Aadai Review
Star Cast : Amala Paul, Sri Ranjani, Ramya
Director : Rathna Kumar
Unpredictability is usually a good thing when it comes to movies. One of the most anticipated movie Aadai is undeniably a shocker at various proportions. The film belongs unquestionably to Amala Paul who plays Kamini and she is entirely convincing. She is not the stereotype heroine of Tamil cinema! Bold, feisty, sharp tongued and rebellious yet vulnerable, Amala has a well-written role.
The film opens up with a story of how women from tribal communities fought to get the freedom to cover their breasts. The entire episode is explained through animation. Director Rathnakumar wanted to educate us that women during those days actually paid tax to cover their breast. Cut to the present, we get to see the audacious Kamini (Amala) who is a TV anchor,rebel, loves to bet, race and have fun with friends.
Kamini runs a prank show on TV channel with her bunch of friends and it is quite successful. Kamini knows what she wants… or thinks she does anyway. she doesn't really bother about anyone and prefers to travel in her own path. On her birthday, her conservative mom (Sri Ranjini) tells her that its her longtime to wish to see Kamini dressed traditional in a saree, reading news on the channel.
When her own colleagues say that she cannot pull off news-reading, which is serious business and not like a prank show, she decides to prove them wrong. Yes, Kamini locks her dear friend Jenny (Ramya) the star newsreader of the channel in a restroom and replaces her to read the day's news. She gets appreciation from the entire team and also
informs her mom to watch her wish come true.
Kamini and her close friends decide to party in a vacant office space and celebrate her birthday. All the six friends get drunk and smoke up till they start getting hallucinations. Kamini shouts at her mother who calls up to find out where she is and also blurts out that she had locked up Jenny to prove her news reading skills.
The next day morning, Kamini wakes up nude in the huge office building with not even a newspaper to cover herself! All her friends have gone missing. Who did this to Kamini? Her one-sided lover? Jenny? or a stranger? Watch the film to know more...
On the downside, the film is too long. Rathnakumar spends too much time in the first half with that animation portion, in establishing characters with several prank episodes which really test our patience. The actual film begins just a few minutes before the intermission and the subplot in the climax is a bit of a downer!
Amala Paul, gives us a flesh and blood, complex woman of today who feels instantly real. Sans make up, we cannot think of any actress who would dare to pull off a role like Kamini which is physically and mentally demanding. Amala has walked that extra mile to bring Kamini so believable and she definitely deserves a big round of applause.
Was there any need to openly criticize a powerful name in Tamil cinema whose name was all over the internet for #MeToo allegations? Ramya as Jenny is good and she is apt in the role, but why was she missing in the second half? We expect her character to come in the end but nothing like that happens. The preachy tone and the climax is a let down.
This is a film where virtually every technical department seamlessly delivers.Vijay Karthik Kannan must be appreciated for showcasing his heroine with utmost dignity. Pradeep Kumar's background score lifts the film, especially in the second half where the entire film depends only on Amala Paul.
Overall, Aadai is definitely one of the bravest attempts in Tamil cinema. It talks about how women should rightfully use hard-earned freedom. Watch it for the noble theme and fearless attempt of the young team.
