Release Date: May 2025
Director: Ram Indra
Cast: Kapil Velavan, Gunavanthan Dhanapal, Arjun Dev Saravanan, Dhaksha, Sambasivam
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis of the story
‘Manidhargal’ is a Tamil thriller film that revolves around the events that take place over one night. The story depicts the dynamics between five friends – Kapil Velavan, Gunavanthan Dhanapal, Arjun Dev Saravanan, Dhaksha, and Sambasivam – who get caught up in an unexpected and tragic incident. After the death of a friend, a series of suspicions, guilt, and mutual recriminations begin, testing their friendship. The film is a slow-burn thriller that explores human emotions and the consequences of decisions.
Highlights: The film’s cinematography and impressive depiction of night scenes add depth to the story, but a lack of screenplay prevents it from being fully effective.
Performances and acting
All the new faces in the film have put in a commendable effort. Kapil Velavan and Gunavanthan Dhanapal make an impact in their roles, especially in scenes where the emotional tension is at its peak. However, Gunavanthan Dhanapal’s monotonous acting style seems repetitive in some scenes, which lessens the impact of the story. Arjun Dev Saravanan and other supporting actors are also decent in their roles, but their characters do not fully emerge due to the limitations of the script.
[](https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/ram-indhra-directorial-thriller-tamil-movie-manidhargal-review)
Direction and technical aspects
First-time director Ram Indra has chosen an ambitious story, which presents the events that take place in one night as a thriller. The cinematography of the night scenes and the background score are successful in increasing the suspense of the story. However, the lack of screenplay and the slow pace of the story make the film feel a bit dragged. Some viewers may find the second half tedious, as it fails to maintain the initial excitement.
Strong and weak sides
The biggest strength of the film is its concept and initial setup, which instantly attracts the audience. Some humor and dialogues provide light moments, which balance the serious atmosphere. However, the second half of the story loses its pace and the extra emotional scenes make it cumbersome. The screenplay needed more tightening so that it could effectively turn a short film idea into a full-length film.
[](https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/ram-indhra-directorial-thriller-tamil-movie-manidhargal-review)
Themes and messages
‘Manidhargal’ explores the decisions we make and the impact they have on our lives. It delves into the complexities of friendship, trust, and guilt. The film conveys the message that one wrong decision can change lives forever. However, it fails to explore the themes deeply, which leaves the audience with a weak emotional connection to the story.
Is it worth watching?
Manidhargal is for the audience who likes slow-burn thrillers and emotional dramas. The effort of the new cast and director is commendable, but the shortcomings of the screenplay and the drag of the story make it average. If you want to watch a fresh and ambitious story, you can give it a chance, but if you are expecting a fast-paced thriller, it may disappoint you.
Rating: 2.5/5
Why watch: Impressive cinematography, enthusiasm from the new cast, and an interesting beginning.
What to skip: Slow second half and extra emotional scenes.
