Mahaveeryar (2022) User Reviews

"mahaveeryar" was a good try, but they must have tried harder to make the point of the movie clear.

[gangeshgnair · 5/10 · 23 February 2023]

"mahaveeryar" was a good try, but they must have tried harder to make the point of the movie clear.

The technical aspects, production design, cinematography, performances, everything were good. Asif ali, lal, nivin all give nice performance. The visuals were so nice. The court scenes, especially the first half was very interesting. The story felt really unique. They successfully managed to create a suspense and curiosity about nivin's character, the way it was written and presented. The songs and the background score was amazing.

With all this technical aspects done right, the movie kept me engaging till the end but failed to effectively get through what the movie was trying to tell. The story mainly deals with the two cases presented in a court, i did not understand what was the relation between these two cases. I did not understand what was the ultimate verdict of the first case. The movie feels incomplete. I felt the makers couldn't effectively make their point and ended up presenting a movie with confusing climax.

Technically a well made film but not so much in terms of it's storyline

[indiansmark · 6/10 · 22 July 2022]

I was ecstatic to see Mahaveeryar 1) as it marked the return of the combo who made 83 (which I have not seen to this date) & Action Hero Biju, i.e Nivin Pauly & Abrid Shine; 2) found the trailer quite unique in comparison to the trailers of other films and 3) the genre of the film is in fantasy which is not seen much in Malayalam cinema.

Due to these reasons I ventured out to watch this movie for the usual dose of a weekly cinema in the nearest cinemas.

But the burden of expectation disappointed me as a viewer despite the technical finesse that the film displayed, as the story and it's execution shown in the film was not up to the mark, especially towards the 2nd half of the film and many questions were left unquestioned as a viewer.

In terms of performance all the actors enacted their parts well with Nivin Pauly, Lalu Alex & Siddique being the highlight of the film, yet it does not save the film from the mediocrity.

Hope that the next collaboration between the director and actor in the form of Action Hero Biju 2 does not turn out to be a dumper.

Technically Brilliant, But..

[joppanLive · 6/10 · 12 February 2023]

The movie is technically brilliant, unfortunately, couldn't meet to the expectations. The film's plot is kind of a time travel, however the much needed explanations and relevant details are missing which affect the overall movie experience in a significant way. I really wonder whether the viewers were able to understand the whole movie and what message (!) it conveys. Really liked the technical elements, the making, music, and most of the things, however as a whole movie, it failed to satisfy. Also felt the story is confusing and some dialogues from certain characters needs clarity. Overall, a good effort, but missed the mark.

Why?!

[ammuchitranambiar · 24 July 2022]

Why was this movie made? Whose idea was it? Who thought it was okay to make this movie? And how did so many big names from the Malayalam movie industry come together for this very triggering disaster of a movie?

This experimental courtroom fantasy works owing to its unique treatment! [+68%]

[arungeorge13 · 7/10 · 18 February 2023]

Abrid Shine is a such a unique filmmaker. His best work remains 1983 for the way he blends nostalgia with our love for the game of cricket. His other works are a mixed bag: Action Hero Biju is lots of fun (except for the casual misogyny and sidelining of gay people); Poomaram was very documentary-like and the performances failed to enliven it (for me, at least); The King Fu Master was low on plot but the action was splendidly shot. Mahaveeryar is probably the most absurd courtroom drama you'll see. It blends characters and circumstances from different timelines, connected by the passage of time, the silent observer.

The metaphors and allergorical subtexts are abundant. Nivin Pauly's Apoornnananthan is alluded to TIME itself. He's presented as a hermit who has allegedly stolen a temple idol in the first half, and the courtroom proceedings in these parts are laced with humour, making them thoroughly enjoyable for all kinds of audiences. But little do we know that it's a setup for a fantasy-filled plot to follow, which we get hints for early on. The second half is deliberately slower, giving audiences the time to acknowledge how the realistic, logical courtoom filled with witnesses, the public prosecutor (Lalu Alex), and the judge (Siddique), turn farcical when a King is prosecuted for kidnapping and torturing a commoner for his own gains.

Nivin Pauly is wonderful as the sage who speaks in chants and slokas but also imparts a law point or two when he's in the dock. Lalu Alex is the voice of reason and logic (i.e. The audience perspective) in a role where he fits like a glove, whereas Siddique shines as the judge who transforms from an impartial listener into a tyrant kingly follower in the latter parts. Shanvi Srivastava, Asif Ali, and Lal put in good work too. The visuals, for a fantasy film, are vibrant with exciting transitions. I applaud Shine's choice to shoot the film in real locations rather than erect expensive-but-shoddy sets. Ishaan Chhabra's folkish score also gives heft to the plot in the second half. The concept of "female beauty" in the writer-director's eyes is still something worth questioning, but noone's doubting his skills as an out-of-the-box filmmaker.

Mahaveeryar Well presented

[lkbgnbgw · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Its an outstanding movie and good direction script..and the all characters in this film was excellent...Well presented the known story with thrill throughout. Hats off to you the makers... 👍

Abrid Shine-Nivin Pauly's third outing required you to be high to enjoy the film...

