It is never easy to watch celebrated filmmakers stumble, their signatures dulled, and their formulas losing magic. For nearly a decade after Kaththi, AR Murugadoss seemed to have lost touch with what once made him a master of emotional, high-stakes action dramas. With Madharaasi, however, he makes a strong comeback, delivering a film that is at once a gripping action saga and a character-driven study, anchored by Sivakarthikeyan’s most complex role yet.
The film opens with a tense National Investigation Agency operation led by Prem (Biju Menon), who attempts to intercept illegal arms shipments. The villains, Virat (a terrifying Vidyut Jammwal) and his chief Chirag (Shabeer Kallarakkal), escape and stash the weapons in Ambattur. As Prem recovers from injuries, fate brings him face-to-face with Raghu Ram (Sivakarthikeyan), a peculiar man with a death wish, heartbroken over his separation from Malathi (Rukmini Vasanth).
What begins as comic and even caricaturish soon transforms into a layered narrative. Raghu’s quirks mask deep emotional scars, and Murugadoss crafts him as an empath in a world that rewards apathy. Through Raghu, the film explores themes of social conditioning, mental health, and empathy, while never losing sight of its masala cinema roots. Songs like the “Salambala” introduction track initially jar, but later find narrative justification.
The first half is excellent—tight, emotional, and suspenseful. The second half sustains its momentum with superb action choreography, Anirudh Ravichander’s rousing score, and razor-sharp editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. Only in the final act does Murugadoss slip into old hero-worship habits, recycling tropes from Thuppakki and Kaththi with less impact. Still, the menace of Vidyut Jammwal’s villainy and Sivakarthikeyan’s commanding performance carry the film.
Sivakarthikeyan’s Raghu is the film’s heart and engine. He oscillates between guardian angel, empath, nuisance, and death-bringer with seamless ease, giving Murugadoss the emotional anchor his recent films sorely lacked. Rukmini Vasanth too shines in a role that is more than ornamental.
In an era where action spectacles often forget the importance of pathos, Madharaasi reminds us how emotional undercurrents can elevate mass cinema. Murugadoss also grounds his action in a real-world issue — the dangers of gun culture — making his film both entertaining and urgent. Despite its flawed climax, Madharaasi is a stirring return to form, proving that AR Murugadoss can still marry spectacle with soul.
Verdict: A flawed but forceful comeback for AR Murugadoss, powered by Sivakarthikeyan’s best performance yet.
