Glorywebs at 03:20, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T03:20:43Z

New page

{{Short description|2017 Indian film by C. V. Kumar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Mayavan (2017).jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[C. V. Kumar]]
| producer = C. V. Kumar
| screenplay = [[Nalan Kumarasamy]]
| story = C. V. Kumar
| starring = [[Sundeep Kishan]]<br />[[Lavanya Tripathi]]
| music = [[Mohamaad Ghibran|Ghibran]]
| cinematography = [[Gopi Amarnath]]
| editing = [[Leo John Paul]]
| studio = [[Thirukumaran Entertainment]]
| distributor = [[Studio Green]]<br />Abi & Abi Pictures
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2017|12|14|ref1=}}
| runtime = 121 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Maayavan''''' ({{translation|The Wizard}}) is a 2017 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[science fiction]] [[thriller film]] co written, produced and directed by [[C. V. Kumar]]. The film stars [[Sundeep Kishan]] and [[Lavanya Tripathi]] while [[Jackie Shroff]], [[Daniel Balaji]], [[Mime Gopi]], [[R. Amarendran]], [[Bagavathi Perumal]], and [[Jayaprakash (actor)|Jayaprakash]] play supporting roles. The film features music composed by [[Mohamaad Ghibran|Ghibran]], cinematography by [[Gopi Amarnath]], and editing by [[Leo John Paul]]. The film was launched in February 2016 and released on 14 December 2017. It was dubbed in Telugu as ''Project Z''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 September 2017 |title=Sundeep Kishan's sci-fi flick, Project Z to release on September 15 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/sundeep-kishans-sci-fi-flick-project-z-to-release-on-september-15/articleshow/60323979.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915015847/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/sundeep-kishans-sci-fi-flick-project-z-to-release-on-september-15/articleshow/60323979.cms |archive-date=15 September 2017 |access-date=12 January 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
{{Long plot|date=May 2024}}
The film commences with the demise of Pramodh ([[R. Amarendran]]), a prominent neurologist. His gym trainer Dheena ([[Sai Dheena]]) is seen paying respects at the funeral before leaving. The plot then shifts to a young crime inspector named Kumaran ([[Sundeep Kishan]]), who is chasing a petty thief and witnesses Dheena murdering his wife. Kumaran chases Dheena, who corners him and halts him with a blow to his head. In an ensuing tussle, Kumaran manages to kill Dheena.

A meeting with psychiatrist Aadhirai ([[Lavanya Tripathi]]) ends on a rough note when she deems him medically unfit to rejoin the police force. Later, when he faces symptoms which attribute to [[PTSD]], he mends his ways with Aadhirai, who helps him overcome his disorder. A second murder happens in which a famous actress, Vishma ([[Akshara Gowda]]), is killed. Kumaran visits the spot and gets stressed and shocked upon finding similar bloodstains from the earlier murder and the same brand of cigarette smoked by the murderer. Aadhirai finds him, treats his PTSD, and helps him recover. Kumaran meets with Rudhran ([[Daniel Balaji]]) and introduces Aadhirai to him as a motivational speaker. Kumaran, now fitter, sets out his investigation and finds that a makeup man named Gopi ([[Mime Gopi]]) must have done the murder as he is the prime suspect. Upon investigation, he gets to know that Gopi and Dheena showed a different behavior a few days before they committed the murders. Kumaran tracks down Gopi, but the latter jumps to his death before confessing anything.

The next murder happens, and the victim is another scientist named Narayanan (Kathi Ravi). Kumaran tries to find shreds of evidence in Narayanan's home and finds a book written by Rudhran. Thinking that Rudhran might know the scientist, Kumaran visits his office and finds that his behavior has changed. His dog starts to bark at him, and he has also started to smoke recently, that too the same cigarette brand that was found in the earlier murders. Kumaran deduces that some strange thing is happening, and Rudhran could either be murdered or become the next murderer. He nabs Rudhran after the latter shows his more ruthless and cold-blooded side when he kills his dog. Kumaran takes Rudhran into custody. While signing on the FIR, Rudhran signs a different name but corrects it to his sign. Kumaran notices this and finds out that the first sign was signed "Pramodh".

