Writer: S.Bani
Director : S.Bani
Producer : C.Muthukrishnan
Cast : Dhansika, Varnika, Varsha, Anil Murali, Namo Narayana
Music : Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography : A. Kumaran, SR Santhoshkumar
Editor : A. L. Ramesh
Production company : MK Films
Running Time : 1 hrs 52 mins
Director: Bani
Cast: Sai Dhanshika, Varsha, Varnika, Namo Narayana
Enga Amma Rani is a film of hardships and overcoming the odds that life had given to an ordinary person. Directed by S. Bani, the film features Thulasi ( Sai Dhanshika) in a pivotal role. A mom of two children -a twins, Thulasi is on the lookout for her husband who had gone missing somewhere in Malaysia. Resigned to the fate of bringing up her daughters all by herself, she takes up a job while in Malaysia to support the family.
Tragedy then strikes as one of her daughter Tara (Varsha) dies of a rare disease. Soon the other daughter Meera (Varnika) too is affected by the same, inexplicable disease. In despair and desperate to save the child, as per the doctor’s advice to move to a cold region, Thulasi takes her to a hill station in Malaysia. While here, a ghost enters the body of Meera and she is consumed by an urge to seek justice and nab the murderers of her family. In the process, the ghost eliminates any symptoms of Meera’s disease. But in a classic case of one step forward and two steps back, Thulasi now finds out that once the ghost leaves Meera’s body, she will be no more. An emotional ride to save Meera forms the reminder of the film.
Enga Amma Rani is a mixed bag at the end of the day. The relationship between the parent and the twins are natural and well done. The stuff about ghosts and the supernatural element is a little gimmicky and clichéd. Further, even if the first half had the making of a slow film, an emotional progression based on reality would have been a satisfying experience. The ghost needn’t enter the picture and we would have had a slightly different trajectory but with an equally rewarding climax. Luckily, the movie does pick up towards the end, leaving us with touching recollections.
Set against backdrops of Malaysia, Dhansika plays the mother of twin daughters Meera and Tara (Varsha and Varnika). Her husband had flown to Cambodia and for three months hasn’t shown up. With so much of pressures bounded to her life, it gets furthermore terrible when Tara breathes her last due to some mysterious disease. Broken down in life, Dhansika faces few more horripilating issues when Meera starts behaving peculiar. Instantly, doctors insist Dhansika to move Meera to a place with cold temperature to prevent her culmination like other daughter. But on the contrary with them reaching in Cameroon, few mishaps occur due to Meera. What’s the real mystery behind her daughter’s behaviour and what really happened to Dhansika husband who went to Cambodia?
When it comes to writing, director Baani has done a decorous work with the first hour drama. We get to see a gripping work of emotions focalized upon a lady who has missed her husband and to rescue their daughters with a terrible loss too. But the momentum slightly seems to be dropping after second half, but overall the narrative skills of Baani have been very well done. The background score by Ilayaraja and the visual treat by cinematographer duo A Kumaran and SR Santhosh Kumar bestow the film with excellent visuals; especially the backdrops of Malaysia have been very well captured. Keeping the time frame of this film for less than 2 hours is a highlighting trait and editor Ramesh deserves special mention for good transiting edit cuts.
Dhansika has done a brilliant job with her performance and she has done what is required for the role. Be the desolating pains she undergoes with the missing husband and the turmoil that happens with her daughters, she is simply at her best. Others in the star-cast are mostly new faces that includes the twin daughters played by Varsha and Varnika. These young girls have come up with convincing acting, especially Varnika.
Overall, Enga Amma Rani is an emotional drama that has its own pace and momentum to keep us engaging in many places. If the screenplay was packaged with few more interesting and gripping moments, it would have be a real big scorer than what it appeals now.
The masala aspects of Indian cinema have largely been left out of Enga Amma Rani – and for good reasons. It does mean that you’d have to be very patient to make this a worthwhile viewing experience. Sai Dhanshika is pretty much the highlight here: tough, determined, and also vulnerable to grief when the situation demands. Without her presence, the film would become a collection of unintelligible clippings. Varsha and Varnika as the twins are cute and pleasant.
Backgrounds by Ilaiyaraja sometimes hugely elevate a scene, and at other times, is a bit dull – a microcosm of the film itself. Cinematography by A. Kumaran and S.R. Santhosh Kumar are beautiful. They’ve been provided with some of the most scenic locations in Malaysia. The poor production values are visible in many places especially the lack of visual effects.
Overall, Enga Amma Rani is a sincere attempt by Bani. The defects can be overlooked as the team has clearly put in a lot of passion behind this project.
