Marutham (2025)

Detailed Review

Vidharth plays a small-scale farmer living with his wife and son in a village near Ranipet. Hoping to enroll his son in a private school, he decides to mortgage his farmland — only to discover that the land is already set to be auctioned by the bank for an old loan. Shocked, Vidharth wonders how this could happen when he never borrowed any money. He then learns that the loan was taken under his father’s name — but even his father insists he never borrowed anything.

How does Vidharth reclaim his land? Debut director V. Gajendran tackles the social issues faced by farmers right in his very first film.

Rather than merely acting, Vidharth truly lives his role. His performance as a responsible father dreaming of his son’s education and as a helpless farmer fighting to save his land feels deeply realistic. Raksana, as his wife, delivers a performance that perfectly fits her role. “Thinamthorum” Nagaraj, “Lollu Sabha” Maran, and Aruldoss all deliver notable supporting performances. N.R. Raghunathan’s music blends beautifully with the film’s rural mood and emotional tone.

While many films have explored farmers’ struggles before, Marudham stands out for addressing a specific social problem faced by farmers rather than repeating familiar clichés. However, the first half lacks emotional intensity in parts, and a few amateur performances and uneven scenes slightly pull the film back.

Still, this is a film worth watching for anyone who wishes to understand and support the real-life issues of farmers.

Marudham – A tale of the soil and the struggles rooted within it.