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{{Short description|2025 Tamil film by Sudheesh Sankar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Maareesan
| image = Maareesan.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Sudheesh Sankar]]
| writer = V. Krishna Moorthy
| producer = [[R. B. Choudary]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Vadivelu]]
* [[Fahadh Faasil]]
}}
| cinematography = Kalaiselvan Sivaji
| editing = Sreejith Sarang
| music = [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
| studio = [[Super Good Films]]
| distributor = [[Romeo Pictures]] 
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2025|7|25}}
| runtime = 152 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 July 2025 |title=''Maareesan'' (2025) |url=https://www.ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/108B0616004F097E |access-date=17 July 2025 |website=[[Irish Film Classification Office]]}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget = ₹15 crores
| gross = ₹6.53 crore
}}

'''''Maareesan''''' ({{translation|[[Maricha]]}} or figuratively, imposter) is a 2025 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[drama thriller film]] directed by [[Sudheesh Sankar]], written by V. Krishna Moorthy, and produced by [[R. B. Choudary]] for [[Super Good Films]]. It stars [[Vadivelu]] and [[Fahadh Faasil]]. The film's music was composed by [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]].

''Maareesan'' was released in theatres on 25 July 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics and audience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=வடிவேலுக்கு இந்த நிலையா?: மாரீசன் காட்சிகள் ரத்தான பரிதாபம் |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemanews/131437 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=Ta |archive-date=7 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250807163541/https://www.dinamalar.com/cinemanews/131437 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Plot==
Dhayalan "Dhaya" is a petty thief who has been arrested multiple times but never changes his ways. After being released from [[Palayamkottai]] prison following his latest theft, he immediately steals a motorcycle and breaks into a house in [[Kanyakumari]]. Inside, he finds an old man, Velayudham Pillai "Velan", chained to a window. To Dhaya’s surprise, Velan is not alarmed but warmly calls him “Kumar.” Confused, Dhaya warns him to stay quiet while he searches for valuables.

Realizing Dhaya is not Kumar, Velan explains that he has [[Alzheimer's disease]] and his son Kumar locks him up daily before leaving for work to prevent him from wandering off. Velan tells Dhaya there is nothing valuable in the house, but offers him ₹25,000 from his bank account if he releases him. Dhaya agrees, and they go to a nearby ATM. When Dhaya notices Velan’s account holds millions of rupees, he decides to exploit him further. Even after receiving the promised money, Dhaya stays with Velan under various pretexts. The two embark on a road trip to [[Tiruvannamalai]] to meet Velan's brother-in-law MARKETING. Along the way, Velan’s memory lapses often cause him to mistake Dhaya for Kumar.

Dhaya contacts his crime partner “Network” Ganesh, who lives in [[Erode]]. Ganesh suggests that Dhaya photograph Velan’s ATM cards to duplicate them and obtain the PIN codes. Winning Velan’s trust proves difficult, as even Velan struggles to remember the codes. Dhaya begins to act like a friend, accompanying Velan to different places, and a bond slowly develops between them. Meanwhile, police investigate a murder in the house where Dhaya first encountered Velan. The crime appears linked to a serial killer who lures victims with phone calls and switches off the device after each murder. Authorities begin monitoring the phone’s activity.

Later, Ganesh joins Dhaya and Velan at a party in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]. Velan spikes their drinks, rendering them unconscious. That same night, the serial killer’s phone reactivates, and the police trace it to Velan, who calls Siva Selvam, a corrupt schoolteacher, to demand a meeting. Velan confronts Siva about sexually exploiting his underage students and kills him. Before dying, Siva admits he has a partner named Arun and provides Velan with his number. By the time the police arrive, Siva is already dead, and no other clues are found.

A flashback reveals that Velan’s wife Meenakshi was a child psychologist who counseled troubled children. During her work, she discovered that several girls had been abused but were too afraid to confide in their parents or the police. Meenakshi gathered evidence and filed a case, but her Alzheimer’s symptoms left her unable to testify coherently in court, leading to the case’s dismissal. Distraught, she commited suicide. Heartbroken, Velan vowed to avenge the victims, using her diary of abusers to track and kill them. It is also revealed that Velan does not have Alzheimer's or memory issues. He has been feigning memory loss, imitating his wife’s condition to cover his actions.

