Ayali review: Abi Nakshatra, Anumol and Lovelyn stand out in this social drama which handles a pertinent topic

3.5/5

Story: The people of Veerappannai believe that Ayali, their ancestral deity, expects girls to get married as soon as they attain puberty. This is a tradition people there have been religiously following for more than a century and defying the custom is said to bring the wrath of the deity in several forms. However, one girl decides to swim against the tide as she aspires to become a doctor. But she has various hurdles to cross, including her regressive parents. Can she change the ill-fate of girls in the village?

Review: Muthu Kumar's Ayali is the latest Tamil work to touch upon the significance of education for women and standing up against various superstitious beliefs that hamper the quality of their lives. The story is set against the backdrop of Veerappannai village which was hit by severe famine, deadly diseases and other issues a few centuries ago.  

They believe that it was due to the curse of their ancestral deity Ayali as she was said to be upset about a girl eloping with her lover. Since then, the villagers decided to marry off girls after they attain puberty to please Ayali. Eventually, this turned out to be their tradition and anyone who dared to question it was dealt with grave consequences.  

But Tamizh Selvi (Abi Nakshatra), a teenage girl, had other plans. She nurtured the ambition to become a doctor and wanted to stand tall as an example to other girls in the village where women were completely denied education. Though she attained puberty, she decided to go ahead with her plans after convincing her mother Kuruvammal (Anumol).

Her father Thavasi (Madan), a staunch traditionalist, has been planning a grand event for the villagers after she becomes an adult, but was unaware of the risky plans laid out by his wife and daughter. He gets the shock of his life after knowing Tamizh Selvi's ambition, after which the villagers, too, came down heavily on her. How is the young girl going to convince them?

Despite having a predictable plot, the engaging screenplay complemented by arresting performances from actors holds your attention till the end. The hard-hitting dialogues on women empowerment are on point and elevate some of the crucial episodes.

The conflicts appear organic and the manner in which they are presented is quite intriguing. Abi single-handedly lifts many sequences with her presence, aided by neatly shot visuals by Ramji. Anumol stands out with her performance as a concerned, fearful mother while Madan impresses in the role of a caring father who realizes his mistakes.

Lovelyn, Singam Puli, Linga and Dharmaraj come up with notable portrayals. The various hassles young women undergo after they are married off in a traditional manner is depicted in a realistic and poignant way. The eight-episode series raises several relevant questions to contemporary society and is a must-watch for those who love compelling social dramas.

Revaa's background score acts as the perfect catalyst in some of the significant episodes which highlight the perils of denying basic human rights to women.

Verdict: Ayali is an engrossing take on 'tradition versus women's rights' and addresses several valid topics that are plaguing today's society.

Ayali is streaming on Zee5.