Dil Madharaasi Movie Review: Sorry Sivakarthikeyan, This AR Murugadoss Film Can’t Make You A Pan-India Star When It’s Hindi Dub Says, Chhamiya Idhar Hai!
Dil Madharaasi Movie Review (2025):
A.R. Murugadoss returns to direction with an ambitious Tamil-Hindi bilingual project, Madrasi in Tamil and Dil Madharaasi in Hindi — starring Sivakarthikeyan, Vidyut Jammwal, and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles. Expectations were sky-high, especially with Murugadoss’ track record in blockbuster commercial entertainers like Ghajini, Holiday, and Thuppakki. But does this one deliver the same cinematic magic or fall flat trying to balance between romance and action? Let’s dive into the full review.
Story: Love, Trauma & Secret Missions – All Mixed In One Pot
Dil Madharaasi follows the story of Raghu (Sivakarthikeyan), a man battling a mental disorder triggered by a tragic past. Amid his unstable emotions and haunting memories, he falls in love with Meera (Rukmini Vasanth). Just when his love story begins to take shape, he is pulled into a top-secret government mission — one that challenges both his sanity and loyalty.
The film tries to merge two storylines — Raghu’s emotional love arc and his action-packed mission. Concept-wise, this sounds like a solid blend of romantic thriller + psychological drama, but on screen, it becomes a bit messy.
At first, you connect deeply with Raghu’s trauma and his relationship struggles. But after a while, the pacing drops, and the film starts dragging, especially in the second half. The emotional weight gets overshadowed by unnecessary songs and repetitive action sequences.
Plot Analysis: Concept Good, Execution Confused
A.R. Murugadoss is known for mixing emotion with action, but here, his writing seems scattered. The film’s first half establishes Raghu’s psychological conflict beautifully — his hallucinations, confusion, and the thin line between reality and illusion keep you hooked.
However, once the secret mission kicks in, the film loses its emotional core and tries too hard to look “mass” and “pan-India.” Songs pop up at random intervals (4 to 5 in the first half itself!), breaking the intensity of the narrative.
There are moments where you feel for Raghu — his struggle between duty and love — but the runtime (almost 3 hours 15 minutes) dilutes the impact. The editing could’ve easily cut 30–40 minutes without harming the story.
By the time you reach the climax, you start wondering — “Bhai, ab khatam hoga ya abhi aur hai?”
Action: Vidyut Jammwal Saves the Day (Almost)
One of the major selling points of Dil Madharaasi is its action — and yes, Vidyut Jammwal delivers what he’s best at. The last 30 minutes are packed with high-octane stunts, hand-to-hand combat, and stylish chase sequences.
Vidyut’s entry brings much-needed adrenaline to the film. His performance adds muscle and energy to the otherwise dragging second half. However, it’s clear that the action has been overstretched just to showcase his skillset, which affects pacing.
Murugadoss’s direction during action scenes is crisp, camera work is dynamic, but the emotional connect that made Thuppakki or Holiday memorable is missing here.
Performances: Sivakarthikeyan Shines, But the Script Doesn’t Help
- Sivakarthikeyan as Raghu:
Sivakarthikeyan gives an honest performance. He perfectly portrays a man torn between love, trauma, and duty. His emotional breakdown scenes feel real and heartfelt. However, his character is inconsistent — sometimes too emotional, sometimes too heroic — and the writing doesn’t help him maintain balance. This film could’ve been his ticket to becoming a pan-India star, but sadly, the script doesn’t match his potential. - Rukmini Vasanth as Meera:
She looks fresh, grounded, and charming. Her chemistry with Sivakarthikeyan is sweet, but her screen time is limited. Her role mainly exists to trigger the hero’s emotional journey, rather than having her own arc. Still, she makes a decent impression. - Vidyut Jammwal:
The man is a beast in action scenes. Whenever he’s on screen, the energy spikes. But again, he’s given too little to perform dramatically and too much slow-motion fight screen time. - A.R. Murugadoss (Cameo Role):
Yes, the director himself appears briefly — a fun surprise, but nothing that changes the flow of the story.
Music & Background Score: Anirudh Tries, But Fails To Resonate
Anirudh Ravichander’s music is usually the heartbeat of Tamil cinema. But here, it feels surprisingly underwhelming. The background score is good in bits — especially during the action moments — but the songs drag the pace down.
