'Mahaveeryar' review: Nivin Pauly is back. Read what critics have to say

Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly has made a comeback with 'Mahaveeryar' after a considerable gap. The Mollywood movie belongs to the fantasy genre and revolves around time travel. Directed by Abrid Shine, the film released on July 21, and producers held its first screening.

Sreedhar Pillai, a columnist, entertainment industry tracker and writer, attended the screening. He gave rave reviews about the film, which he shared on his Twitter handle. Pillai wrote that 'Mahaveeryar' is a different movie, which dares to explore the nuances of time travel. He said the movie involves a new and original story and has been executed brilliantly by the director, Abrid Shine. Pillai ended his tweet by stating that the movie is a courtroom drama that showcases dark humour, which is relevant to today's political and social times. He also called the superstar Nivin Pauly fantastic in his role as Apoornandhan Swamy.

First half is good

Other critics have also shared their reactions. Early reviews said that the movie's first half is good with great comedy and laugh-out-loud moments. The director, Shine, has been credited for good filmmaking, and the actor, Pauly, has garnered admiration from fans and critics alike. The cinematography and background score has also been reviewed as engaging.

With 'Mahaveeryar', the director-actor duo of Abrid Shine and Nivin Pauly would be making their third appearance together. Abrid Shine is also the scriptwriter. The movie also features Shanvi Srivastava in an important role. Asif Ali has been casted as a prince, who goes by the name of Veerabhadran. Other cast members include some prominent names of Mollywood like Krishna Prasad, Siddique, Srikant Murali, Major Ravi, Pramod Velliyanad, Sudheer Karamana and Kalabhavan Prajod.

Second half lacks rhythm
While most reactions were good, there were negative ones too. Many internet users pointed out that the second half lacked the rhythm of the first half. Others said that the second half was a significant letdown.

Hit or flop?
While the movie has received mixed reviews, it is for the audience to decide whether it would be a hit or a flop. However, going by the early reviews, 'Mahaveeryar' is undoubtedly a one-time watch for its unique story.