Ponmagal Vandhal

"Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020), a Tamil legal drama film directed by J. J. Fredrick, is inspired by the fight of an amateur lawyer in getting justice for her client in a case of controversy. The action is set in Ooty and is in 2004 when 'Psycho' Jothi is accused of kidnapping and murdering young girls and two young men, Rohit and Diwakar. She is gunned down while allegedly trying to escape custody.

Fifteen years later, in 2019, 'Petition' Pethuraj, believing that Jothi was unjustly convicted, petitions to have the case reopened. His daughter, Venba (Jyothika), a young lawyer, takes up the challenge. Confronted with strong opposition from the public and influential people, Venba discovers that the case was built on forged evidence, a false witness, Ramar, brought in by DSP Alexander. As the trial goes on, an experienced attorney, Rajarathinam, is hired by Rohit's powerful father, Varadharajan, to vanquish Venba's allegations.

Venba also explores the actual identity of Jothi as Sakthijothi and her gruesome honor killing and exiling history. There is also proof of a bungalow belonging to Rohit and Diwakar which is out of bounds, in which Angel, a missing girl, was entombed. The dramatic phases are created when Venba files a charge against Alexander for perjury, but her main witness, Suresh Pandian, is mysteriously found dead. In a tragic twist, Venba also discloses her own dark past related to the case, aligning herself with the victims and exposing Varadharajan's atrocities. The court is under great pressure, but Venba's persistence leads to the truth being accepted. A sentimental turn of events towards the end discovers Venba to be, indeed, Angel, the little girl Sakthijothi had saved.

"Ponmagal Vandhal" is a court drama fueled by Jyothika's authentic performance. Though the film addresses some tough themes of child abuse and justice, the movie feels too slow on lengthy discussions and typical emotional beats. The storyline could have been shorter, but its impact message and emotional payoff lasted a very long time.