Story

36 Vayadhinile’ is the story of Vasanthi (Jyothika) a devoted wife, mother and daughter in law who works as a clerk in one of the departments of the Collectorate. Her husband Tamizharasan (Rahman) a radio announcer and thirteen year old daughter Mritula (Amritha) want to migrate to Ireland for a better life, but much to their disappointment, Vasanthi keeps failing her immigration interviews mainly due to her unemployable age. All of a sudden Vasanthi’s mundane life changes drastically and she becomes a celebrity in her circles as the President of India wants to have lunch with her, the reason being her daughter Mritula had impressed him with a question when he visited her school and she had told him that her mother had taught her. Overwhelmed by the red tape at the Governor’s residence Vasanthi faints before the president and she becomes the laughing stock of her family, colleagues, neighbors and the butt of internet jokes. Tamizharasan and Mritula leave for Ireland and a lonely Vasanthi withdraws even further into her shell. Enter Susan(Abirami) a college friend who reminds Vasanthi of how she used to take up and fight for causes in her college days and this inspires Vasanthi to rediscover herself. There is a subplot involving a message about the dangers that the Indian population face by consuming artificially grown vegetables and food poisoned by fertilizers and chemicals. What Vasanthi does to regain her self respect and how she becomes her true self to reach the greatest heights forms the rest of the story.

Jyothika known for her myriad expressions is in her elements as Vasanthi and dominates every frame. Her eyes brilliantly express every insult and disappointment she experiences at the hands of her husband and daughter. She has some humorous scenes like the techniques she uses to take other peoples seats in the bus, her rivalry with her colleague Rani (Golisoda Sujatha). Jyothika excels when she displays a conceited body language as a short lived celebrity and the contrasting deflated look she puts on when she bungles that status. Sadly, other than the heroine no other character is well defined and due to this Rahman comes across as more of a filmi villain than an ordinary middle class husband. Amirtha as the daughter, Abhirami as Susan and Kalaranjani as the mother in law are adept. Actors such as Nasser, Devadarshini, Delhi Ganesh, Golisoda Rani, Prem, Jayaprakash, M. S. Bhaskar and Illavarasu give able support in limited screen time. Special mention is due to the old lady friend of Vasanthi who is the catalyst for the heroine’s victory.