In the present day, Velan and Dhaya visit Dhaya’s mother at his native village in Salem before leaving for [[Palakkad]] to visit Velan's adopted daughter Krishnaveni. During their halt in [[Coimbatore]], Dhaya discovers a stash of SIM cards in Velan’s wallet, which makes him suspicious. Checking Velan's phone, Dhaya finds Velan's messages to Arun asking for underage girls. Unaware that this is Velan's plan to lure Arun out, Dhaya misunderstands the situation and assumes Velan himself is a [[Pedophilia|pedophile]]. He follows Velan after pretending to have fallen asleep, only to find Velan waiting for Arun at a location where they shared. No one shows up, and a disappointed Velan returns to his room. Dhaya witnesses everything and confides it to Ganesh.

Dhaya and Ganesh plot to kill Velan at Ganesh’s farmhouse in [[Coimbatore]]. They invite him under the pretence of a party. On the way, Velan realizes the car they are traveling in has the same hanging decor as was in “Arun's" contact profile picture. Velan remembers seeing the same model car the day before while waiting for Arun to show up. Putting two and two together, Velan realises Arun is Ganesh and confronts him at the farmhouse. A fight breaks out, and Ganesh easily overpowers Velan until Dhaya arrives. Having learned the truth, Dhaya sides with Velan, and together, they kill Ganesh.

In the final reveal, it is shown that Dhaya delivered the fatal blow, but Velan takes the blame. The scene where Dhaya saw Velan the first time, in which Velan was chained to the window, also has nothing to do with Kumar or Alzheimer's. Velan was after his first target, a former jail warden turned pedophile, and got handcuffed by him in a struggle, but managed to kill him with the chain. When he saw Dhaya approaching, he started his ruse with Dhaya's help.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Vadivelu]] as Velayudham Pillai “Velan”
* [[Fahadh Faasil]] as Dhayalan “Dhaya”
* [[Kovai Sarala]] as [[Deputy Commissioner of Police|DCP]] Fareeda Begum [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]
* [[Sithara (actress)|Sithara]] as Dr. Meenakshi, Velan's wife and a [[NGO]] based [[child psychologist]]
* [[J. Livingston|Livingston]] as Chaari, Velan's brother-in-law
* [[Vivek Prasanna]] as “Network” Ganesh (Arun)
* [[P. L. Thenappan]] as Inspector Kanagaraj
* [[Renuka (actress)|Renuka]] as Shanthi, Dhayalan's mother
* [[Saravana Subbiah]] as Judge
* Rajapandi as Parotta Shop Owner
* Madhumita as Madhumita
* Haritha Mutharasan as Sangeetha, Madhumitha’s mother
* [[Five Star Krishna]] as Siva Selvam, a teacher
* Telephone Raja as Farmer
* Srinivas
* Ram Kalaitharan as Prison Warden
* Agathiyan as Theft Phone Owner
* Siva Balan as Business Guy
* Vaishak Pavanan as Showroom Sale Representative
* S. Rajapandi as Parota Shop Owner
* Sivaganesan as [[ATM]] Security Guard
* Jai Krishna as [[Nagercoil]] [[Head Constable]]
* Sharmila as Farida's daughter
* Guru Lakshmanan as Kumar
* Vaidehi Amarnath as a dancer in the song "Nethu Oruthara" (Cameo Appearance)
}}

