Maara trailer: R Madhavan helps recreate charming tale of artistic rebel

Actor R Madhavan is set to star in Maara, a charming tale of a whimsical romantic. Directed by Dhilip Kumar, the film, a remake of the Malayalam film Charlie (2015), features Shraddha Srinath. 

The trailer begins just like the original film, with Shraddha searching for the mysterious but charming Maara (Madhavan). She tries to picture him based on graffiti on abandoned houses, scrawls in old notebooks and the descriptions of quirky wandering strangers in a quaint little town. For many, Maara sparks memories of joy. It is this spark that Shraddha's reclusive character seeks for herself. 

The original film starred Dulquer Salmaan. While Dulquer had the vigour of youth to augment his quirkiness and whimsical idealism, R Madhavan appears grizzled. Given his early image as the 'chocolate boy' hero, it seems quite difficult to picture him as a high-energy, idealistic man who goes all out to live life on his own terms. 

Visually, the trailer looks colourful, serene and quite captivating. Shraddha looks right for the part as the inquisitive and conflicted woman in search of this mysterious man. From the trailer, Madhavan seems like a man carrying the weight of the world, unlike the free, devil-may-care hero of the original.

The film has already been remade in Marathi (Deva, 2017) to unimpressive effect. With Ghibran composing the Tamil version's score, chances are Maara might be a better remake. 

Maara is set to be released on Amazon Prime Video on 8 January 2021.