A.R. Murugadoss returns with a psychological action thriller that divides audiences
Released on September 5, 2025, Madharasi marks the first collaboration between Sivakarthikeyan and director A.R. Murugadoss, delivering a high-budget Tamil action film laced with psychological tension, stylized violence, and emotional trauma.
Plot Summary: Guns, Grit & Split Minds
Sivakarthikeyan plays Raghu, a man with a rare delusional disorder (Fregoli syndrome) who’s recruited by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to infiltrate a gun-smuggling syndicate flooding Tamil Nadu with illegal weapons. As Raghu battles external enemies and internal demons, the film explores themes of identity, trauma, and redemption.
The antagonist Virat (Vidyut Jammwal) and his chieftain Chirag (Shabeer Kallarakkal) bring comic-book villainy to the screen, while Rukmini Vasanth plays Malathi, Raghu’s love interest who anchors the emotional arc.
What Works
- Sivakarthikeyan’s performance is intense and layered, a departure from his usual comic roles.
- Action sequences are brutal and well-choreographed, especially the highway ambush and the Ambattur gas factory standoff.
- Cinematography by Sudeep Elamon and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad elevate the film’s visual tone.
- Anirudh’s background score adds firepower, though songs received mixed reactions.
Watch MADHARASI Movie Review – | SivaKarthikeyan | A.R. … for a breakdown of the film’s technical strengths and narrative ambition.
What Falls Short
- The second half drags, with forced romantic subplots and over-the-top emotional beats.
- Screenplay inconsistencies and logical gaps weaken the impact.
- Some viewers found the film predictable, echoing Murugadoss’s earlier works like Thuppakki and Ghajini.
Critic Baradwaj Rangan’s review highlights how the film struggles to balance its psychological depth with commercial expectations.
Public Reaction: Mixed But Loud
- Madharasi Public Review | Sivakarthikeyan | Madarasi FDFS … captures first-day crowd reactions, with fans praising the interval block and SK’s transformation.
- Madharaasi Public Review | Madharaasi Review … shows divided opinions—some call it a “solid entertainer,” others label it “unbearable.”
- MADHARAASI review by prashanth offers a blunt take on the film’s flaws, especially its writing and pacing.
Final Verdict
Rating: 3/5
Madharasi is a bold attempt at blending psychological drama with mass action. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it gives Sivakarthikeyan a platform to showcase his range and re-establishes Murugadoss’s flair for high-stakes storytelling.
For a full spectrum of viewer reactions, check Madharasi Public Review | Madharasi Movie Review … and Madharaasi Movie Telugu Review || Poolachokka Reviews ….
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