Meyaadha Maan review: This Rathna Kumar film is a laugh riot!

Director Rathna Kumar's debut effort, Meyaadha Maan, is a breezy romantic comedy which, for the most part, has you in splits, thanks to its whacky dialogues and some fine performances from its gifted cast.

'Idhayam' Murali (Vaibhav Reddy), a small-time singer from the economically weaker section, makes his living by performing at small functions and events.

Murali has two close friends — Vinoth (Vivek Prasanna), a mechanic, and Kishore (Arun Prasath) — and it is to these two that he confesses all his likes, dislikes and thoughts. Like many of his age group, Murali, too, is madly in love with a girl called Madhu (Priya Bhavani Shankar). She was his collegemate at one time. As in most cases, the love is one-sided. Murali hasn't had the nerve to tell Madhu that he is in love with her. This despite having fallen in love with her three years ago.

So, when one day after college, Madhu, who is hardly even aware of Murali's existence, let alone his love for her, gets engaged to a youth in her community, Murali is crestfallen.

On the day of her engagement, a drunk Murali threatens to commit suicide. Fearing for his life, his friends make their way to Madhu's house. As Kishore is a family friend of Madhu, she lets them in. They explain Murali's love for her and plead with her to take part in a sequence that they intend to enact on the phone to save Murali's life. They assure her that by doing what they are asking her to do, she will be able to lead her life in peace without further interference from Murali and he will be able to live his life without ever thinking of her.

Poor Madhu reluctantly agrees. They make her read out passages which give Murali the impression that she is an arrogant young woman who is bent on insulting his friends who are there to plead his case. The plan works. When Murali hears on the phone her humiliating his friends who are begging her for his love, his love turns to anger. He begins to love his friends even more on the one hand and, on the other, declares that he does not need Madhu or her love.

The friends are overjoyed. They tell Madhu she can now get on with her life and that Murali can get on with his.

Little do they know that life isn't that simple and that Madhu now has second thoughts about getting married to the person she is engaged to.

Although this is director Rathna Kumar's debut film, he has handled this sensitive topic exceptionally well. Dealing with such topics is a tricky affair as it can backfire if not handled with precision. To his credit, the film does not come across as offensive. Rather, it comes across as entertaining. There are two reasons for this. One is the dialogues and the other, the cast. The film has at least three exceptional performances and one reasonably good performance. 

The first of these comes from Vivek Prasanna as Vinoth, the loyal friend, who stands firmly by his friend through thick and thin. The manner in which he treats his friend's sister Sudarvizhi (Indhuja) as his own sister is laudable. The transformation that happens after she falls in love with him, too, is nicely depicted.

The next impressive performance comes from Indhuja, who plays Murali's sister Sudarvizhi. It is a very difficult role to play, but Indhuja, with just the right expressions, has no problems handling the character. Add to this the fact that she can dance well and you have an artiste who can instantly make an impression.

But the highlight of the film is the performance from Priya Bhavani Shankar as Madhu. Priya is making her debut as an actress with this film, but her performance in Meyaadha Maan does not give that away at all. Her face is full of kindness and yet she has a commanding presence.There is something very dignified about her that makes her unique. Her measured responses and graceful way of expressing her thoughts make her performance the highlight of the film. Without doubt, Tamil cinema has a star in her.

Vaibhav, as always, delivers a good performance as Murali. Playing a temperamental, love-struck simpleton isn't easy by any standards and Vaibhav does a good job for the most part. 

The film has two music directors, but none of the songs is noteworthy. The background score though is brilliant. 

Vidhu Ayyanna's cinematography is good with his shots and lighting being just about right for a comedy.

On the whole, Meyaadha Maan works big time, if all that you are looking for is a good time at the theatre.