Mookuthi Amman - goddess bless us, everyone

 

Mookuthi Amman

(The goddess with the nose ring)

2020, Tamil

Directed by RJ Balaji and NJ Saravanan

Stars Nayanthara, RJ Balaji, Urvashi, Ajay Ghose

Mohan's Measure ✲✲✲✲

Mookuthi Amman plays off movies like Oh My God and PK, but does so in a refreshing, family-friendly way, such that it pulls on our heartstrings as well as our questioning minds.  Perhaps, because, unlike all other films, this movie takes on a woman's perspective - the Goddess' perspective.

The Goddess is played by Nayanthara, who at times seems like she's struggling to balance that heavy crown on her head.  Indeed, the humanity of this goddess shows through.  She loves food, feels jealous of the popularity of others gods, rewards boons and pulls them away with a snap of her finger.  

This adds to the chemistry between her and her chosen prophet, who struggles between worshiping her and proposing marriage to her.  RJ Balaji is in full form as the neurotic son to a kooky single-parent home who want the answer to the question all families ask at time, "why us?"  His mother, played to brilliant eccentricity by Urvashi, seeks the answer in astrologers and god-men, including Bhagavathi Baba.  

Played by Ajay Ghose, the god-man is a mix of Jaggi Vasudev and Nityananda, with a little of just about every other god-man you can think of.  Unlike other villains, however, this man's intentions are made clear from the start.  

The son, however, is drawn elsewhere, to their long-ignored kula deivam temple, where faith and love rule over lavish ritual and showmanship.  And, it is here, with due accolades, the goddess appears.  In a moment of sheer hilarity, the first song the young man can think of is..."Ennakum Unnakum Thaan Porutham"

A uniquely Tamil twist to a familiar story, Mookuthi Amman is a fun, family-oriented comedy that is well worth the watch.