The Tamil film Mandaadi has drawn largely positive responses from critics and social media users following its release, according to reports from The Times of India, NDTV, The Hindu and the Indian Express. The coastal sports drama, directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendhi, stars Soori and Suhas in lead roles.
According to The Times of India, fans on Twitter described Soori's work in the film as his career-best and said he deserves a National Award for the performance. The same outlet's own review rated the film 3.0 out of 5, calling it a movie that charts an uneven course but reaches a strong finish.
NDTV's review said Soori shines in what it described as an engaging coastal sports drama. The Hindu credited both Soori and Suhas with powering an engaging, smooth-sailing sports actioner. The Indian Express offered a more mixed view, writing that the two leads are extraordinary on the water but that the film drifts when the action moves onto land.
The reviews point to a shared view that the film's water-based sequences and its lead performances are its strongest elements, while its land-bound portions drew less consistent praise.
What to watch next: whether the audience response translates into strong word-of-mouth collections for Mandaadi in the coming days.
