Callous treatment squanders a sensitive storyline

VALLAMAI showed signs of a good slow-burn social commentary when Boomika (Dhivadarshini), a victim of sexual assault, says, "It is not going to be different anywhere else, there will still be humans there," and shoots down her father's idea of leaving for another town and chooses to face her trauma boldly.

- AKSHAY KUMAR

But it turns out disappointing as we discover that the makers don't seem to understand that they are handling a strong subject. Sensitivity is one of the most important aspects in a film handling subjects like sexual assault. And Vallamai doesn't disappoint in that regard. However, it feels like the makers needed more confidence in their own story. Vallamai begins with a drone shot extending for a long time before introducing us to Saravanan (Premgi) and his daughter Boomika (Dhivadarshini), who are visibly flustered by the expanse and populace of Chennai. They are in the city to leave behind their past misfortunes, including the demise of Saravanan's wife. Tragedy strikes again when Boomika is sexually assaulted. The father-daughter duo vow vengeance after failing to rouse the police into action. Whether they succeed in their revenge forms the central storyline of Vallamai.