Maranam Movie Review: A thriller that struggles to engage

A group of gangsters kidnap, rape and murder women who are travelling alone. One particular day, a young girl’s vehicle breaks down near the area where the gangsters operate from. They kidnap her but their devious plans go for a toss when a stranger – a young man – crosses their path.
How is the young man connected to this story? Will he save the girl? Why is he being trailed by a police officer? These are the questions addressed through the course of the film.
While the runtime of this movie is relatively short, at 103 minutes, the thriller struggles to keep viewers engaged. The acting is often overtly melodramatic and while there are a few twists, the plotline fails to leave an impact. The dialogues are often not lip synced and the songs do not seamlessly blend in with the narrative. The fight sequences too need refinement.
While Maranam might have seemed promising on paper, a lot of factors don't work for the movie. With a bit more refined filmmaking, this might have been a better watch.