AM AH MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Dileesh Pothan, Devadarshini, Baby Nihara, Jaffer Idukki, Meera Vasudevan, Shruthie Jayan
Director: Thomas Sebastian
You know those gorgeous, misty hill stations that look postcard-perfect but give off a faint “something’s not quite right here” vibe? Am Ah plants itself firmly in one such Idukki village. Enter Stephen (Dileesh Pothan), a road construction supervisor who seems way more interested in the local mystery woman, Amminiyamma (Devadarshini), and her granddaughter than in laying asphalt. Director Thomas Sebastian gets the atmosphere right initially; the place looks stunning (hat tip to cinematographer Anish Lal RS), and there’s a decent hum of intrigue about what secrets this quiet community holds.
Honestly, the film belongs to Devadarshini. Making her Malayalam debut, she’s quietly compelling as Amminiyamma, conveying a whole history of hurt and resilience just with her eyes. You lean in whenever she’s on screen. Dileesh Pothan does his usual solid job as the curious outsider stirring the pot, and Jaffer Idukki brings his typical energy as the local busybody ward member. For its first hour or so, Am Ah keeps you guessing, setting up potentially interesting threads.
But then… the second half happens. It’s like the film suddenly remembers it needs to explain everything, swapping that simmering mystery for drawn-out flashbacks and a fairly predictable dive into themes of motherhood and surrogacy. The suspense just evaporates, replaced by melodrama that feels more functional than genuinely moving. Characters who seemed important earlier just sort of fade, their purpose unclear. It’s frustrating because you see the potential, but the storytelling gets bogged down and loses its way, opting for neat answers over lingering questions.
So, what we’re left with is a film that looks great and boasts a truly standout performance from Devadarshini. But the script plays it too safe, failing to explore its own exciting setup with enough depth or daring. It starts with a whisper of something interesting but ends on a rather muted note. Worth a look for the visuals and Devadarshini, perhaps, but temper expectations for a truly gripping ride.