The romantic tracks lack recall value, and none of the songs stay with you after the credits roll. In fact, the first half has back-to-back tracks that feel like speed breakers in a highway chase.
Cinematography & Visuals: Stylish Yet Overstretched
Visually, the film is top-notch. The cinematography captures both the urban chaos and emotional intensity of the story beautifully. The color palette is moody, with deep blues and greys dominating Raghu’s mental state scenes.
Action scenes are slick — slow motions, drone shots, and high-frame explosions give a very cinematic edge. But where the visuals shine, the storytelling slows down.
Direction: A.R. Murugadoss Loses Balance Between Emotion & Mass Appeal
Murugadoss is a master of mass entertainers with emotional depth (Ghajini, Thuppakki), but Dil Madharaasi feels like him trying too hard to impress two different audiences — the South and the North.
The Tamil version (Madrasi) might emotionally connect more because of cultural tone, but in Hindi (Dil Madharaasi), the dialogues often sound awkward or misplaced.
Example — when a scene randomly throws a dubbed line like “Chhamiya idhar hai!” you instantly lose the mood.
It’s not offensive, but it breaks immersion. Such dubbing issues prevent it from feeling like a true “pan-India” experience.
Writing & Screenplay: Good Premise, Poor Flow
Murugadoss’s writing starts strong — a man with trauma, a secret mission, an emotional love angle — all great ingredients. But the screenplay fails to weave them together smoothly.
The first half sets up beautifully, the interval point is exciting, but the second half collapses under its own weight. Repetitive flashbacks, filler songs, and stretched action sequences make you feel tired by the 2.5-hour mark.
If this had been a tighter 2-hour thriller, Dil Madharaasi could’ve been a solid entertainer.
Editing: Could’ve Been Sharper
Editing is one of the weakest points. The film could’ve easily been trimmed by at least 30–40 minutes. Unnecessary romantic songs and extended fight sequences slow down the pacing badly.
Some transitions between emotional and action scenes are abrupt, leaving you confused about the tone.
Highlights & Lowlights
✅ Highlights:
- Sivakarthikeyan’s sincere performance
- Vidyut Jammwal’s intense action sequences
- Engaging first half
- No vulgarity or adult content — family-safe
- Visually appealing cinematography
❌ Lowlights:
- Overlong runtime (3+ hours!)
- Weak editing and screenplay
- Unnecessary songs in first half
- Confused tone: romance vs. action
- Poor Hindi dubbing in places (“Chhamiya” really?)
Technical Aspects
| Element | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Direction | Ambitious but uneven |
| Screenplay | Weak in second half |
| Music | Average |
| Editing | Needs serious trimming |
| Cinematography | Visually appealing |
| Performances | Strong lead cast |
| Family Friendliness | 100% safe – no vulgarity or abusive language |
Final Verdict: Worth A Watch?
Dil Madharaasi is a half-good, half-tiring action drama that had immense potential but got lost in its own ambition.
Sivakarthikeyan gives his all to this role — and for that, he deserves praise. But unfortunately, even his charm can’t save the sluggish pacing and uneven storytelling.
The film is watchable once for the performances, action sequences, and clean family content. But if you expect something path-breaking or pan-India-level impactful, this one might disappoint.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
A decent one-time watch!
Watch it for Sivakarthikeyan’s emotional performance and Vidyut Jammwal’s power-packed action. Skip it if you’re short on patience — because this one’s a long ride!
Movie Details
- Title: Dil Madharaasi (Hindi) / Madrasi (Tamil)
- Director: A.R. Murugadoss
- Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Vidyut Jammwal, Rukmini Vasanth
- Music: Anirudh Ravichander
- Genre: Action Thriller / Romantic Drama
- Runtime: 3 hr 15 min
- Release Date: September 5, 2025
- Language: Tamil / Hindi (Dubbed)
Conclusion:
In short, Dil Madharaasi had the potential to be a pan-India blockbuster with its mix of action, emotion, and patriotism — but weak editing, slow pacing, and an unbalanced screenplay hold it back.
Verdict: Watch it once for Sivakarthikeyan’s solid performance, Vidyut Jammwal’s thrilling action, and A.R. Murugadoss’s visual flair — but don’t expect another Thuppakki or Ghajini!
