Amma Kanakku doesn’t feel as fluid as Nil Battey Sannata. Ilayarajaa’s songs just don’t work. The dialogues aren’t as flavourful, and sometimes sound downright odd. (“Maths pengalukku pazhaya edhiri.”) If there’s some frustration with the facileness at its core, it’s because Amma Kanakku isn’t a stupid, lazily-made, one-note message movie (though there’s a heavy dose of preaching at the end). There’s a lot of atmosphere, flavour, nuance, gentle humour – especially from Samuthirakani, in a change-of-pace role as the school’s headmaster.
Tamil
