What Is the Story About?
Ammu (Aishwarya Lekshmi) is a newlywed girl with a fairytale view of marriage. Her dreams come crashing down one by one when her husband Ravi (Naveen Chandra), a police inspector, starts physical abuse slowly. The movie’s core plot is how Ammu gets out of the abusive relationship.
Performances?
Aishwarya Lekshmi has come up with an excellent restrained act. There is so much frustration, pain and fear that is internalised and showcased intensely without going overboard. The one-on-one conversations with the different characters, highlighting a subtle change in moods and emotions, are well done. All in all, Ammu has been a memorable outing for the actress in recent times.
The same holds true for Naveen Chandra. It feels as if he is born to play this role. Naveen fits the part perfectly. The thick moustache, clean-shaven look, and intensity give the character a freshness that’s missing in him recently.
Analysis
Charukesh Sekar writes and directs Ammu. It is a simple and straightforward plot involving the domestic abuse theme.
The slow pace registers immediately. The beginning, therefore, takes time to get used to as nothing new happens, and we know where it’s headed. When the real drama starts, the issue of a slow pace doesn’t feel like one.
The performances and the authenticity of the milieu make the gripping narrative possible. It helps overcome the snail-paced proceedings. One is always on edge, even if it means patiently waiting for things to happen.
The progressively increasing drama and tension, the feeling of touching the raw nerve, holds the narrative together. The director wonderfully captures the small moments and expressions. He manages to create a sense of fear is created, which shows his success.
However, the story seems to take a diversion briefly during the second hour when a crucial new character is introduced. Some time given to build it and flash out its world deviates from the core drama. A pressure of sorts that’s created until then seems to be released.
But it all comes together well during the climax. A sense of fulfilment is felt without going too much overboard. It is a decent mixture of being cinematic and slightly realistic at the same time. It leans more on the former side, which takes away from its initial sensibility. One can also sense a Karthik Subbaraj touch in these portions.
Overall, Ammu offers a predictable premise but makes up with engaging performances and a gripping narrative. If you like a watch a drama with a dash of thrill, Ammu is right up your sleeve. However, make sure the expectations are not set too high.
Other Artists?
Bobby Simha, appearing midway, is the critical supporting artist in the movie. In his typical style, he has done his part clinically with ease and sincerity. It is an instantly likeable role despite the length. However, it falls a little short of the classic memorable supporting appearances. It is good, but that’s it.
There are many smaller bits and pieces roles done with recognisable faces. Raghu Babu, even with two scenes, only easily stands out. Anjali Ameer, Sathya, Prem Sagar etc., follow. They all do their roles adequately and add to the small but instantly relatable world.
Music and Other Departments?
Bharat Sankar provides music which feels eerily similar to the style of Santhosh Narayanan. The music is used well as part of the narrative, and the background score compliments it well. It elevates the proceedings many times.
Despite low-budget production, Ammu looks like a quality product. The technical team behind it deserves the kudus starting from the cinematographer (Apoorva Anil Shaligram) and the editor (Radha Sridhar). Despite the slow pace, the narrative always feels gripping. Padmavathi Malladi’s dialogues are a significant asset to the proceedings.
Highlights?
Performances
Screenplay
Dialogues
Drawbacks?
Slow Pace
Predictable At Times
Brief Distraction In The Middle
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Slight Reservation