A brief investigation reveals that Pramodh is a late colleague of Narayanan. They worked together at the Indian Institute of Neurosciences. Velayudham ([[Jayaprakash (actor)|Jayaprakash]]), a senior official, reveals that Pramodh was involved in a program called Project Maayavan, which could enable a person to store their memories into a hard drive, which can be transferred to another individual by injecting a gel which would house millions of nanotransmitters. When injected into the brain, these transmitters will attach to the neurons. When the person dies, their memories could be transmitted to another individual whose brain would already have been injected with the gel. The memories of the new person will first be erased, and the old person's memories will be transferred via the transmitters. This way, the person (their memories) will not die and will instead live forever.

To prove his theory, Pramodh works day and night. During this experiment, he sends a patient into a coma but is not bothered about human life and instead wants to succeed in his mission. After Narayanan becomes the Director of the Indian Institute of Neurosciences, he stops Pramodh's project. Pramodh uses himself as the subject, transfers his memories in a hard drive, and commits suicide. Once he dies, his memories get transferred to Dheena, Gopi, and then Rudhran. Kumaran solves this and finds that the next target is Army general Major Sathyan ([[Jackie Shroff]]).

Pramodh, who is living in Rudhran's body, commits suicide and arrives in Sathyan's brain. Sathyan invites Kumaran and says that his technology will let him live for more than 1000 years, and no one can stop him. With a clue from Pramodh's wife, Kumaran finds his secret lab where Pramodh has his memories stored. Pramodh successfully retrieves the hard drive containing his memories, which includes blackmailing and later killing Kumaran's friend Karna ([[Bagavathi Perumal]]). He then kidnaps Velayudham and goes to the institute lab to let him switch to another body. Kumaran tracks him down, and a gunfight ensues. Finally, Kumaran realizes that Aadhirai is the next subject. If Sathyan dies, then Pramodh's memories will transfer to Aadhirai's body, leaving Kumaran with a difficult choice.

20 years later, Kumaran is happily married to Aadhirai, who is celebrating her 40th birthday with their son. It is shown that Kumaran has trapped Sathyan in his basement and has kept him alive.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
*[[Sundeep Kishan]] as Inspector Kumaran
*[[Lavanya Tripathi]] as Dr. Aadhirai (Voice dubbed by [[Chinmayi Sripada|Chinmayi]])
*[[Jackie Shroff]] as Major Sathyan
*[[Daniel Balaji]] as Ruthran
*[[Mime Gopi]] as Gopi
*[[R. Amarendran]] as Pramodh
*[[Bagavathi Perumal]] as Sub-Inspector Karna
*[[Jayaprakash (actor)|Jayaprakash]] as Velayudham
*[[Akshara Gowda]] as Vishma
*[[K. S. Ravikumar]] as Minister
*[[K. S. G. Venkatesh]] as Kumaran's father
*Karpagam as Kumaran's mother
*[[Sai Dheena]] as Dheena
*[[Jeeva Ravi]] as DIG Ravikumar
*Kathi Ravi as Narayanan
*[[Idhayathai Thirudathey (TV series)|Navin Kumar]] as Constable Moorthy
*[[Yaaradi Nee Mohini (TV series)|Yamuna Chinnadurai]] as Subha
*Rajie Vijay Sarathy as Mrs. Pramodh
*[[Supergood Subramani]] as Constable Muthukumar
*Tamil Selvi as Velayudham's wife
*Manimegalai as Dheena's mother
}}

