They are a group of enthusiastic youngsters pursuing studies in various colleges. But a passion for films and film — making has brought them together, and this forms the major part of the cast and crew of Maiem.
Produced by artist-painter Shreedhar, who has also penned the story and screenplay, Maiem is directed by debutant Aditya Baskar. Majorly set in the confines of two adjoining rooms, one an ATM and the other the security guard’s room, the film chronicles the happenings of a night there. The early moments trace the background of the major players in the plot. Divya, a model, is harassed by anonymous calls. Driving alone, she stops at an ATM to withdraw some money.
Shot flatteringly, Jai Quehani as Divya cuts a pretty picture. A pair of lovers is all set to elope that night. And the guy in urgent need of cash goes to the same ATM. Behind the ATM is the security room where two guards are on a boozing session.
With the characters introduced and background set, it’s time for some thrill and action.
The action begins when the trio in the ATM cabin, the two youngsters and Divya, spot a lone stranger watching them from outside. As they speculate on his motive, he menacingly strides to and fro wielding an iron bar.
It is a beginning with the potential to turn into a riveting suspense thriller. But the knot is not capitalised on, thanks to weak script, amateurish treatment and performances.
The characters fail to use even a bit of their reason and logic as the psychopathic killer plays a cat and mouse game with them. The confined space of the two rooms could have been used to the optimum, but they only end up giving a sense of claustrophobia. With one killing after another taking place, the urgency of the situation does not seem to have crossed the minds of the quartet trapped in the ATM room, particularly that of the security guard Shankar (Robot Shankar).
It should have been a desperate struggle for survival, but the three men and the girl pass most of their time in inane banter. Shankar is busy mimicking voices of various actors, the trio encouraging him from the other room. Shankar, the senior in the cast, has a field day. Given a long rope, he goes overboard with his monologues and inane banter.
The co-incidences are one too many. Like the phones of most of the characters not working for various reasons. They exchange rooms, running out of one and going into the other, making one wonder why the group didn’t make the effort to escape, though it was an open space on all sides. The end has a twist which however could be seen miles off. It brings to memory one of the episodes of the anthology Aaaah.
One can appreciate the effort behind the work and the enthusiasm of the young team to venture into film-making even before they are totally prepared to handle the medium. But good intention doesn’t necessarily have to end in a positive result! A better preparation could have yielded better results. Maiem is at the most a stepping stone to the team, who hopefully would return with a more polished and a satisfactory venture than the amateur work this is.