Maranamass Movie Review: Serial killer films are mosty about unmasking the killer and unravelling the reason behind the killings. And then there are films where you know the killer’s identity right from the first scene, and it is all about how they are brought to justice. And then there is Sivaprasad’s Maranamass which tells us about the killer, his modus operandi, and his targets. There is no ‘surprise’ in what happens in the life of this serial killer who has a method to his madness of stuffing a banana in the mouth of his victims. Of course, the identity of the serial killer, played to perfection by Rajesh Madhavan, is known to the audience, and yet… we are invested in what happens. Why? Because the makers of Maranamass fill the narrative with eclectic characters who have individual arcs, and quirks.
Maranamass is a series of happenings, and not a structured narrative that connects all the dots. Here, everything just happens, and that’s what makes the mayhem all the more fun. Yes, the leads of Maranamass are Basil Joseph’s PP Luke and Anishma’s Jessie. But Suresh Krishna’s bus driver Jikku and his fiance, who we only hear on the phone, are leads too. Then, there is Siju Sunny’s bus conductor ARuvi, who is on a deeply personal quest to find his estranged father. Now, his story has a huge impact on the narrative. And of course, there is the serial killer SK, and Deputy Superintendent Ajay Ramachandran (Babu Antony), who is trying to nab the serial killer and find his missing dog, Pakru.
Now, the stage is set for a deliciously dark comedy, and the writing of Siju and Sivaprasad ensure that the ride is fun for the most part. But, the film also suffers from a case of too many subplots as we tend to dwell too long in some portions that do not really ring in the laughs. The dog subplot literally goes nowhere, and it is too unconvincing a sketch to land properly. The one with a pre-wedding ‘Save the Date’ video is arbitrary and uninteresting too. In films like Maranamass, which has a character singing violent songs in front of children, and has no qualms narrating a story where Tom batters the head of Jerry to a pulp, you can’t pull back the punches. The makers have their fair share of interesting ideas, but not everything reaches its full potential. We have Luke calling himself a ‘sigma male’ but it doesn’t really come through in the characterisation and the scenes. There is a poignant but hilarious scene involving him and his father, but again, it isn’t enough to add credence to the madness of the premise.
There is a bus that is as important a character as its driver and conductor, and three passengers who are unwittingly part of a murder, and a character who invites himself to the party, only to add more chaos. On paper, this is a tantalising idea that can be milked for laughs, and wry humour, which is the base for Maranamass. However, the execution isn’t always on point, and we are left laughing at a lot of places, and just going through the motions in the rest. The hilarity of a sudden cameo is offset by a sentimental detour that doesn’t really add a lot to the vibe of the film. And these portions actually are dragged out to a point of no return, and after a while, we are left with Basil’s caricaturish performance to see the film through.
But while it gets things right, Maranamass is a riot. It is a no-holds barred ride to territories that might not often be touched upon in any other genre. Since the film is firmly in the dark comedy space, the makers have fun with the one-liners and subplots that involves quite a bit of taboo topics. Even when they touch upon the grim, the film finds a way to wring a laugh or two out of those situations. It is wonderfully supported by a strong ensemble lead by Basil, who seems to be the Ponman with the Midas touch. Rajesh Madhavan is a class act, and his zany performance brings in a unique touch to the proceedings, and the same with Suresh Krishna, who is hilarious as the man who is trying to get married after multiple failed attempts. It is unfortunate that Siju Sunny takes up the most one-note role of them all, and is too vanilla for this film. In contrast, Anishma is hilarious in a role that offers her a lot, and she ensures the rollercoaster of emotions of her character comes through to the audience too.
ALSO READ: Alappuzha Gymkhana movie review: Naslen and Khalid Rahman deliver a new kind of sports film
Story continues below this ad
The crowning moment of Maranamass is the the way things are finally given a closure, and it doesn’t make us go all gaga over it, but just give it a cursory nod as if we understand why SK did what he did. The film pulls us in right from the first frame, and even when there are moments when the grip loosens, it gets a hold at just the right times. And, in a film as grey, over-the-top, and blasphemous as Maranamass, the laughs keep on coming, and it just makes you wish they had just gone crazier with the premise in hand. Now, that would have been a kola mass too.
Maranamass Movie Director: Sivaprasad
Maranamass Movie Cast: Basil Joseph, Suresh Krishna, Rajesh Madhavan, Siju Sunny, Anishma Anilkumar
Maranamass Movie Rating: 3 stars
