Maathi Yosi, which revolves around 4 youth from a village, is quite a change for its director Nanda Periyasaami, who previously gave us the urban college romance Oru Kallooriyin Kadhai. Thankfully, the lack of believability that pervaded his previous film rears its head only occasionally here, resulting in a more entertaining film even if the director doesn't do anything radical that would've shown us that he followed the title of his own movie.

Pandi, Onan, Maari and Manga are four young men living in a colony outside a village near Madurai. After a series of criminal acts, some petty and some quite serious, they earn the wrath of the village bigwig when one of the four breaks into his house and kisses his daughter. So they run away to Chennai, where they bump into a girl(Shammu) who is being forced into prostitution by her uncle(Ravi Maria). The girl's dream is to go to Australia to pursue higher studies and getting the money needed for that becomes the boys' goal from then on.

The four boys' time in the village works well since it creates four likeable characters and sets the pieces in place for their future adventures. The boys aren't fully fleshed out individually but as a group, they are fun and interesting. While the happenings do feel a bit episodic, the events help bring out the nature of the boys. As they escape to Chennai, we know that they are playful, helpful and that they stand up for each other. And its these very characteristics that define the turns that their lives take from then onwards.

The movie never feels like its telling a story and gives the feeling of moving forward spontaneously. The boys never have a concrete plan and their actions are driven by what they want(which could be short-term, like a place to stay, or long-term, like the money needed to send Shammu to Australia) and/or the repercussions of their previous act(as when they run away to Chennai). So there's a sense of unpredictability hovering over the proceedings since, without a laid-out plan, its not easy to guess what their next step is going to be. This keeps our interest from flagging.

Things turn a little unrealistic when Shammu enters the picture since its tough to accept that she blends into the boys' group so easily and naturally considering her completely different background. While the plan the boys come up with to gather the money is suitably spontaneous, the segment with Ponvannan feels rather awkward (though it does lead to a very nicely picturized assassination sequence). The way things end is predictable(the connection to the first scene here is a nice touch) but the final conclusion feels silly and unnecessary.

The boys look the parts and do their jobs though none of them stand out in particular. Shammu is adequate. Ravi Maria as Shammu's effeminate uncle does a neat job without overdoing the accent and the gestures. Ponvannan too is serious and dignified in the role of the cop. Debutant music director Guru Kalyan's background score suits the mood of the movie, especially in the earlier parts in the village. Maathidhaan Yosida... is rather catchy while some nice editing and humorous touches make Medhuva Medhuva... enjoyable.