== Production ==
Film producer [[C. V. Kumar]] began his first directorial project in June 2014 and signed on [[Naveen Chandra]] to play the lead role. The film began production during the same month and was titled ''Mayavan'', with [[K. S. G. Venkatesh]] also signed on to play a pivotal role. [[Santhosh Narayanan]] was revealed to be the film's music composer and the launch event was attended by a few of the producer's close friends.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-08-05 |title='Would Like to Play Dad to Young Kollywood Actors' |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Would-Like-to-Play-Dad-to-Young-Kollywood-Actors/2014/08/05/article2364557.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427173410/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Would-Like-to-Play-Dad-to-Young-Kollywood-Actors/2014/08/05/article2364557.ece |archive-date=2016-04-27 |access-date=2016-07-04 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Menon |first=Neelima |date=2014-09-02 |title=Reluctant King Maker: The CV Kumar Interview |url=https://silverscreen.in/tamil/features/reluctant-king-maker-cv-kumar-interview/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170706193259/https://silverscreen.in/tamil/features/reluctant-king-maker-cv-kumar-interview/ |archive-date=2017-07-06 |access-date=4 July 2016 |work=Silverscreen.in |language=en}}</ref> The film was later delayed and subsequently shelved.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 June 2014 |title=C V Kumar dons director's hat |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/C-V-Kumar-dons-director%25E2%2580%2599s-hat/2014/06/23/article2294359.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427172836/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/C-V-Kumar-dons-director%25E2%2580%2599s-hat/2014/06/23/article2294359.ece |archive-date=2016-04-27 |access-date=2016-07-04 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref>

C. V. Kumar began working on the film again during September 2015, when it was announced that [[Sundeep Kishan]] would replace Naveen in the lead role, while Kumar would produce the film alongside the studio, [[Studio Green]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-09-19 |title=Producer C V Kumar Turns Director in Oct |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Producer-C-V-Kumar-Turns-Director-in-Oct/2015/09/19/article3035069.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120184634/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Producer-C-V-Kumar-Turns-Director-in-Oct/2015/09/19/article3035069.ece |archive-date=2015-11-20 |access-date=2016-07-04 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> Kumar revealed that he had also approached [[Vijay Sethupathi]] to play the lead role, but his unavailability prompted him to sign on Sundeep. The team initially tried to sign actress [[Lavanya Tripathi]] to play the lead female role, but her busy schedule meant that the team went on to hold unsuccessful negotiations with actresses [[Keerthy Suresh]] and [[Amyra Dastur]] for the role.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kamal |first=S S |date=27 Oct 2015 |title=Amyra Dastur in CV Kumar movie |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/mumbai-lass-amyra-dastur-kollywood-impressed-anegan-dhanush-movie/articleshow/49557737.cms? |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212144656/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/mumbai-lass-amyra-dastur-kollywood-impressed-anegan-dhanush-movie/articleshow/49557737.cms |archive-date=12 December 2025 |access-date=12 December 2025 |work=[[Bangalore Mirror]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Taapsee Pannu]] then signed on to appear in the leading female role, while Kumar worked on the script alongside [[Nalan Kumarasamy]], who wrote the venture's dialogues and screenplay. However, the film became delayed further and evaded its starting date in October.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2015 |title=Nalan pens the script for CV Kumar's film |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Nalan-pens-the-script-for-CV-Kumars-film/articleshow/50181270.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211222607/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Nalan-pens-the-script-for-CV-Kumars-film/articleshow/50181270.cms |archive-date=11 December 2024 |access-date=2016-07-04 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

