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The director Sathyan Anthikkad Snehaveedu begins rather well. It is the decor is typical village style synonymous with the director, the characters who are all epitome of virtue, Mohanlal in top form with his army of superb comic who was absent for some time now and loving his mother Sheela play.
As we break for intermission, we sincerely hope that the success is another story in the cards, from the veteran filmmaker. But things start to go wrong especially in the second half. The suspense is maintained until the last few scenes ended up as little convincing.
Ajayan (Mohanlal) worked in the Gulf and also in Chennai, before returning to his home in Palakkad, where his mother Ammukkutty Amma (Sheela) life. He is single sympathetic column, which often boasts of his past escapades with women in some of his friends gullible.
The plot moves with the introduction of characters like Karimkannan Mathai (Innocent) and his wife (KPAC Lalitha), which is not yet ready to forgive their daughter (Lena) for running away with sub inspector Balan (Biju Menon), one after another. Then there Sunanda (Padmapriya), who works in a soap manufacturing unit.
The whole story takes a different turn with the entry of Karthik (Rahul Pillai), a teenager who comes from Chennai, claiming he is the son Ajayan. The boy quickly becomes close to Ammukkutty Amma, although Ajayan desperately trying to prove that Karthik is not her son.
Well, just who is Karthik and what is his connection with Ajayan? It is fascinating enough, at least for some time until they are dissolved by the disappointing manner in which the mystery is surprised.
Sathyan Anthikkad who has scripted the film alongside directing it, succeeds in presenting a couple of nice moments for the spectators. But then you also have the melodramatic situations, stereotyped characters, a rather weak story and a confused sit script.
Many scenes defy logic and put some doubt in the minds of hapless spectators. How, why not ask someone for a photo of his mother Karthik? Or why Ammukkutty Amma is so insistent that the boy's whereabouts not be revealed? Some of the characters, as for example, played by the Innocent, was half-baked and silly. Venu, the visuals are fine and Ilayaraja's music is so pretty okay.
However, there is a return to the old Mohanlal that every Malayali loves so much, like the hero stands out with a sterling show. He is genuine, funny and apparently involved in the proceedings, within the confines of a not-so-great script. His emotional scenes with Sheela, the also excellent in their roles, are simply stunning.
Debutant Rahul Pillai is sometimes good. The rest of the cast has to play small roles. Snehaveedu was presented honestly sure, but suffers due to the lack of a credible story and also with their highly conventional narrative style.
When Sathyan's own, and recent movies such as Manassinakkare, Achuvinte AMMA or Bhagyadevatha compared to the film is nowhere near enough. Obviously, this could have been better!
Conclusion is: Average
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