistake as the core of the movie is unacceptable,but rest of the cast did wonderful job to make us forget about the weak plot,special mention to camera work...Amazon gonna rack a good business with this venture.
Don't miss it
Neoog10 February 2022
One of the best movies I have seen off late, everything from screenplay, acting to directing is spot on, the story written with so many details and subplots played out incredibly well. Kudos to vikram to pull off the role with such attitude.
A strange movie...
joppanLive11 February 2022
It started nicely, then excited me, then thrilled me,.... And, then disappointed me heavily...and, then ended in a very strange manner... So, in other words, the story is not an easy one to digest for anyone... If you can accept that fact, then watch it. Good luck.
( P. S. if you liked Mani ratnam's "Chekka Chivantha Vaanam", then you might like this one)
( P. S. if you liked Mani ratnam's "Chekka Chivantha Vaanam", then you might like this one)
Overrated
TreeFiddy5310 February 2022
The only good things about the movie, IMO, are that you get to see Vikram back on the screen, and 1-2 scenes with stellar acting by him and Bobby.
You're likely gonna be like "Vikram oda kozhandhai yevalo azhaggaaa avan ah madhriyeeee irukan!"(pinna, vera yepdi irupan!?) and if that's enough to make you watch this movie, go for it.
I don't see the appeal otherwise. I felt like it was a waste of ~3hrs but you may not. It's unnecessarily drawn out and predictable. 8.7 on IMDb is emotional scoring, don't fall for it. It's an average masala movie that should get a 50-60% score on whatever scale you follow.
You're likely gonna be like "Vikram oda kozhandhai yevalo azhaggaaa avan ah madhriyeeee irukan!"(pinna, vera yepdi irupan!?) and if that's enough to make you watch this movie, go for it.
I don't see the appeal otherwise. I felt like it was a waste of ~3hrs but you may not. It's unnecessarily drawn out and predictable. 8.7 on IMDb is emotional scoring, don't fall for it. It's an average masala movie that should get a 50-60% score on whatever scale you follow.
CRINGE FEST
rider148411 February 2022
Cringe fest at its best. Leave everything else, script looks like written to fit a one line narrative,logic loopholes the size of football, whole movie has a look and feel of a stage play a bad one at that, none of the characters resemble anything close to real life persona, dialogues amateurish...you get the drift I hope. Please stay away from this one or watch it, if ur curious to know how bad it is 👍🏻
Nobody is Right
janakiselvam-3927710 February 2022
Yes, this movie talks about, Who is Right ?
One who left the family to satisfy his own dreams or the one who lives with the family to satisfy the society ?
Karthik Subbaraj dealt this sensible issue in the most commercial mannaer.
The Character Vikram played has many many shades and this man just killed it with ease. Hats off sir. Looking forward for many more.
And his son, Dhruv Vikram plays the equally tough cop and this dude simply owns the screen with his macho looks. Well done young man.
Overall its an satisfying movie experience for me, Do watch out people.
One who left the family to satisfy his own dreams or the one who lives with the family to satisfy the society ?
Karthik Subbaraj dealt this sensible issue in the most commercial mannaer.
The Character Vikram played has many many shades and this man just killed it with ease. Hats off sir. Looking forward for many more.
And his son, Dhruv Vikram plays the equally tough cop and this dude simply owns the screen with his macho looks. Well done young man.
Overall its an satisfying movie experience for me, Do watch out people.
Vikram is total bad a$$
warrior039 March 2022
Oh my what a film !!! The long duration had me putting off this movie for weeks..but the story and screenplay was so intriguing I finished it in one sitting. Vikram chiyaan owned the film !! What an actor. My goodness ..druv on the other hand needs to like calm down and settle down with the overacting. Kodumai mudiyala pa. Simran was apt for her role. The director needs to clam down with the 3 hour movies we are not in the 1990s anymore keep it crisp keep it short. Overall I loved it.
Movie one line is awesome
prabulakshmanan10 February 2022
Predictable but enjoyable
magadalwarmayur10 February 2022
Predictable yet a decent watch. Karthik's way of telling a story is carried here too in a convincing way than his previous film.
Vikram nailed the show. 2nd half's writing elevates the movie at parts. Amazing visuals and background score.
A neat action drama that packs in a strong cast, enjoys the sail throughout the film and more. Though there are a lot of predictable stretches, Chiyaan Vikram and Dhruv keep the ball rolling and make it a watchable ride.