Tripathi later became available and signed on to play the leading female role after Pannu became busy with her commitments in Hindi films during February 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2016 |title=Lavanya replaces Taapsee in CV Kumar's film |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/180216/lavanya-replaces-taapsee-in-cv-kumar-s-film.html |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-12 |title=Lavanya Tripathi in C.V. Kumar's directorial debut |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/lavanya-tripathi-in-c-v-kumars-directorial-debut/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216103347/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/lavanya-tripathi-in-c-v-kumars-directorial-debut/ |archive-date=2016-02-16 |access-date=2016-07-04 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> The film was officially launched in mid February 2016, with [[Ghibran Vaibodha|Ghibran]] announced as the film's composer and [[Gopi Amarnath]] as the cinematographer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2016 |title=Sundeep Kishan dons khaki in C.V. Kumar's 'Mayavan' |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/sundeep-kishan-dons-khaki-in-c-v-kumars-mayavan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218200218/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/sundeep-kishan-dons-khaki-in-c-v-kumars-mayavan/ |archive-date=18 February 2016 |access-date=2016-07-04 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]]}}</ref> [[Daniel Balaji]], [[Jayaprakash (actor)|Jayaprakash]], [[Bagavathi Perumal]], and [[Mime Gopi]] were also added to the cast, as the film began production in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-16 |title=C V Kumar's Film Titled Mayavan |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/C-V-Kumars-Film-Titled-Mayavan/2016/02/16/article3280587.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217091629/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/C-V-Kumars-Film-Titled-Mayavan/2016/02/16/article3280587.ece |archive-date=2016-02-17 |access-date=2016-07-04 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The music is composed by [[Ghibran Vaibodha|Ghibran]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY3N-ox1tik |title=Maayavan Official Full Songs {{!}} C.V.Kumar {{!}} Sundeep Kishan, Lavanya Tripathi, Jackie Shroff {{!}} Ghibran |date=2017-04-17 |last=Think Music India |author-link=Think Music |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240727000641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY3N-ox1tik |archive-date=27 July 2024 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

{{Infobox album
| name = Maayavan
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Ghibran]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2017
| recorded = 2017
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 13:06
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| label =
| producer = [[Ghibran]]
| prev_title = [[Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru]]
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = [[Chennai 2 Singapore]]
| next_year = 2017
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 13:06
| title1 = Mella Mella Sollava
| lyrics1 = Soundararajan K
| extra1 = [[Shweta Subram]], [[Abby V]]
| length1 = 4:51
| title2 = Maya Masthava
| lyrics2 = Sikkander
| extra2 = Marana Gaana Viji
| length2 = 3:15
| title3 = Bodhai Poo
| lyrics3 = Vivek
| extra3 = Ghibran, Sharanya Gopinath
| length3 = 5:00
}}

== Release ==
The film was release on 14 December 2017.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=941500000831356928 |user=sri50 |title=Thank U Ramesh, corrected. Friday Dec 15-Releases : Tamil 1. #Aruvi 2. #BrammaDotCom 3. #Chennai2Singapore 4.#KidaaVirunthu 5.#Maayavan (Dec 14) 6.#KidaaVirunthu |first=Sreedhar |last=Pillai |access-date=13 December 2025}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
M. Suganth of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave 3.5 stars out of 5 stating, "One of the best things about Maayavan is how it manages to keep us guessing until it reveals the killer".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M |date=2017-12-15 |title=Maayavan Movie Review |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/maayavan/movie-review/62069467.cms |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116073151/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/maayavan/movie-review/62069467.cms |archive-date=16 January 2018 |access-date=2019-03-28 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] wrote for ''[[Film Companion]]'', "CV Kumar has terrific instincts as a producer — he single-handedly created a parallel economy from sensible, stylish, low-budget cinema. But as a filmmaker, he's functional at best."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=16 January 2018 |title=Maayavan Movie Review |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/maayavan-movie-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111145636/https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/maayavan-movie-review |archive-date=11 November 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref>

==Sequel==
In May 2024, a sequel was announced titled ''MaayaOne'', with C. V. Kumar and Sundeep Kishan reprising their roles as director and lead.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2024 |title=Sundeep Kishen's Maaya One gets a first look poster |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/May/07/sundeep-kishens-maaya-one-gets-a-first-look-poster |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520123558/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/May/07/sundeep-kishens-maaya-one-gets-a-first-look-poster |archive-date=20 May 2025 |access-date=7 May 2024 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:2017 Indian films]]
[[Category:2010s mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:2017 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2017 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2017 films]]
[[Category:Films about murder]]
[[Category:Films produced by C. V. Kumar]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ghibran Vaibodha]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Nalan Kumarasamy]]
[[Category:Indian mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian science fiction thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Techno-thriller films]]

Maayavan - Revision history

Glorywebs at 03:20, 3 March 2026