The second half of the film is where things begin to become stale. After the twist in the tale is revealed, the story slips into predictable melodrama. Flashbacks, which could have been used sparingly to add depth, are instead drawn out unnecessarily, explaining things the audience has already pieced together.
This over-explanation drags the pacing and saps the film of any emotional impact it might have had. The writing feels particularly weak in this stretch. Themes of motherhood are treated superficially, leaving little room for the kind of emotional resonance you’d expect.
Gopi Sunder’s background score is functional but unremarkable. While it complements the film well in some moments, it often veers into overly dramatic territory, evoking the feel of a soap opera rather than a cinematic experience.
While Thomas Sebastian does show more control as a filmmaker here than in his previous works, it’s still not enough to save the film even when it’s mercifully brief at under two hours.
Despite Devadarshini’s standout performance, Am Ah is ultimately a missed opportunity, weighed down by a script that can’t decide what it wants to be. There’s no real depth to the characters or the themes they represent, while it never fully commits to its own potential and thrives in mediocrity.
Film: Am Ah
Director: Thomas Sebastian
Cast: Dileesh Pothan, Devadarshini, Baby Nihara, Jaffer Idukki,
Meera Vasudevan, Shruthie Jayan, Navas Vallikkunnu
