REVIEW
 
Actress Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, who likes to tell her stories through strong, free-spirited women, proves once again that there isn’t a better contemporary filmmaker than her when it comes to the portrayal of women on screen.
 
Right from her first directorial project, “Aarohanam”, Lakshmy has been giving viewers strong women characters to celebrate, to root for, and she does so without being judgemental about other characters, especially men and their actions.
 
STORY
 
Ammani is an exploration of how money plays a crucial part in determining our relationships and tells us that our lives will be much better if we learn to live for ourselves, and with very little expectations, but the manner in which these messages are conveyed is hardly preachy.
 
The story revolves around Salamma, a helper at a government hospital. She is just a couple of months away from retirement, but continues to be the chief provider for her family, which includes the families of her two sons — the older one, Saravanan, is a drunkard painter, and the younger one, Siva, is a self-centred auto driver. There is also a new arrival — her grandson, from a daughter who had eloped. Then there is Ammani, a cheery elderly rag picker, who is a tenant in Salamma’s matchbox of a house.
 
PERFORMANCE
 
The biggest plus is Lakshmi’s realistic portrayal of all the characters and the way she presents them. Just because they insult her many times, just because their main aim is to grab her retirement benefits, Lakshmy doesn’t depict them as bad people. Lakshmy simply excels as Salamma and lives the character.  She leaves us in tears at times. Subbulakshmi shines as the gritty yet cheerful woman with a ‘don’t-ever-give- up’ attitude. Others do what was expected out of them.  As a filmmaker, Lakshmy does convey a message, which is not preachy, and clichéd. ‘Your fate is in your hands and it is up to you to handle the way you want'.
 
Cinematographer Imran Ahmed’s visuals are superb and bring alive the tiny house in Vyasarpadi where major part of story takes place. K’s background score augments Lakshmy’s proceedings.
 
PLUS
 
Screenplay
Dialogues
Background Score
 
MINUS
 
Sub Plots

Verdict : A Decent Attempt!

Stars : 3/5