Mandaadi (2026) — Review
Director Mathimaran Pugazhendhi (the guy behind Selfie) takes a genuine gamble here by setting his sports-action drama in the world of traditional sailboat racing — territory Tamil cinema hasn't really explored before. And that gamble mostly pays off.
What works:
Soori, playing Muthukaali, a fisherman caught up in a bitter rivalry over the "game of ropes," delivers what might be his most restrained and mature performance yet.
He's built a name on comedy, but here he leans into silence and quiet intensity rather than dialogue-heavy drama — and it lands. Suhas, making his Tamil debut as the antagonist, holds his own surprisingly well opposite Soori; there's real menace in how he carries himself.
The technical package is the film's biggest strength. Cinematography, sound design, and action choreography help the film rise above its more conventional storytelling. G.V. Prakash Kumar's score is getting singled out repeatedly as a highlight, and the boat-racing sequences — shot on open water — give the movie a genuinely fresh visual identity you don't often see in this genre. The climax race, in particular, seems to be winning people over; early audience reactions are calling it extraordinarily well-executed.
What doesn't:
The story itself doesn't take many risks. Critics have noted the narrative relies heavily on predictable sports tropes, and the flashback portion in particular seems to drag the pacing down. So if you're going in expecting a script as bold as its setting, temper that a bit — this is a familiar underdog/rivalry arc wearing a fresh coastal costume.
Bottom line:
It's a mixed-to-positive reception overall — critics are more measured (123telugu gave it 2.75/5), while first-day audience buzz on social media has been considerably warmer. If you go in for the boat-racing spectacle, Soori's performance, and the score, you'll likely walk out satisfied. Go in expecting a tightly-written script, and the predictability might bug you.
Worth a watch? Yes — especially on a big screen, since the ocean sequences are clearly the reason to catch this in theaters rather than wait for streaming.
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