== Production ==
After the success of ''[[Maamannan]]'' (2023), [[Fahadh Faasil]] and [[Vadivelu]] were rumoured to collaborate in another project produced by [[R. B. Choudary|R. B. Choudary's]] [[Super Good Films]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fahadh Fasil and Vadivelu to star together again after Maamannan? |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelu-to-star-together-again-after-maamannan/a9308115bf653 |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=OTTPlay |language=en |archive-date=24 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824111802/https://www.ottplay.com/news/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelu-to-star-together-again-after-maamannan/a9308115bf653 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the yet-to-be-titled film's cast and crew were not revealed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 2023 |title=After 'Maamannan', Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil to collaborate on a comedy film! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/after-maamannan-vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasil-to-collaborate-on-a-comedy-film/articleshow/104081420.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007104159/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/after-maamannan-vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasil-to-collaborate-on-a-comedy-film/articleshow/104081420.cms |archive-date=7 October 2023 |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> On 1 January 2024, Super Good Films officially announced their 98th project with Fahadh and Vadivelu in the lead roles and to be directed by [[Sudheesh Sankar]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 January 2024 |title=Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu join hands for the second time after 'Maamannan' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelu-join-hands-for-the-second-time-after-maamannan-2483226-2024-01-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207063430/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelu-join-hands-for-the-second-time-after-maamannan-2483226-2024-01-02 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> In late-January 2024, the title of the film, ''Maareesan'' was released.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 January 2024 |title=Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu's next film titled 'Maareesan' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-next-film-titled-maareesan/articleshow/107049921.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427003919/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-next-film-titled-maareesan/articleshow/107049921.cms |archive-date=27 April 2024 |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The technical team consists of music composer [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]], cinematographer Kalaiselvan Sivaji and editor Sreejith Sarang.<ref>{{Cite web |last=M |first=Narayani |date=4 June 2025 |title=Maareesan Teaser: Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil's film promises to be a wacky thriller |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jun/04/maareesan-teaser-vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasils-film-promises-to-be-a-wacky-thriller |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250606013534/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jun/04/maareesan-teaser-vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasils-film-promises-to-be-a-wacky-thriller |archive-date=6 June 2025 |access-date=4 June 2025 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>

The film reunites Vadivelu and [[Kovai Sarala]] following their collaboration in ''[[Mersal]]'' (2017), directed by [[Atlee (director)|Atlee]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-14 |title=Maareesan Trailer: Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil go on an unforgettable journey |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jul/14/maareesan-trailer-vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasil-go-on-an-unforgettable-journey |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> Apart from the lead cast, the film also features [[Vivek Prasanna]], Sithara, [[P. L. Thenappan]], [[J. Livingston|Livingston]], [[Renuka (actress)|Renuka]], [[Saravana Subbiah]], Krishna, Haritha, and Telephone Raja in supporting roles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maareesan teaser: Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu's reunion promises an intriguing tale of two men |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/maareesan-teaser-fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-reunion-promises-an-intriguing-tale-of-two-men/20268f8f6d651 |access-date=4 June 2025 |website=OTTPlay |language=en |archive-date=18 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618205053/https://www.ottplay.com/news/maareesan-teaser-fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-reunion-promises-an-intriguing-tale-of-two-men/20268f8f6d651 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Principal photography]] began on 22 January 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 January 2024 |title=Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu's next titled 'Maareesan' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-next-titled-maareesan/article67769110.ece |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=23 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123185939/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-next-titled-maareesan/article67769110.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In early-April 2024, it was reported that about 50% of the filming had been completed and will resume once Fahadh completes his portions for ''[[Pushpa 2: The Rule]]'' (2024).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maareesan update - Here's a progress report on the shooting of Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil's film |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasils-maareesan-completes-50-percent-of-shooting/15b1ab2451264 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424155645/https://www.ottplay.com/news/vadivelu-and-fahadh-faasils-maareesan-completes-50-percent-of-shooting/15b1ab2451264 |archive-date=24 April 2024 |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref> The next schedule began on 24 October 2024 in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 October 2024 |title=Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu's film 'Maareesan' next schedule starts today |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-film-maareesan-next-schedule-starts-today/articleshow/114542746.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305174410/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/fahadh-faasil-and-vadivelus-film-maareesan-next-schedule-starts-today/articleshow/114542746.cms |archive-date=5 March 2025 |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Maareesan
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
| cover =
| released = {{Start date|2025|7|31}}
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = {{Duration|m=9|s=37}}
| language = Tamil
| label = [[Saregama]]
| producer = [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
| prev_title = [[Paranthu Po]]
| prev_year = 2025
| year = 2025
| next_title = [[Mr Zoo Keeper]]
| next_year = 2025
| chronology = [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
| misc = {{Singles
|name = Maareesan
|type = soundtrack
|single1 = FaFa Song
|single1date = 9 July 2025
|single2 = Maareesa
|single2date = 19 July 2025
}}
}}

