Ammuvagiya Naan - Review

By: Settu Shankar
Monday, September 03, 2007

Ammuvagiya Naan is one of the rare movies on a bold theme with beautiful narration. After an unsuccessful attempt with his debut film Pallavan, Director Padmamagan is travelling in the same route of veteran K.Balachander who carved films like Thappu Taalangal and Arangetram on the same theme.

Ammuvagiya Naan is the story of a commercial sex worker who lives in Pondicherry.

Gowrishankar (R.Parthiban) is a writer who always craves to pen the injustice against woman. He meets a prostitute namely Ammu (Bharathi), an orphan brought up in Raani Madam (the house familiar for prostitutes) to pen a novel on the life of a commercial sex worker. Ammu's flawless beauty and innocent looks wins over the writer's heart and at a stage he decided to give a permanent place to the sex worker in his life as a life partner. But Ammu doesn't like this and she opts to live as a sex worker. She replies, "It is boring to see the same face and body every day. I'm enjoying my life to share my physic with new guys!"

But Parthiban's care and love brings a change in Ammu and slowly transferring in to a cultured life. She realises the difference between a sex worker and life partner. At the same time Gowrishanker completes his novel Ammuvagiya Naan and send the same for National Award. But Mahadevan, the President of the Award Committee demands Ammu as the price for the award. After a long thought Ammu accepted for the deal without telling anything to Gowrishanker.

When she is entering in to Mahadeven's bed room her new 'status' prevents her to share the bed with the third person. Finally she kills the brutal man. After hearing all the facts the Court set freed Ammu and Gowrishanker also gets his dues from the Award Committee.

Parthiban once again comes out with a neat and dignified character and done full justice to the role. In this film Parthiban is talking less and expressing more through his body languages. Surely it is one of his best performances in his 20 years old career.

At many places, the director allows the visuals to speak more than the dialogues and the way of his presentation gives the feel of a cool breeze!

Bharathi is definitely a worthy new face and the actress could handle the sensitive role with ease and perfection.

Abhishek, Mahadevan, Sadhana and Ragasudha also done their parts well.

M. S. Prabhu has framed a prostitution house in most dignified manner through his camera. It is the first time that Tamil viewers can experience such a 'house' in films. The soothing background score by Sabesh - Murali adds strength to the movie.

Padmagagan has tried to write a celluloid poem on the world's oldest profession. No doubt he has succeeded in his attempt!

Cast:
R. Parthiban, Bharathi, Mahadevan, Sadhana, Abhishek.

Credits:
Photography: M.S.Prabhu, Music: Sabesh-Murali, Written and Directed by: Padma Magan, Producer: Parker Brothers