Ammuvaagiya Naan is a brave effort from director Padmamagan. The film not only has an interesting story, the other elements of film making have also been well used.

The film is about Ammu, a commercial sex worker, and how she transforms herself into a homemaker even shile facing all opposition from society.

Rani 'Amma' (Sadhana) runs a high-class brothel, with the right political connections. She raises an abandoned baby girl as her own daughter. The baby grows up into beautiful and bubbly Ammu (Bharathi), the favourite of her Amma and all the other inmates in the brothel.

Like all other girls in the brothel, Ammu too enters the oldest profession. She is sold to a high profile literary figure Nathan (Mahadevan). Nathan is a sadist and sexual pervert. He tries to do sadistic things to her, and Ammu screams for help. The inmates and Rani Amma run to her rescue and beat Nathan black and blue.

Gowri Shankar (Parthiban) is a famous writer. Having missed the best writer award twice at the National level, he decides to write a book based on a whorehouse, hoping that such a different subject will surely win him the award. He comes to Rani Amma's brothel to write the book. Here, he falls in love with Ammu.

He requests Rani Amma to allow Ammu to marry him. But Rani is reluctant to let go of Ammu, as now Ammu is the star of the brothel, charging Rs 10,000 a night! But her maternal instincts force her to let go of Ammu. Gowri in turn gives Rani Amma his property documents worth Rs. 45 lakhs.

Ammu at first finds it difficult to adjust to her new lifestyle. But slowly, she realises the dignity in living this life and develops love and respect for her husband. In the meantime, Gowri Shankar completes his book "Ammuvaagiya Naan", a masterpiece on the life of Ammu. The book not only becomes a best seller, but is also nominated for the national award. But all is not well.

Nathan, whose ego had been battered by Ammu in the past, is the head of the award selection committee. He shamelessly asks Gowri to give Ammu to him as a sexual favour in exchange of the award. Does Gowri agree to Nathan's condition? Does Ammu go back to her old life? All this forms the rest of the story.

Parthiban has underplayed his role with brilliance. His love for Ammu, his gentle approach is a distinct change from his recent performances. Bharati as Ammu makes her debut in this film; for a debutant, she is fabulous. She plays the role with maturity and sincerity.

Music by Sabesh-Murali flows along with the story. A good story and tight screenplay by director Padmamagan along with sharp editing by Suresh Urs makes the movie well-paced, with no dull moments. Realistic performances from the lead actors and all the other cast members and good camerawork by M.S. Prabhu make the movie definitely worth a watch.

In the times when movies are overly commercialised, Ammuvaagiya Naan is a welcome change.