The film has soundtrack and background composed by [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=31 October 2024 |title=Maareesan makers release special poster for Diwali |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Oct/31/maareesan-makers-release-special-poster-for-diwali |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=Cinema Express |language=en |archive-date=22 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522171056/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Oct/31/maareesan-makers-release-special-poster-for-diwali |url-status=live }}</ref> The first single "FaFa Song" was released on 9 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=യുവന്‍ ശങ്കര്‍ രാജയുടെ സംഗീതം; 'മാരീചനി'ലെ 'ഫഫ സോംഗ്' എത്തി |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/music/fafa-song-lyrical-from-maareesan-fahadh-faasil-yuvan-shankar-raja-vadivelu-articleshow-z9wz355 |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=[[Asianet News]] |language=ml}}</ref> The second single "Maareesa" was released on 19 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-20 |title=Second single 'Maareesa' from Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu's travel thriller 'Maareesan' released |url=https://www.lokmattimes.com/entertainment/second-single-maareesa-from-fahadh-faasil-vadivelus-travel-thriller-maareesan-released/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Lokmat Times |language=en}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = FaFa Song
| lyrics1 = [[Madhan Karky]]
| extra1 = Mathichiyam Bala
| title2 = Maareesa
| length2 = 3:18
| lyrics2 = Sabarivasan Shanmugam
| extra2 = [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
| title3 = Ore Oru
| length3 = 2:44
| lyrics3 = Madhan Karky
| extra3 = Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vadivelu
| title4 = Theme of Maareesan
| length4 = 1:05
| length1 = 3:29
}}In addition to the above tracks, the song "Nethu Oruthara" composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja's father [[Ilaiyaraaja]] for the 1990 film ''[[Puthu Paatu]]'' was remastered and reused in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Ashwin |date=2025-12-28 |title=CE Year In Review 2025: Jukebox 2025, A year of earworms |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/features/2025/Dec/28/ce-year-in-review-2025-jukebox-2025-a-year-of-earworms |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Release ==
=== Theatrical ===
''Maareesan'' was released in theatres on 25 July 2025 alongside the Tamil film ''[[Thalaivan Thalaivii]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullappilly |first=Sreejith |date=2025-07-05 |title=Fahadh Faasil-Vadivelu starrer Maareesan gets release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jul/05/fahadh-faasil-vadivelu-starrer-maareesan-gets-release-date |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Cinema Express |language=en |archive-date=17 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250717192933/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jul/05/fahadh-faasil-vadivelu-starrer-maareesan-gets-release-date |url-status=live }}</ref> The teaser of the film having Vadivelu and Fahadh embarking on a road journey through different landscapes, with them singing the song "Aaha Inba Nilavinile" from the film ''[[Mayabazar]]'' (1957) was released on 4 June 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 June 2025 |title='Maareesan' teaser: Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu reunite in an intriguing road thriller |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maareesan-teaser-fahadh-faasil-vadivelu-reunite-in-an-intriguing-road-thriller/article69656545.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604121957/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maareesan-teaser-fahadh-faasil-vadivelu-reunite-in-an-intriguing-road-thriller/article69656545.ece |archive-date=4 June 2025 |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en }}</ref>

=== Distribution ===
Romeo pictures acquired the film's theatrical distribution rights in [[Tamil Nadu]]. [[AP International Films]] acquired the theatrical rights for Worldwide Distribution.

=== Home media ===
The film began streaming on [[Netflix]] from 22 August 2025 in Tamil and dubbed versions of Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada languages.<ref>{{cite web |access-date= |title=Maareesan to stream on Netflix from this date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Aug/17/maareesan-to-stream-on-netflix-from-this-date |work=[[Cinema Express]] |archive-date=20 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820230101/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Aug/17/maareesan-to-stream-on-netflix-from-this-date |url-status=live |date=17 August 2025|language=en}}</ref> The film Maareesan had 6.6 million watch hours globally on Netflix in the week ending August 31, 2025, and ranked as the seventh most-watched non-English film worldwide during that period. It also ranked among the top ten most-watched films in 12 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

