A story idea with potential and an ensemble cast, is what writer director A. Senthil Kumar had on his hands but what he has done with both is so tedious on the viewer that less than 100 minutes seems a week spent.
Velan (Prithvi Pandiarajan) is sentenced to death for assassinating an important peace loving politician. His mother (Poornima Bhagyaraj) too meets the same fate as she refuses to open her mouth in her own defense preferring to die the same way as her son. The Judge decides that the best thing (!!!) to do is to bring back the jury system defunct since the 1950s to try the case in a fair manner to either carry the sentence or acquit her(!!!). The jury comprises of Ramki an encounter specialist, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj a philosopher, Banu a pilot, Gowndamani a doctor, Oorvashi a millionaire, Theyagarajan a military man, Manoj K Bharathi a stage actor and writer, a chaste Tamil speaking foreigner, Rose a transgender collector, Nammo Narayanan a businessman from the slums, Ankitha an IT worker and Venkat a common man. The group have two hours before the execution and start their discussion. There is a fair bit of difference of opinions and what should have been a nail biting rollercoaster ride turns out to be a ride on a road engine.
Someone should seriously tell Shantanu Bhagyaraj that he should take a cue from his illustrious father and try to emote naturally and not ham away in every opportunity he gets. Bhanu is quite convincing as the firebrand pilot but sadly her character like all the others is underwritten. Gowndamani provides some comic relief with his brand of satirical comedy and Urvashi tries to match wits with him. Poornima Bhagyaraj Theyagarajan and Ramki the veterans fall prey to badly etched characterizations. Bhagyaraj in his cameo, though unconvincing as a SP compensates to a certain level as the repentant officer with the near real tears. Manoj K Bharathi follows the Shantanu route by going overboard in the one scene that he could have made an impact. Prithvi has a blink and you miss role and he can consider that a boon judging by the fate of the others who have more screen time.
Debutante music director Auguth has a distinct 80s hangover with his songs while his background score is at best jarring and repellent to the ears. Editor Antony could well forget this one in a hurry. Director A. Senthil Kumar starts off with much promise and in fact in every other scene he does show promise only to deceive and ends up with a below average fare. A film that is ambitious enough to convince the system to change should least have a convincing screenplay even at the expense of logic but ‘Vaamai’ misses the very point it sets out to make.
The one person who deserves kudos in this misadventure is dialogue writer A. Senthil Kumar (the director) who is in top form throughout the film with many being hard hitting and clap worthy.
Verdict: Go for it if you like to hear some really good dialogues