Vikram nailed the show. 2nd half's writing elevates the movie at parts. Amazing visuals and background score.
A neat action drama that packs in a strong cast, enjoys the sail throughout the film and more. Though there are a lot of predictable stretches, Chiyaan Vikram and Dhruv keep the ball rolling and make it a watchable ride.
Decent
vibhus-1778010 February 2022
A decent comeback movie from Karthik Subbaraj after disappointing Jagame Thandhiram . I just watched the movie without any expectations . 1st half was quite engaging , then my expectations went high , but asusual 2nd half wasn't much engaging as 1st half , story lagged in many places at second half . Expected more from Dada ( Dhruv ) character , if they had done better Characterisation for Dada , movie could've been more better . Performance wise once again Vikram was impressive , Bobby Simha done good job . Terrific music from SaNa , but songs were average . Technically cinematography was mind blowing , especially Soorayatam song visuals were great . Overall a decent crime drama movie to watch . I personally liked it .
Perfectly crafted #Mahaan.
marudhanayagan10 February 2022
A terrific Vikram makes this uneven and overlong gangster drama watchable
nidhunmoviebuff11 February 2022
No one does rustic, rooted gangster dramas quite like director Kartik Subbaraj, but while his narrative style and panache soared in "Jigarthanda" (2014, soon to be remade by Bollywood as "Bachchan Pandey", starring Akshay Kumar) and "Petta" (2019), it has become repetitive and unoriginal off late especially with the colossal disappointment that was "Jagame Thandiram" (2021).
Yet, the maverick auteur sticks with his home genre in "Mahaan", a surreal gangster saga following the story of "Gandhi Mahaan" (Vikram) a schoolteacher brought up under stifling, strict Gandhian principles by his father who was a freedom fighter, only to rebel and lash out at having his personality and desire suppressed for so long. How he goes on to leave his upbringing behind and take up a life of crime to meet his ambition forms the rest of the story.
Bobby Simha is expectedly terrific as his consigliere as he builds a mafia empire, only to run into trouble from a crooked politician, played by Vettai Muthukumar, who delivers another staggering performance as an antagonist after an immense breakthrough role in "Sarpatta Parambarai". Dhruv Vikram is adequately menacing and stylish as the prodigal son who returns to throw his father's empire into a tizzy and his combination sequences with Vikram offer up some of the best scenes in the film.
While the journey from the subjugated, bookish professor to the hardened mafia don felt a little rushed and unrealistic, Vikram dominates every scene he is in and it is a joy to watch the National Award winner finally get a script that he can sink his teeth into after a string of recent flops. He ably juggles the eccentricities and quirkiness of his vibrant character with the anxiety of a worried dad and the sorrow of seeing his empire being picked apart.
Kartik Subbaraj's eclectic settings and cinematographer Shreyaas Krishna's vivid frames with sparkling colors makes even the overlong 2.5 hour narrative watchable. The supporting cast make their presence felt, with Sananth delivering a mature, layered performance as the hotheaded son of a don and Simran, measured and nuanced in a short but impactful role.
All this being said, there are large portions of the film that felt avoidable and overstretched, while some important sections like the coming-of-age of Dhruv Vikram's character seemed rushed and inorganic. The music from Santhosh Narayanan is another major letdown and fails to add any value to even clutch scenes where the tunes should have elevated the narrative and lent some vigour and urgency to proceedings.
From "I" (2015) to "Iru Mugan" (2016) to more recently, the abysmal "Sketch" (2018) and "Saamy Square" (2018), the career graph of one of Tamil cinema's most gifted leading men had been on a steady decline and "Mahaan" could well be the jolt to the system that "Chiyaan" desperately needed. I cannot wait for his next notable role, that in Mani Ratnam's highly-anticipated historical epic "Ponniyan Selvan", especially considering the incredible performance the veteran director brought out of Vikram in "Raavanan" (2010).
The immense actor in Vikram has been ably utilized by Karhtik Subbaraj to make an overstuffed, uneven and overlong gangster drama watchable, with some standout moments that make a lasting impression. This might not be your cup of tea if you abhor violence and slow-burn narratives. Set your expectations right and you won't be disappointed!