[tkmce2008 · 6/10 · 4 August 2022]

Writing about Abrid Shine's latest movie requires you to be in a certain frame of mind. I haven't been able to sit down for this one but I have made my mind to do so today. This period crossover film is not exactly experimental but requires a certain frame of mind to understand the proceedings.

Mahaveeryar is the story of how justice was & is delivered across two timelines. One set in during the present day and the other during a maharaja's rule.

The first half plays out like any other Malayalam film peppered with the subtle Abrid Shine humour. But the second half takes you by surprise as it transcends genres like never before. I couldn't bring myself to understand the gravity of the ordeals on display but some explainer videos came to my rescue post-movie - Unni Vlogs.

Nivin Pauly & Siddique steal the show with Asif Ali, Lal & Shanvi Srivastava forming a part of the supporting cast.

Mahaveeryar is definitely not everyone's cup of tea (or whatever Nivin's character consumes in the movie). It requires a particular mindset/frame of mind. I didn't have the strength to sit through it but do give it a try. Who knows, Mahaveeryar may appeal to you.

It's not even an experiment.

[alansenmonofficial-14681 · 4/10 · 21 July 2022]

The first half of the movie was interesting and fast-paced I enjoyed it. The first 15min of the movie showed us a life of a king and then continue to explore a situation held in a court in 2020. The second half of the movie starts with a plot hole and it confuses the audience with how it happened it's like the movie missed an important detail and the movie moves on and the courtroom drama continues but it's going so laggy and boring and ends with an interesting climax.

The movie was a below-average experience. In an interview the team told this movie has a time travel element in it but the movie didn't justify it. A king and his people reach the court to solve a case from nowhere and make the audience confused because there is no explanation or details about how they reached the current time form the past and disrupts the rhythm of the movie.

Fantasy Blend of Different times

[youwudgetaswin · 9/10 · 22 July 2022]

All about perspectives and its bitter truth. Rulers or supreme agents throughout history showcase states Prosperity on one side and enforce their handicapped perspectives on public. Nivins character as Saint is the reference for all eternal truths as he is traveling towards completeness or cosmic truth. He exposes all rulers wrong perspectives. Making is not as perfect as 'Churuli' ...And Still buffering...

Could've been something great

[rahulmani45 · 4/10 · 21 July 2022]

Technically brilliant, but the movie lacks a structure. It's started off well with some good humour and the mannerisms of Nivin Pauly we are used to.

But then that interval block hits you out.of nowhere. I am all in for movies that makes the audience think, those that give away things you missed on the first view. But for that the movie should be engaging.

Here the writer decides to leave the audience in complete darkness. Guess he assumed everyone has his thought process.

You can execute such an idea brilliantly on such a huge canvas and that's where the movie fails.

This might be something that you prefer, or is according to your taste. So form an opinion by yourself.

I want more movies like this.

[lkbgzyif · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

It's very nice to watch the movie ! Good casting The music in Mahaveeryar is the biggest takeaway as the songs feel rooted in the world of the narrative..I want more movies like this.

Worst movie that i have seen in theatre!!!

[bkdcyscnn · 1/10 · 21 July 2022]

No fun elements.. No story.. Absolute waste of time and money. Poor attempt to so called "time travel". Didn't expect such a film from Nivin Pauly. Truly disappointed!!

A movie strongly recommended

[lkbgxdqv · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Decent movie with entertaining first half followed by court room drama with experimental approach in second half. Superb performances from all👌

A movie strongly recommended for all those who want to see experimental attempts from Mollywood.

Pure disaster and waste of time

[DMcritic · 1/10 · 23 July 2022]

I am not sure which movie these high rating audience are talking about. I went by seeing good ratings but it ended up being a real disaster. I would have given negative rating if possible. After seeing the trailer I was expecting there will be an average story, but the actual movie story and execution sunk into deep dungeon. Waste attempt.

Mahaveeryar

[lkbgwuly · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Performance fantastic and the script is fabulous... Spending some bucks for this film is Worth. A worthy film and can we watch with Family Good work team.

How do you come up with such an innovation?

[ngandacinema · 4/10 · 11 February 2023]

How in the world do you come up with an out-of-the-box story like Mahaveeryar?😅

The screenplay was easy to follow yet at the same time sprinkled with so many mysteries and intricacies that left you puzzled.

DELICIOUS

-You'll find Mahaveeryar to have a good sense of humor: from Lal who couldn't think, speak, or act due to the constant hiccups to a police officer punished to count the number of coins loaded in a big sack 🤣

-Great work on the color grading and costume designs which worked in sync to produce stunning visuals

-The dynamic sound effects helped A LOT to draw us into the narrative, especially during the courtroom moments when the witnesses were recounting past events. Well done

-So, this is what we took from the story (if we understood it correctly): "The judicial system hasn't changed over time".

