Mayavi Review

 You have to straightaway hand it to director Singapuli for having chosen a different kind of story. Though the handling of the same could obviously have been better and script much more taut, the point is Mayavi is no run-of-the-mill potboiler.

To be sure, it is indeed commercial entertainer. But it is one with some finesse and finish. The film has shades of Ram Gopla Varma's Mast and a popular Malayalam film of recent vintage. It is a rollicking and rambunctious tale of a devil-may-care guide who is also a confidence trickster. What happens when ends up 'kiddishly' kidnapping a top film heroine is the film all about.

Abhesh Balaya (Surya), the guide-con man-thief, is footloose and fancy-free. He and his acolyte Sathyaraj (Sathyan) have no hang ups in life. He is also a huge fan of actor Ajith.

Balaya's problems start when he and Satyan land up in a huge villa on the beachfront. He is there for making some quick money. It is actually actress Jyothika's house. When they realize it, they want to replace what they have taken. But, as it happens, the actress herself catches them and creates a huge kerfuffle. For their efforts, they are put behind the bars.

Jyothika just doesn't like Balaya at all. Out of all, the two have their run-ins, and again Balaya is jailed. So out to take revenge on her, he kidnaps her. Just about when the whole industry and her family tries to trace Jyothika, she understands the real Balaya. All ends in a tacky and slightly laborious climax.

But the film is propped by decidedly top-notch performance as the Carry-like performance of Surya. Be it is an 'innocent' thief or a glib-talking guide, Surya is pure unadulterated fun. His expressions are quick-silver and there is an endearing polish to his performance here.

Jyothika as Jyothika is a difficult character to play. It is not easy to spoof yourself. It is a role that calls for lot of nuance. Jyothika passes muster. Though she tends to ham on occasions, Jyothika as a self-centred heroine is really good. How many of our frontline heroines can play the role of an actress who hates her competitors (Jyothika is shown to have no love lost for the likes of Simran and Meena). It is an audacious characterization. And need we say anything more about the chemistry between the lead pair.

Sathyan is the perfect foil to Surya and he brings the house down when he compares Jyothika with Simran.

On the positive side is also the music of Devi Sri Prasad, though Telugu-style orchestration may sound too heavy for the Tamil audience. Ratnavelu's camera work is easy on the eye.

Director Singapuli has obviously some flair for comedy and mirth. Unlike his guru Bala (who is the producer of the film), he doesn't reach for your grey cells.  But he aims for your funny bone. And on the looks of Mayavi, he seems to have touched that.