Vidya Balan's decision to leave this project seems completely justified. Kamal shouldn't have made this biopic on Kamaladas aka Madhavikutti aka Aami aka Kamala Surayya because it's do out of his style and abilities. The previous biopic directed by him Celluloid also gave a soulles feel which was largely overseen due to the amazing cast, music and the importance of the first filmmaker of Kerala. But here the importance of Aami gave a backlash as the fans of her writing came out saying that this is not the Aami they know. As someone who've only read one or two short stories by her I can't say I know about her that much but the film gives an impression of a naive, selfish and narcissistic women who didn't care about anything but just born in a privilaged family of writers. But the fans and what I've read about her differs. What is more baffling is that the film tries to glorify her actions but fails through this confused portrayal. Since her return to acting Manju Warrier's acting seemed a little bit artificial and this role shows the extreme of it. Even with all this Aami's life is interesting and shows the hypocrisy of the times, people, places and religion. The problem is that it is too big that even the almost 3 hour length is not enough which again shows Kamal doesn't know what to show and what not to. It can be attributed to the fact that he was trying to minimize the controversy that was already around the film and the life of the protagonist before the film came out. But ultimately this feels like a failed attempt of a film which gives glances of brilliant possibilities that could have only worked in multiple films than just one. Aami's life still warrants films with great potential in the right creative hands.
