What Is the Story About?
Mathagam follows a sincere and honest police officer who takes it upon himself to charge upon a notorious criminal, also someone who runs a huge crime syndicate using his connections with top-ranked officers in Police force and Politics. The catch here is that the crime gang boss is believed to have died years ago. A cat – mouse game that doesn’t defy or break pre-existing templates, but focusses on the police-criminal-politics nexus and who wins & how, if at all?
Performances?
Atharvaa looks adequate as the honest cop Ashwath. Quite predictable character arc of a cop who is the most honest of all and is torn between duty and family.
Manikandan tries to elevate the role of crime syndicate boss Padalam Shekar, comes off exceptional at most places but doesn’t at quite a few places too. For a story line heavily inclined towards the face-off of the cop & criminal, both Atharvaa and Manikandan deserved more material to quite adapted into. May be because we’ve seen better versions of such face-offs since years.
Analysis
Written and Directed by Prasath Murugesan, Mathagam is a police procedural, a thriller, a crime drama, and a lot of things in the mix at once. Primarily a cat and mouse game with a commendable world-building effort, the series does face some massive hiccups, but also some glories.
Mathagam sticks to the cat-mouse template and relies on the face-off between the honest Cop DCP Ashwath and a gangster, Lord of a criminal syndicate – Padalam Sekhar. However, the process involves so many character, quirky at that coming in and going. Some, very vital and some, could be vital in a potential second season.
The Police Officer in question struggles to keep a balance between his personal and professional life. A wife, who is dealing with PPD, and a haunting criminal who he should get his hands on. The Criminal Lord – Padalam Sekhar has a huge set of unlikely tiny gangsters with quirky names and quirkier modus operandis. How Ashwath reaches to Sekhar, following the look-book of a legacy cop, forms the crux of the film.
Coming to what works, the show is a welcome change in the police-gangster-politician nexus matrix shows in how realistic its execution is. The supporting cast comprising of Gautham Vasudev Menon, Dilnaz Irani, Nikhila Vimal and Ilavarasu are really good, even when the main two leads falter due to writing deficiencies.
Coming to what doesn’t work, the storyline of Mathagam deserved a shorter run-time and a more engaging screenplay. The finale, although tries to be, doesn’t really come across rewarding. And the most eventful happenings of the show takes place only in the finale episode. Also, there isn’t much action set-pieces either (neither realistic, nor cinematic).
In short, Mathagam is watchable. Its just that Mathagam doesn’t really flex its muscles. Neither does it let its lead actors flex their muscles fully. In all probability, the second season of the show could do a lot more writing wise and arc wise (for the leads), which we hope answers a lot of our quips.
Other Artists?
Mathagam has a good supporting cast. Nikhila Vimal plays Ashwath’s wife. She doesn’t get much scope to perform, but however makes her presence felt in whatever little she gets especially as a woman going through PPD. Gautham Vasudev Menon and Ilavarasu are particularly so good, and Dilnaz Iraani is such a star. She commands every scene she is in, effortlessly.
Music and Other Departments?
Mathagam does have its moments technically. Edwin Sakay’s cinematography deserves all the flowers. It does bring in the right blend of cinematic thrill and realism even when the writing seems to me clueless about engaging the audience. Despite little of it, Dhilip Subbarayan’s set-pieces in final episode is neat. Wish the show had more of it.
Highlights?
Intriguing Story
Supporting Cast
Convincing core conflict
Realistic Execution
Drawbacks?
Pace
Lead actors’ arcs
Lackluster screenplay
Cliffhanger ending
less action
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes. But in parts.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with huge reservations.
Mathagam Series Review by Binged Bureau