Lakshmi Ramakrishnan’s directorial debut is an intense, deeply emotional and often moving story of the complications associated with adopting a child. Samuthrakani, Abirami and Mullai Arasi head the cast, supported by Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, Kavidhalaya Krishnan, Kalairani, Adukallam Naren, Ashokkumar Balakrishnan and special guest appearances by director Mysskin, Robo Shankar and Ramakrishnan Gopalakrishnan.
Balan and Vidhya – played by Samuthrakani and Abirami respectively – are a childless couple who adopt a baby by bypassing many of the legal formalities. The young mother, Shoba – played by Mullai Arasi – has a change of heart and led to believe that if she takes her case to the TV reality show, Sollaathathum Unmai on N Thamizh TV, that she would be able to get her baby back. What begins as a TV show to boost TRP ratings turns into a complicated legal, social and moral issue in which right and wrong are extremely difficult to discern.
As a debutante director, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan has done well in delving into the complexity that comes about through the adoption of a child. Without taking a moral high ground, the film still manages to offer food for thought, especially to the youth about the far-reaching consequences of decisions they make. Although she is not impressive as an actress, often appearing awkward and wooden, she manages to extract brilliant performances from her cast.
Mullai Arasi towers over the others with her hypnotic portrayal of the reluctant mother, Shoba. Her boyfriend, Thyagi, – deftly played by Ashokkumar Balakrishnan brings the right mix of venom and ignorance into his character. Samuthrakani and Abirami as the adoptive parents stir up high emotion without resorting to melodrama.
Aadukallam Naren is in an unusual role as a judge and handles the role superbly. Kalairani and Kavidhalaya Krishnan are the best of the others.
Technically, the film stays firmly on the commercial path with limited experimentation with lighting by cinematographer Krishna Sekar.
The film has only one song, the popular Annai Thandhai by Shwetha Mohan, but it is a song that becomes more and more charged each time one hears it in the film, with the song taking on a new level of emotive content in its instrumental version that appears sporadically in the movie.
Isai Nyaani Illaiyaraja’s background score does the perfect balancing act by providing the right atmosphere without dominating the visuals.
Lakshmi Ramakrishnan had the opportunity to take this film to an international audience but has instead concentrated on creating an extended version of her own TV show, Solvathellaam Unmai. It is this misdirection that drags the first half a bit and reduces the overall impact of the film. Nevertheless, the emotive content of the second half succeeds in making the film a deeply moving one. In addition, the film’s focus on a contemporary issue makes it a highly relevant one.
Are you OK Baby scores 7 points out of 10.