Am Ah review: Dileesh Pothan's suspense drama holds your attention despite the inconsistencies

Am Ah plot

Stephen (Dileesh Pothan) arrives in a remote hillside village as a supervisor for road construction. The picturesque village is also home to Ammini Amma (Devadarshini) and her granddaughter Kunji. As Stephen gets about his work, he forms an acquaintance with the local people and seems to be unusually inquisitive about Ammini Amma and the speech-impaired Kunji.

Am Ah review

A remote village, with few facilities and fewer people, and the only meeting place for the village folks being the chaaya kada (tea shop) with an elderly man fiddling with the knobs of a radio. This may look like a scene straight out of a Sathyan Anthikad movie from the late 80s or 90s. But the 2025 release Ahm Ah, helmed by Goodalochana director Thomas Sebastian, is set in today’s times and shines light on people who make do with what they have, even while the rest of the world is racing its way into the future.

The scenic setting notwithstanding, the first half of Am Ah sets up an intriguing premise. As Stephen trudges along the tricky pathways through the woods, he finds that the people seem to be holding back something. Some of the stories and the year these are said to have happened also do not add up.

The suspense builds as we spend time with the villagers, with Gopi Sundar’s music adding to the tension and the twist at the interval block is also neatly executed. But the second half falters in execution and performance as we get to see Ammini Amma’s flashback story. Despite being a crucial character, whom the film closely follows for much of the second half, Ammini Amma doesn’t seem to have been written with the depth that the role requires. The plot, penned by Kaviprasad Gopinath, even then stays relevant and keeps the viewers fairly engaged, though it takes the predictable route to bring closure. What begins as a suspenseful film evolves into a drama tale of those women who seek the joy of childbirth.

There are not many key characters, but some senior actors, including TG Ravi, Alencier Ley Lopez and Maala Parvathi, are wasted in almost cameo or very short appearances. Meera Vasudevan, best known for Mohanlal’s acclaimed film Thanmathra, is also a part of the film, again in a small role. 

Sruthy Jayan, who has featured in movies such as Kaanekkaane and Sathyam Paranja Viswasikkuvo, makes the most of what is given to her. Despite the limited screen time, she leaves a mark.

Jaffer Idukki, in his spotless white-shirt-white-mundu, is spot on as the witty member and has some of the best lines in the film. The Thalavan actor, Dileesh Pothan, too is perfect for the role, subtly dialling up his performance as his character too undergoes a change, and the movie addresses a more serious issue of surrogacy and accountability

In the technical department, Anishlal RS' cinematography, especially during the initial portions as the camera captures the lush green beauty of Idukki forests and winding roads, adds to the cinematic experience. The Kavantha song, beautifully sung by Adwaitha Padmakumar with lyrics by Engandiyoor Chandrasekharan, is soothing.

Am Ah verdict

Dileesh Pothan’s film stays fairly engaging for the most part but for some abrupt cuts in the beginning and a tonal shift in the later half. A better-written second half and performances could have elevated the movie, with its rather unique title (which is relevant to the film).