Maan Karate Review

Siva Karthikeyan, the "Royapuram peter" is here folks, with a lot of publicity and marketing the movie hits the theatres basking on the man's funny bone, well the hype doesn't stop there with Anirudh's sizzling music, AR Murgadoss's fantasy story it just raises the bar. Read on!
 
The Movie:
 
Muragadoss's story telling is something which Tamil cinema has always been in awe of, so what is MK about? Maan karate is not the usual fantasy movie that we come across; it takes a whiff off fantasy and goes on with all the masala items you find  in Siva's films. It starts with a gang of professionals who stumble across a saint and end up on knowing what the future beholds. Sathish leads his timing and comedy that looks a replica of Ethirneechal and one can say this guy is funny! The gang believes Siva Karthikeyan (Peter) will win the Boxing bout supposed to take place in a couple of months, empty their wallets in trying to make that happen. Meanwhile Peter is just another vagabond with zero knowledge on Boxing. Siva's gags are spot on and yet again his comic sense prevails through the movie. Post MK, Hansika will still be the cute, but no more the bubbly actress that we know off. She plays Siva's love interest as Yazhini and winning her hand is the only modus operandi of Peter. Through the first half it's about getting Siva trained and hooking him up with Yazhini and so on. Thiru's screenplay through the first half filled with fun is palpable. The real test is weighed through the second half where boxing the sport itself falls in a spot of bother. Vamsi Krishna plays "Peter the Killer" Boxer and then things turn serious with the tournament in spotlight. Will Siva win the tournament and prove Sathish and gang? Will Hansika still be on his side? Watch to find out!
 
Things to watch out for:
 
The prime winner of this movie will be Anirudh's music, for the youngster does not stop with scintillating numbers but a gripping background score, especially the climax fight. Doing justice to his music is Sukumar's camera work with some brilliant work behind the lens. Siva's gimmicks are intact and his comical timing has only matured through MK, not to single out his dance sequences which are eye catching. That said, he has come a long way from that of a stage artist and it's surprising to see him still doing the bits. Hansika is a million bucks put together and boy does she look gorgeous! She adds the glam and freshness to this movie without a doubt! Rest of the cast fair off just about with Sathish's one liners still enjoyable, and Vamsi krishna's lethal action plausible.
Thirukumaran the director needs a pat for the first half filled with commercialization and fun!
 
Whats not:
 
The movie might be the commercial cinema that we want, but falls flat on a lot of aspects. Taking sport as theme the screenplay takes a toss with the second half of boxing matches making you scratchy. The first bout is a copy of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights movie, only not convincing enough! Film makers in commercial cinema do look for the least bit of logic, and with a serious sport as good as boxing the climax is made too much dramatic to bear.The entry of Soori as Tiger Tyson offers nothing more than teeny weeny jokes. Siva again who is the comedy king needs to work big time on his emotional sequences as well. Ergo, Maan Karate takes you on a joy ride with Siva's rib licking timing through the first, ceases to do the same in the second half.

Verdict : Barring the boxing sequences, a good watch!

Rating- 2.75