== Reception ==
Abhinav Subramanian of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Maareesan works best when it lets its contradictions breathe - two criminals finding kinship in their damaged moral compasses, each justifying their crimes through different lenses."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maareesan Movie Review: Slow burn pays off in moral grey zones |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/maareesan/movie-review/122864049.cms |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Janani K of ''[[India Today]]'' gave 3/5 stars and wrote "'Maareesan' is a comedy thriller that can make you smile, hold you on the edge of your seats and support the morally flawed characters. If we look past the convenient writing, especially with the flashback and post-intermission, there’s a lot to love in 'Maareesan'."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-24 |title=Maareesan review: Fahadh-Vadivelu's road trip takes wrong turn post-interval |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/mareesan-review-fahadh-faasil-vaduvelu-road-trip-takes-wrong-turn-post-interval-2760648-2025-07-24 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=25 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725160518/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/mareesan-review-fahadh-faasil-vaduvelu-road-trip-takes-wrong-turn-post-interval-2760648-2025-07-24 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prashanth Vallavan of ''[[Cinema Express]]'' gave 2/5 stars and wrote "''Maareesan'' is pregnant with premises of two perfectly engaging yet tonally different films, which could have worked on their own. The unfortunate chimera we did end up with serves only to show what happens when filmmaking overpowers storytelling, when the need to accentuate drama, the fixation on conforming to screenplay structures, and the hyper-awareness of genre tropes all come in the way of a story."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vallavan |first=Prashanth |date=2025-07-25 |title=Maareesan Movie Review: A pleasant ride derailed by a string of unpleasant surprises |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2025/Jul/25/maareesan-movie-review-a-pleasant-ride-derailed-by-a-string-of-unpleasant-surprises |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Cinema Express |language=en |archive-date=6 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250806011256/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2025/Jul/25/maareesan-movie-review-a-pleasant-ride-derailed-by-a-string-of-unpleasant-surprises |url-status=live }}</ref> Srinivasa Ramanujam of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote "While the first half is a slow burn, reminiscent of many Malayalam films for its pace and sweet nothing-ness, an arresting interval block sets things up nicely for a thriller. [...] ''Maareesan'' explores this aspect in good measure by taking up a protagonist who has dementia. That itself is a triumph — because forgetfulness is a big ordeal."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=2025-07-24 |title='Maareesan' movie review: Vadivelu, Fahadh Faasil steal the show in this slow-burn suspense flick |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maareesan-movie-review-vadivelu-fahadh-faasil-steal-the-show-in-this-slow-burn-suspense-flick/article69849566.ece |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The Hindu |language=en |archive-date=24 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724171914/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maareesan-movie-review-vadivelu-fahadh-faasil-steal-the-show-in-this-slow-burn-suspense-flick/article69849566.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Rajagopalan Venkataraman of ''[[Khaleej Times]]'' wrote that "The second half ditches everything it had built in the first half and goes in for a different tone. You’d be forgiven for rubbing your eyes and wondering if you entered the wrong theatre. It shifts gears, yes, but that feels too abrupt."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venkataraman |first=Rajagopalan |date=26 July 2025 |title='Maareesan' movie review: Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu salvage this slow-burn thriller |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/entertainment/maareesan-movie-review-fahadh-faasil-vadivelu-salvage-this-slow-burn-thriller |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=[[Khaleej Times]] |language=en |archive-date=19 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819150143/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/entertainment/maareesan-movie-review-fahadh-faasil-vadivelu-salvage-this-slow-burn-thriller |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

[[Category:2025 crime drama films]]
[[Category:2025 crime thriller films]]
[[Category:2025 films]]
[[Category:2025 Indian films]]
[[Category:2025 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about Alzheimer's disease]]
[[Category:Films about pedophilia]]
[[Category:Films about theft]]
[[Category:Films about travel]]
[[Category:Films produced by R. B. Choudary]]
[[Category:Films scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
[[Category:Films set in Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Films set in Kanyakumari]]
[[Category:Films set in Salem]]
[[Category:Films set in Tirunelveli]]
[[Category:Films set in Tiruvannamalai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Tamil-language crime drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Maareesan - Revision history

JungPapst1287 at 10:43, 1 May 2026