VYVEwan7971 at 20:31, 3 March 2026

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{{short description|2018 film directed by Kamal}}
{{for|the acronym|AAMI (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Aami
| image = Aami film poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Kamal (director)|Kamal]]
| producer = Raphael Thomas Pozholiparambil
| writer = Kamal
| story =
| starring = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Manju Warrier]]|[[Murali Gopy]]|[[Tovino Thomas]]|[[Anoop Menon]]|Anand Bal}}
| music = [[M. Jayachandran]]
| cinematography = [[Madhu Neelakandan]]
| editing = [[A. Sreekar Prasad]]
| studio = Reel & Real Cinema
| distributor = Central Pictures
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2018|02|09}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget =
}}

'''''Aami''''' is a 2018 Indian [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]]-language [[biographical film]] based on the life of poet-author [[Kamala Surayya|Kamala Das]]. It is written and directed by [[Kamal (director)|Kamal]] and stars [[Manju Warrier]] as Kamala Surayya, along with [[Murali Gopy]], [[Tovino Thomas]], [[Anoop Menon]], and Anand Bal.<ref name="filmibeat">{{cite news|title=Aami Movie|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/aami-manju-warrier-2017.html|access-date=6 October 2017|work=filmibeat}}</ref><ref name="nowrunning">{{cite news|title=Aami|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/20471/malayalam/aami/cast-and-crew/|access-date=17 October 2017|work=nowrunning|archive-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017151116/http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/20471/malayalam/aami/cast-and-crew/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was released on 9 February 2018. It won two [[Kerala State Film Awards]].

== Plot ==
''Aami'' portrays the life of writer [[Kamala Surayya|Madhavikutty]], mainly focused on her childhood, family life, marital life, devotion to [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]], and conversion to [[Islam]] in the later periods of her life.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Manju Warrier]] as [[Kamala Surayya]] (Kamala)
** Neelanjana as Teenage Aami
*** Aangelina Abraham as Childhood Aami
* [[Tovino Thomas]] as [[Lord Krishna]]
* [[Murali Gopy]] as Madhava Das, Madhavikutty's husband
* [[Anoop Menon]] as Akbar Ali<ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news|title=Anoop Menon as Zaheer Ali in Aami|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/anoop-menons-first-look-in-aami-is-out/articleshow/59775066.cms|access-date=17 October 2017|work=indiatimes}}</ref>
* Vijayalakshmi as [[Balamani Amma]]
** Rasna Pavithran as Young [[Balamani Amma]]
* [[Anil Nedumangad]] as V. M. Nair
* [[K. P. A. C. Lalitha]] as Januvamma
* [[Vinaya Prasad]] as Sulochana Nalappat, writer and Kamala's sister
** Jitha as Youngest Sulochana
*** Swasthika as Younger Sulochana Nalapat
* [[Rahul Madhav]] as Kamala's imaginary friend
* [[Indrans]] as Narayanan, Goldsmith
* [[Jyothi Krishna (actress)|Jyothikrishna]] as Malathi
* [[Anjali Nair (actress, born 1988)|Anjali Nair]] as Khamar
* [[Balachandran Chullikadu]] a Himself
* [[Renji Panicker]] as S. K. Nair, ''[[Malayalanadu]]'' Editor
* [[Lakshmi Priya]] as Madhavikutty fan
* [[Sreedevi Unni]] as Ammamma
* [[Valsala Menon]] as Muttashi
* Lal Kumar as Monu (MD Nalappatt)
* Uttara as Young Januvamma
* Krishnan Balakrishnan as a reporter
* [[Dinesh Prabhakar]] as angry husband of Madhavikutty fan
* [[Jayaraj Warrier]] as Sukumaran
* [[Sethu Lakshmi]] as Kuttiamma
* Kritika Pradeep
* Anand Bal as Chinnan Das
}}

