Ayothi

Ayothi ( is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by newcomer R. Manthira Moorthy, starring M. Sasikumar, Yashpal Sharma, Preethi Asrani, Pugazh, Anju Asrani and Master Advaith Vinod in the lead roles. The music was composed by N. R. Raghunanthan with cinematography by Madhesh Manickam and editing by San Lokesh. The film contains Hindi dialogues and a song. The film was released theatrically on 3 March 2023 and digitally on ZEE5 on 7 April 2023 and opened to highly positive reviews among the audience and critics, with praise directed towards the direction, screenplay, cast performances, and social message. The film was a critical and commercial success.

Plot
Balram an orthodox Hindu from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, plans a pilgrimage to Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, along with his wife Janaki, daughter Shivani, and son Sonu. On the way to Rameswaram from Madurai Junction railway station on the eve of Diwali 2021 (4 November), Balram picks up a fight with the cab driver Kanagu and this leads to a crash.

Janaki is heavily injured and admitted to a hospital's ICU. She immediately requires to be shifted to Madurai Government Hospital to ensure survival. Balram and his children are helpless as they can't understand Tamil language. A friend of Kanagu witnesses the helpless children, who had just lost their mother, and decides to help. He drives the ambulance to Madurai Government Hospital, but Janaki passes away en route. Citing religious faith, Balram opposes a post-mortem on his wife, and insists that the family be dropped off at the Madurai Airport so that they may airlift Janaki's body back to Ayodhya.

After reaching the airport, Kanagu's friend is stopped by the airport authorities and the police, while the latter takes them to a police station in Perungudi (in Madurai) for an inquiry into the death of Janaki. They are proven innocent and are taken to the mortuary for the post-mortem. Kanagu's friend leaves the family, but immediately returns after being moved by the helpless children. He gathers money for the flight and is able to book a ticket for Shivani. He also manages to get the embalming done, despite protests from Balram. Balram is rebuked by Shivani for his attitude towards his wife when she was alive, and his hypocrisy for hoping for her to reach heaven by interfering with all the legal procedures required to reach home. Balram has a change of mind, and for the first time mourns his wife's death.

All the tickets for the flight to Lucknow (in Uttar Pradesh) have been booked and Shivani has no choice but to reach Ayodhya alone along with the remains of her mother. Kanagu's friend persuades the passengers that any two of them should withdraw their tickets and explains the situation. An elderly couple, among the passengers, understands the situation and withdraws their tickets, allowing Sonu and Balram to board the flight.

At last, it is revealed that Kanagu's friend was a Muslim named Abdul Malik. Balram lets go of his intolerance and hatred and thanks Abdul Malik for his timely help. He and his children then board the flight and leave.

A few months later, Abdul Malik helps a stranger back in Rameswaram perform the last rites of her mother.

Production
Manthira Moorthy made his directorial debut with the film. The film's title was announced on 22 November 2021, and the shooting started on the same date.

Theatrical
The film was released in theatres on 3 March 2023. The makers unveiled the trailer of the film on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January 2023.

Home media
The post-theatrical streaming rights of the film were bought by ZEE5. The film digitally premiered on ZEE5 on 7 April 2023. The Satellite Rights were sold to Zee Tamil.

Music
The music of the film is composed by N. R. Raghunanthan.

Reception
The film was released on 3 March 2023 across Tamil Nadu. Logesh Ramachandran of The Times of India who gave 3.5 stars out of 5 stars after reviewing the film stated that, "Ayothi is a movie that constantly emphasises love over religion, and it's worth watching". A critic from Maalai Malar mentioned "He has skillfully worked among the characters. Although there are logical violations in the film, they do not seem to be major." Chandhini R of Cinema Express rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "This Sasikumar-starrer is full of heart and yet, marred by melodrama". Gopinath Rajendran critic of The Hindu wrote that "Ayothi points out the cracks in the walls of such constructs that are crumbling under the weight of their own ideologies, and in due course, asks the all-important question.".