Movie Review : Maragatha Malai
Set in a period setting of a few centuries ago, the film revolves around a zameendar Parthiban ( Santhosh Prathap) who lives happily with his wife ( Deepshika) and little son Vikraman.
One day however, tragedy strikes when dacoits attack them in search of the family's generational wealth kept for the good of the people, and hidden in a secret map.
Parthiban gives the map for safekeeping to his wife who runs into the forest to escape the dacoits, but she is cursed into a statue while her child lands in the clutches of a sorcerer who plans to sacrifice the child once he reaches his teenage.
Meanwhile a ghost takes the place of Parthiban's wife, with whom he lives, not knowing the truth. The search for his missing son proves unfruitful.
The day comes when Vikraman
is a teenager and is to be killed by the sorcerer's magical slaves Marga and Murga ( Jagan and Thambi Ramaiah).
What happens next? Does the boy survive? Does Parthiban learn the truth about his wife and son? Is the family reunited?
The film is a fantasy adventure, mainly for kids and family audiences, with a magical setting complete with flying dragons, sorcerors, snakes turning into celestial beings, curses and the like, the film takes you on a journey into adventures with fantastical imaginary elements.
The cast is well chosen and Santosh Pratap is ideal as the valourous Zamindar while Deepshika does justice to her role giving off royal vibes. Thambi Ramaiah and Jagan keep the laughs coming with their antics.
The screenplay is fast paced, with one fantastical event after another, bound to keep children engaged.
There are stunt sequences but the director has taken care not to show any bloodletting of any sort, keeping in mind perhaps that is a film for children.
Overall, the film takes you into a chandamama kind of zone, showcasing that there are hundreds of stories from local folklore that can be explored and one doesnt always need to look towards Hollywood for fantasy adventures.
Rating 3.25/ 5
