Mandela

Quality movies are rare in Tamil cinema, movies that impress both mainstream audiences and film connoisseurs are rarer, full credit to director Madonne Ashwin, Tamil audiences get a chance to experience something that is very well crafted and swashbuckling, at least once in 3 years. It's a big shame that Mandela couldn't garner a much wider theatrical release. Mandela is a comical political satire, that is wonderfully presented to us by its loveable, authentic, rustic, well defined and strong characters led by the inimitable Yogi Babu.

Mandela has a strong storyline, that will make the viewers think and inspire in various ways. Cinematography is topnotch, with the DOP's choice of filter aiding the mood of the tale. Screenplay laced with some sprinkling of black humour is near masterpiece levels, it is fresh yet very profound and strong. Production design and makeup are good. Costumes are very good and accurate, a rarity in Tamil movies. Music with its songs are outstanding in some portions.

Yogi Babu as a lead actor, delivers wonderfully well, ably supported by by a huge brigade of junior artistes, led by Sheela Rajkumar.

Overall, Mandela is an brilliant all round film that answers some questions on socio-political spectrum in a mature way. The movie is designed for the entire family, again which is a rarity these days. The raw film is a thorough voice over of the common man and is brutally open and honest to the point of answering questions that have no answers. There is not a single dull moment in the screenplay, Two Thumbs for story, direction and for the satire. Thank you Madonne Ashwin, 8.2 stars out of 10 for team Mandela for a peek into Soorakudi Village.