Mayaanadhi starts off slow, explores an unusual romance between the duo, and then builds into a gripping thriller. The scriptwriters deserve due credit for how the movie's characters grow on you.

For its non-traditionalism, smooth flow, credible characters and situations and so much else, the true stars of Mayaanadhi are director Aashiq Abu and his frequent collaborators.

It's is a compelling watch with its exquisite writing and top notch performances of all the actors. I repeat: all.

The nights of Kochi have never been so beautiful in any other films before. Jayesh Mohan's cinematography captures the beauty and pathos of the lives of the protagonists juxtaposed through the backgrounds. The walks along the roads under the Kochi metro are hypnotically romantic. "Mayaanadhi" ("Mystic River") is a multifaceted romantic thriller that paints a realistic and poetic tale of love among urban Malayalee youth. Even when the survivor in Mathan fades the fighter in Appu remains fighting and hoping. The viewers are left with melancholy, ever haunted by the fates of characters from this world which is surreal and hyper-real at the same time. Read full review <a href="http://www.asianfilmvault.com/2018/01/mayaanadhi-2017-by-aashiq-abu.html">here at <b>AsianFilmVault</b></a>.