Yet, the maverick auteur sticks with his home genre in "Mahaan", a surreal gangster saga following the story of "Gandhi Mahaan" (Vikram) a schoolteacher brought up under stifling, strict Gandhian principles by his father who was a freedom fighter, only to rebel and lash out at having his personality and desire suppressed for so long. How he goes on to leave his upbringing behind and take up a life of crime to meet his ambition forms the rest of the story.
Bobby Simha is expectedly terrific as his consigliere as he builds a mafia empire, only to run into trouble from a crooked politician, played by Vettai Muthukumar, who delivers another staggering performance as an antagonist after an immense breakthrough role in "Sarpatta Parambarai". Dhruv Vikram is adequately menacing and stylish as the prodigal son who returns to throw his father's empire into a tizzy and his combination sequences with Vikram offer up some of the best scenes in the film.
While the journey from the subjugated, bookish professor to the hardened mafia don felt a little rushed and unrealistic, Vikram dominates every scene he is in and it is a joy to watch the National Award winner finally get a script that he can sink his teeth into after a string of recent flops. He ably juggles the eccentricities and quirkiness of his vibrant character with the anxiety of a worried dad and the sorrow of seeing his empire being picked apart.
Kartik Subbaraj's eclectic settings and cinematographer Shreyaas Krishna's vivid frames with sparkling colors makes even the overlong 2.5 hour narrative watchable. The supporting cast make their presence felt, with Sananth delivering a mature, layered performance as the hotheaded son of a don and Simran, measured and nuanced in a short but impactful role.
All this being said, there are large portions of the film that felt avoidable and overstretched, while some important sections like the coming-of-age of Dhruv Vikram's character seemed rushed and inorganic. The music from Santhosh Narayanan is another major letdown and fails to add any value to even clutch scenes where the tunes should have elevated the narrative and lent some vigour and urgency to proceedings.
From "I" (2015) to "Iru Mugan" (2016) to more recently, the abysmal "Sketch" (2018) and "Saamy Square" (2018), the career graph of one of Tamil cinema's most gifted leading men had been on a steady decline and "Mahaan" could well be the jolt to the system that "Chiyaan" desperately needed. I cannot wait for his next notable role, that in Mani Ratnam's highly-anticipated historical epic "Ponniyan Selvan", especially considering the incredible performance the veteran director brought out of Vikram in "Raavanan" (2010).
The immense actor in Vikram has been ably utilized by Karhtik Subbaraj to make an overstuffed, uneven and overlong gangster drama watchable, with some standout moments that make a lasting impression. This might not be your cup of tea if you abhor violence and slow-burn narratives. Set your expectations right and you won't be disappointed!
This is what a true Karthik Subbaraj Film means!💥💥
harshavardhan-5539418 February 2022
I Forgot that, I was watching a South Indian or any other "Time pass" movie,
The movie is utterly good in every aspect, mainly in the direction Karthik Subbaraj have scored 💯.
And when we talk about performances, Bobby Simha, chiyaan Vikram, Dhruv has done a fantastic job for their roles.
Just can't believe Dhruv acted like he is Bomb!!
The Film is too good in every aspect and very much enjoyable movie.
Thank you Karthik Subbaraj!!!
And when we talk about performances, Bobby Simha, chiyaan Vikram, Dhruv has done a fantastic job for their roles.
Just can't believe Dhruv acted like he is Bomb!!
The Film is too good in every aspect and very much enjoyable movie.
Thank you Karthik Subbaraj!!!
Entertaining with some great themes
Jithindurden26 February 2022
Karthik Subbaraj knew how to use the star power of Rajnikanth to make a solid film that celebrates the star in Petta. Here in Mahaan, he got Vikram a star who has made a name for himself also as a great actor but have failed to give a memorable film in almost a decade. So he makes a film that uses both his acting abilities and his action star image, as well as his son. Both Petta and Mahaan doesn't have groundbreaking narratives but they make it up with themes interweaved into it in a way the popular mass brand films usually lack. Vikram is a treat to watch in this and the various father-son relationships and the central mcguffin, alcohol makes it very interesting and entertaining film despite its flaws.
Amazing Performance from Father Son duo
janakiselvam-8863710 February 2022
I completely loved the performances of all lead actors in the film. Especially the national award winner Vikram sir, what a change over man. Hatsoff for his performance it was mind-blowing to watch his real life son Dhruv Vikram along, a complete visual treat from the Karthik subbaraj and team.
Don't miss this people.
Don't miss this people.
Wowwww movieeee
santhoshss-8955910 February 2022
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
