Remakes are quite tricky. A slight slip up would mess up the soul of the original. But Visithiran which is an official remake of the Malayalam superhit stays true to the original thanks largely to the captain of the ship M. Padmakumar. He makes sure that the essence of the original isn't lost in translation.
It is a breakthrough role for RK Suresh. Stepping into the shoes of Joju George is tough but RK Suresh does the best that he can. A lot of time is spent on giving us an insight into the sharp mind of the protoganist which eventually pays off in the end. Without RK Suresh's authentic portrayal as Maayan this wouldn't have been possible.
The opening sequence where the police needs his help is a great insight into the character. Despite all the hustle and chaos around him, he remains unruffled and is focussed on evidence collection. It is like fitting the piece of the puzzle where everything comes together when the culprit is found. This trait is maintained throughout the film.
Another actor who plays an able foil to RK Suresh is Poorna. Her sincerity touches us and gives us a much needed emotional touch to Maayan's quest for truth. It is heartening to see Poorna shine within her limited screen time. Ilavarasu and Bhagavati Perumal too lend able support.
As far as technicalities are concerned both G.V Prakash's music and Vetrivel Mahendran's cinematography blend in quite well with the mood of the film. M. Padmakumar's unusual casting choices for the main lead lends freshness to the narration. His sincerity in retaining the core emotion of the original is also highly appreciable.
On the downside if you are familiar with the Malayalam original this scene by scene remake might not offer anything new. Also the slow narration that is usually associated with a Malayalam remake might be a damper. Maybe something could have been done to speed up the pace and localise the proceedings.
Despite these shortcomings a medical investigation thriller with a strong protagonist is a great package. The twists keep coming when you least expect it. The message that this film wants to convey is also crystal clear. If you aren't familiar with the Malayalam original you will definitely love this one. This is also a welcome diversion from the n number of commercial films that we are seeing of late.