==Production==
In 2016, [[Bollywood]] actress [[Vidya Balan]] was signed for the role of [[Kamala Surayya]], but in January 2017, she backed out from the film citing creative differences with Kamal.<ref>{{cite news|author=Express Web Desk|title=Unprofessional and unethical: Kamal on Vidya quitting Kamala Das biopic|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/unprofessional-and-unethical-kamal-on-vidya-quitting-kamala-das-biopic-4472858/|access-date=16 January 2018|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=13 January 2017}}</ref> In 2016, [[Murali Gopy]] was confirmed in the role of Madhava Das, Kamala's husband,<ref>{{cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|title=Censor Board cannot decide how a creative work should be: Murali Gopy|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Censor-Board-cannot-decide-how-a-creative-work-should-be-Murali-Gopy/article14490918.ece|access-date=16 January 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 July 2016}}</ref> and [[Prithviraj Sukumaran]] in a fictional character.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prithviraj, Vidya Balan in Kamala Das biopic|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/interview/kamal-on-kamala-surayya-madhavikutty-biopic-with-vidya-balan-and-prithviraj.html|access-date=16 January 2018|work=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=13 March 2016}}</ref> Later in the year, Prithviraj also opted out from the film due to his tight filming schedules and recommended [[Tovino Thomas]] instead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prithviraj backs out of Kamala Das biopic Aami, recommends Tovino Thomas instead?|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/prithviraj-backs-out-of-kamala-das-biopic-aami-recommends-tovino-thomas-instead/story-x5Ybh3trq1pLJPyPhSpRjL.html|access-date=16 January 2018|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=25 October 2017}}</ref> Later, [[Anoop Menon]] was added to the cast. Media outlets reported several names as a replacement for Balan. But in February 2017, Kamal denied all the reports and said that he was not in a hurry and was still looking for a person whose features matched that of Surayya's, which was the reason he chose Balan in the first place. Although he revealed he is also considering suggestions from others.<ref>{{cite news|last=George|first=Anjana|title=I am still on the lookout for someone who resembles Madhavikutty: Kamal|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/i-am-still-on-the-lookout-for-someone-who-resembles-madhavikutty-kamal/articleshow/56954061.cms|access-date=16 January 2018|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 February 2017}}</ref> In February 2017, [[Manju Warrier]] signed to play Kamala Surayya.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ramasubramanian|first=Uma|title=Manju Warrier a better performer than Vidya Balan: Kamal|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/180217/manju-warrier-a-better-performer-than-vidya-balan-kamal.html|access-date=16 January 2018|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=18 February 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Principal photography commenced on 24 March 2017 at Kamala Surayya Memorial in [[Punnayurkulam]], [[Thrissur]]. [[Ottapalam]] was the main location in the first schedule that lasted till April. The other locations were [[Mumbai]], [[Kolkata]], and [[Ernakulam]].<ref name=Manoramaonline>{{cite news|title=Aami Shooting Begins|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2017/03/24/aami-manju-warrier-kamal-movie-shooting-first-look-poster.html|access-date=6 October 2017|work=Manoramaonline|date=24 March 2017}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Aami
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[M. Jayachandran]] & [[Taufiq Qureshi]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2018
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| language = [[Malayalam]]<br /> [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| label = [[Manorama Music]]
| producer =
| chronology = [[M. Jayachandran]]
| prev_title = Pullikaaran Staraa'
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = [[Odiyan]]
| next_year = 2018
}}
The [[film score]] is composed by [[Bijibal]]. The film features original songs composed by two composers, [[M. Jayachandran]] and [[Taufiq Qureshi]]. Qureshi's compositions are ghazals with lyrics written by Academy Award winner [[Gulzar]].<ref name=TimesofIndia>{{cite news|title=Gulzar and Taufiq Qureshi to compose in Aami|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kamal-ropes-in-gulzar-and-taufiq-qureshi-for-two-hindi-songs-in-aami/articleshow/58081272.cms|access-date=17 October 2017|work=The Times of India|date=9 April 2017}}</ref> The lyrics for the Malayalam songs are written by [[Rafeeq Ahamed]].

{{Tracklist
| headline= Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Neer Maathalam
| lyrics1 = [[Rafeeq Ahamed]]
| music1 = [[M. Jayachandran]]
| extra1 = [[Shreya Ghoshal]], Arnab Dutta
| length1 = 5:12
| title2 = Pranayamayi Radha
| length2 = 4:59
| music2 = [[M. Jayachandran]]
| extra2 = [[Shreya Ghoshal]], [[Vijay Yesudas]]
| lyrics2 = [[Rafeeq Ahamed]]
| title3 = Chand Hoga
| extra3 = [[Javed Ali]]
| music3 = [[Taufiq Qureshi]]
| length3 = 3:27
| lyrics3 = [[Gulzar]]
| title4 = Aadhi raath
| length4 = 3:44
| extra4 = Roop
| music4 = [[Taufiq Qureshi]]
| lyrics4 = [[Gulzar]]
| title5 = Umar Salon Sein
| extra5 = [[Javed Ali]]
| length5 = 3:00
| music5 = [[Taufiq Qureshi]]
| lyrics5 = [[Gulzar]]
| total_length=20:22}}

==Reception==
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=60|count=5|average=6|ref=yes}}

Sujit Chandrakumar of The Times of India gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Though the director goes back and forth in time while depicting this exhilarating tale of a contemporary and complex character, the narrative of 'Aami' is largely simple and straight forward."<ref>{{cite web|first=Sujit|last=Chandrakumar|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/aami/movie-review/62850049.cms/?utm_source=Bharatpedia&utm_medium=Feb9&utm_campaign=AamiMovieReview|title=Aami Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Aami by Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]] |date=February 9, 2018 |accessdate=June 22, 2025}}</ref> Manoj Kumar R of Indian Express gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "It is, indeed, impressive to watch Manju Warrier play the role of a conflicted woman. Her conviction in the performance is what keeps our attention even when narration loses steam."<ref>{{cite web|first=Manoj|last=Kumar R|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/aami-movie-review-manju-warrier-star-rating-5057458/?utm_source=Bharatpedia&utm_medium=February9&utm_campaign=AamiMovieReview|title=Aami movie review: Manju Warrier delivers a knockout performance in Kamala Das biopic|date=February 9, 2018 |accessdate=June 22, 2025}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
;[[Kerala State Film Awards]]
*Best Female Playback Singer- [[Shreya Ghoshal]] for the song "Neer Maathalam"
*Best Background Score- [[Bijibal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt6689734}}
{{Kamal (director)}}

[[Category:2018 films]]
[[Category:2018 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2018 biographical drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kamal (director)]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. Jayachandran]]
[[Category:Indian biographical drama films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Thrissur]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ottapalam]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Films shot in Palakkad]]
[[Category:Biographical films about writers]]
[[Category:Biographical films about poets]]
[[Category:2018 drama films]]

Aami - Revision history

VYVEwan7971 at 20:31, 3 March 2026