The movie happens in Pannaipuram ( it is Ilayaraja’s native). There lives a honest autodriver Vijay Sethupathi. A good-hearted soul, for him life is all about his friend Guru Somasundaram, a devout Muslim. Vijay Sethupathi comes across Gayathrie, daughter of a poor man who sells groundnuts for livelihood.
The couple gets married. They become parents of two children and all goes well untill Vijay Sethupathi in a bid to earn more, works as a partner with a real estate promoter. On his words, many in his village book plots paying advance.
Vijay Sethupathi is promised commission. But one fine day, his partner elopes with money. Angry mob go behind Vijay Sethupathi. A visibly shocked Vijay Sethupathi decides to go on hiding. Coming to know the man who cheated him is in Kerala, he goes there only to know more shocking things from his mom.
Vijay Sethupathi decides to find a job there and wait for his man. Meanwhile his family starts to hate him and disown him for his alleged act of cheating people’s money. But things take a turn as Guru Somasundaram steps in as saviour of the family. Eventually it ends with a man turning mahatma.
Performance
*Vijay Sethupathi carries the movie in his shoulders. He emotes what the character needs -Anger, agony, deceit and love.
*Gayathrie plays mother of two and sans make-up fits the bill well.
*Guru Somasundaram is cool and spontaneous.
*Ganja Karuppu plays a cameo.
*Viswasam fame Anikha is also there and does what’s needed from her in the small portion.
Plus
*Vijay Sethupathi’s screen presence adds strength
*Gayathrie’s measured performance
*Ilayaraja’s background score
Minus
A beaten-to-death execution
*Slow pace in which story progresses
*Lack of fizz and predictable climax
Vijay Sethupathi carries the movie in his shoulders. He emotes what the character needs -Anger, agony, deceit and love.
Maamanithan Movie Review By Vidya Chandrababu