Director: Leo John PaulCast: Vijay Antony, Ajay Dhishan, SamuthirakaniGenre: Supernatural Crime ThrillerRelease Date: June 27, 2025
Here's Vijay Antony's Maargan Review and Rating below
🌟 Synopsis:
Set in Mumbai’s Dharavi, Maargan follows ADGP Dhruva (Vijay Antony) as he investigates a string of bizarre deaths involving victims with blackened skin. The trail of clues leads him to Aravind (Ajay Dhishan), a suspect with a mysterious past. As the investigation unfolds, Dhruva confronts his own traumatic memories, revealing deeper layers to the murder mystery and culminating in a series of revelations about who the real culprits are and what drives them.
🎭 Performances:
Vijay Antony is composed and stoic as ADGP Dhruva, though his performance leans a bit too subdued in emotional scenes. His character design and mysterious presence add intrigue, especially in the first half.
Ajay Dhishan shows promise in a layered role, but needs improvement in emotive delivery and body language. Despite this, his character remains one of the more compelling aspects of the film.
Samuthirakani is sadly wasted in a thankless role, adding little to the narrative.
Female Leads Deepshikha and Brigida Saga impresses in their respective roles.
✅ Positives:
Strong Concept: A fresh take on the supernatural-thriller genre with a socially relevant twist.
Interval Twist: A well-placed turn raises the stakes and engages viewers for the second half.
Character Design (Aravind): Thoughtfully written with shades of mystery and sympathy.
Emotional Subplots: Family-driven scenes (father-daughter, brother-sister) resonate on an emotional level.
Gripping Screenplay (Second Half): Momentum builds nicely after the midpoint, with twists keeping the viewer invested.
❌ Negatives:
Underwhelming Climax: The final reveal and villain’s motive lack the punch needed for a lasting impact.
Rushed Messaging: A late, forced commentary on colorism disrupts the narrative flow.
Pacing Issues: Romantic subplot and unnecessary filler scenes slow down both halves.
Underutilized Talent: Both Samuthirakani and Ajay Dhishan could have had stronger arcs.
Tone: The film’s consistently serious tone could have benefited from occasional lighter moments.
🎵 Music & Technical:
Director Leo John Paul’s latest film ambitiously blends thriller and supernatural elements, but the execution leaves much to be desired. While the buildup is moderately engaging, the film falters in its final act. The killer’s identity is revealed in the last 20 minutes, and though this twist is meant to shock, it feels underwhelming due to a lack of emotional or narrative buildup.
The film attempts to convey an important message about the unhealthy obsessions of today’s youth — a theme with clear relevance — but its treatment is disappointingly superficial. Instead of exploring the issue with depth or nuance, it merely grazes the surface, leaving viewers with a sense of missed opportunity.
In the end, while the film may hold brief moments of intrigue, it doesn’t fully deliver on its premise, leaving its genre-blending efforts feeling more confusing than compelling.
Vijay Antony’s background score is moody and elevates the suspense.
Cinematography captures the dark, gritty ambiance of Dharavi and the eerie undertones well.
Editing is a mixed bag – tight in key scenes, but loose in others, especially the pre-climax.
🎯 Verdict:
Maargan stands out with its intriguing premise and emotional depth, but falls short of becoming a gripping thriller due to an uneven narrative and weak payoff. It’s a commendable debut for director Leo John Paul, showing promise in crafting atmosphere and mystery, though the execution could’ve been more refined.
RATING: 3/5
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