Maargan Review: A crime thriller with a strange twist
Maargan is a tense Tamil crime thriller where Vijay Antony hunts a serial killer. Strong twists, Ajay Dhishan’s breakout role and sharp direction make this mystery worth watching.
Hyderabad: A series of deaths shakes Hyderabad, when people are found with their skin turned black after a mysterious injection. Former police officer Dhruv (Vijay Antony), still haunted by his own daughter’s similar death, comes down from Mumbai and joins the case. With the help of Inspector Shruthi and constable Kaali, he begins to pull out secrets that lead to a suspect with an extraordinary memory and a motive that is far more personal than anyone expects.
The film moves like a slow burn at the beginning but soon grows into a sharp and surprising thriller. Once the pieces start falling in place, there is hardly a dull moment. There are twists every few minutes, and some of them come out of nowhere. Even with a few weak spots towards the end, the story keeps you hooked because you always feel like there is one more truth waiting around the corner.
Vijay Antony plays Dhruv with a lot of restraint and lets the story speak for itself. The breakout performer is, debutant Ajay Dhishan as Arvind. His performance brings both mystery and emotion, and it is easily one of the highlights of the film. Brigida gets a fair amount of space, while Samuthirakani and the rest of the cast do their parts, though some of them could have been used better.
Leo John Paul, who directed and edited the movie, has handled the subject with confidence. His style of jumping between timelines and revealing information bit by bit works very well for a story like this. The background music from Vijay Antony adds to the tension and the camera work captures the film’s mood without going overboard. The movie looks neat and avoids unnecessary noise.
After a successful run in theatres, Maargan is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, making it easier for thriller fans to catch up with this story.
Final verdict:
Maargan is a smart, well-made crime thriller with a touch of the supernatural. It has its flaws, but its unique concept, tight writing, solid performances and a strong mystery make it an engaging watch from start to finish.