The most influential will always have the last say. We got to see that plainly toward the end with the way a certain person was humiliated

BLAND

-Mahaveeryar had a lot to offer and raised great questions about what justice is. The downside came from blending the 18th and 21st century tales together. Each century had many details that didn't benefit the plot thus it became confusing to wrap the narrative in our heads...

-Nivin Pauly's performance was a little weak; apart from rolling and closing his eyes throughout the movie, he wasn't memorable...😔

Must watch

[vyshakhmaliyeckal · 9/10 · 22 July 2022]

Mindblowing script and presentation Hat's off to abrid shine and nivin for pulling off these kind of stuffs. It's all about apoornanthan who travels in and around different time periods to enlighten the system with an example of a king who is the supreme power of the state.

Please stop looking at Imdb reviews

[nadeemka2000 · 2/10 · 23 July 2022]

I stopped looking at imdb reviews after seeing it for this movie!

Movie makes no point. It had a small part of comedy that makes sense, which good. But rest of the movie was disaster, els the script or director should have explained the reason behind all this illogical fantasy addons.

Creativity of story telling 100% lit🔥

[justinmanu-87714 · 10/10 · 23 July 2022]

I am giving this movie 100% rating without considering the actors' performance, direction and other technical works. Creativity of Story Telling 100% Lit.

Do not watch this Movie!

[adithyajayadevan · 1/10 · 23 July 2022]

The movie is extremely bad. Senseless story. Nothing makes sense. It is very hard to watch this movie. Very Cringey stuff. Do not watch this movie and the ratings are not honest reviews. I don't know why this movie is rated this much. It doesn't deserve any appreciation. Expected a lot from this but worst experience i have got. Worst movie by the makers and actors.

Mollywood always stands first in Indian films.

[mariyadavid · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Its always happy to see my favourite Nivin Pauly has done the trick once again and this time he is ably supported by Asif Ali, another box office guarantee star. Mahaveeryar is a gem of Malayalam films and that's so special because Mollywood always stands first in Indian films.

False reviews and rating

[Imdb_user_review · 3/10 · 24 July 2022]

I wonder how there are so many 10/10 rating and false reviews.

First half of the movie was ok. There were some fun moments and the story was going fine. But once the second half starts there's no connection nor sense to any of it. I felt everyone in the theatre were clueless on most of the scenes in the second half.

Nivin didnt have any part in the second half except the climax scene.

Delightfully quirky and out-of-the-box!

[nidhunmoviebuff · 8/10 · 22 July 2022]

Nivin Pauly has well and truly left behind his boy-next-door persona and moved to more serious productions ever since the success of the State award winning drama "Moothon (2019)" and the maverick actor-producer does not disappoint with his latest experimental outing. "Mahaveeryar" is a stunningly original, visually engaging time-travel fantasy at a scale of imagination and production value we havent seen since Rajiv Anchal's "Guru (1997)"

Nivin stars as "Apoornanandhan" a mysterious and whimsical sage who seems to be travelling space and time to resolve seemingly intractable conflicts and miscarriages of justice. The sage is dragged to court in the modern era in a seemingly fabricated case, only for the mystic to transport the entire courtroom to midieval times, where the same jurors are tasked with resolving a quirky conundrum faced by a hapless king and his acolytes. Yes, the premise is as preposterous and outlandish as it sounds and yet, director Abrid Shine makes it immensely believable and enjoyable, thanks to his immaculate set design and use of camera angles and shots to add scale and zing to the proceedings.

Asif Ali plays "Veerabhadhran", the steadfastly loyal minister to the dimwitted medieval king, played by an incredible Lal who thrives in the role. Siddique also excels as the judge asked to adjudicate on the ludicrous case presented before him and balances his portrayal with deft comic flourishes alongside the gravitas and poise expected from the role. Shanvi Srivastava makes a floundering debut in Malayalam, with the lip synch all over the place and sticks out like a sore thumb with her wooden portrayal of a village lass.

Based on a story by M Mukundan, Mahaveeryar's first half is an absolute delight, with its imaginative setup, gorgeous cinematography and humorous writing. Where the film falters is a confused final act where the resolutions to the questions posed so creatively thus far, seem arbitrary and half-baked and leaves one unsatisfied. Despite this shortcoming, this is one movie that deserves plaudits for the sheer audacity and imagination behind mounting a project so far off the beaten path of Bollywood that you can even say it lies in another multiverse. If you are fan of experimental, out-of-the-box films that will surprise and intrigue, this is right up your alley. This offbeat film is not your cup of tea however, if you are looking for formulaic, stressbusting entertainment and thrills.

Below average

[manojthamban · 3/10 · 22 July 2022]

I don't know how this movie got 9+ rating in IMDb. There is no proper layer framed in the movie, the story needs some strong base and it just ended unfinished.

I was really Admired by the performance of Nivin Pauly, But in the later stage, I think he just lost his taste in picking the Scripts. Expecting some Thattathin Marayathu, Vikramadithyan type of movies From him.

Brilliant movie

[lkbgdpl · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Brilliant movie. Excellent story portrayed nicely with a superb script. I think this would be the blockbuster of 2022 and kudos abrid. He shown his talent in movies too.