Maradona (2018)

Maradona works because it turns a familiar “runaway to the big city” setup into a slick, emotionally charged ride where every new friendship feels like a lifeline—and every quiet moment hums with the threat of trouble catching up. Vishnu Narayanan keeps the tone nimble, blending comedy and tension without forcing either, while Tovino Thomas carries the film with a performance that’s equal parts swagger, vulnerability, and hard-earned conscience. The Bangalore apartment setting becomes a little universe of warmth and suspicion, and the story’s pull isn’t just what happens next, but what it costs to become someone better than your past. If you want nonstop action or broad laughs, this may feel more like a character-led thriller with heart—but if you’re on the fence, it’s the kind of watchable, redemption-tinged journey that sneaks up and lands.

Maradona is trying to be a scrappy, street-level thriller with a soft romantic core and a “found family” vibe in a Bangalore apartment complex. The problem is the movie can’t quite decide what it wants to be—action, comedy, and melodrama keep tugging in different directions—so the tension often fizzles and the emotional beats can feel a bit pushed. If you need tight plotting, believable character choices, and a consistently sharp tone, this may test your patience. Still, Tovino Thomas has an easy screen presence, and the quieter moments with the residents hint at a warmer, better movie hiding inside the chaos.