I watched this Malayalam film on OTT without any idea of what it was about. It totally took me by surprise, mostly for the right reasons. I suggest that anyone reading this also watch it without checking the story, etc. As with my Flash Reviews, I can assure you there are no spoilers. There are many films with this name – Aasha, too, in different languages. This film is now streaming on the ZEE5 platform, and you must search for Aasha (2026), that too in Malayalam. It is worth a watch once, though the theme may feel repetitive.
Aasha has veteran actor Urvashi playing the title role as a senior citizen, single mother, and someone who is economically independent. And what a fantastic performance she has given in portraying a complex character! If she was brilliant in Ullozhukku, she goes one step further here. The screenplay is so good that within the first few minutes, the entire characterisation of Urvashi as Aasha is clearly established. Choosing the setting of a bank for this in the first few scenes is brilliant, as we all know and understand the dynamics between senior citizens and banks!
Actor Joju George joins Ramesh Girija and Director Safar Sanal in sketching out the screenplay, which revolves around Urvashi and her daughters. One of her daughters, played by Aishwarya Lekshmi, is still single and lives with Urvashi, while the other is married and lives in Dubai. The relationship the daughters share with their mother, Urvashi, is very typical and relatable. This is closely linked to Urvashi’s characterisation, which I discussed earlier. It also reflects the circumstances Aasha has gone through in her life, which the writers hint at without being too obvious. What happens when a routine life is wrecked by unforeseen incidents? What happens when the action – reaction – action routine takes a completely unexpected turn? That’s the rest of the story. I said – no spoilers.
The entire film is anchored by Urvashi’s brilliant performance. Any actor confident in their craft usually has no problem with close-ups. In Aasha too, you will find the Director framing Urvashi in multiple close-up shots to convey her emotional upheavals. Even when the screenplay starts lagging a bit in the second half, it is Urvashi’s performance that keeps us engaged. Yes, after a riveting first half, the second half disappoints. I got the feeling the writers got into a moral quagmire of sorts and didn’t know how to get out. The result is a second half that is laced with convenient writing that lacks logic or realism, and a climax that is quite hurried.
Despite this, Aasha is well written and high on craft. The camera work is quite good. The background score and songs by Govind Vasantha and Midhun Mukundan are both on point. There is a folkish, classical heft to the two songs, and both, being montage songs, have come out well. Aishwarya Lekshmi’s role is not that big, but she gives a good account of herself in front of Urvashi. Another familiar face is Joju George himself, who also has a significant cameo.
I am not sure how the film fared at the box office. If it did well, I will not be surprised. If it didn’t do well, I can only think of the repetitiveness of the theme in Malayalam films these days as the only reason. Yes, there are unanswered moral questions after you are done with the film. I wish the writers had focused on this aspect and woven it into the screenplay. Notwithstanding this, I would recommend Aasha as a good watch. It is streaming on ZEE5.
My Flash Verdict: A Good Watch.
Thanks for a good review, Anand. Good cast…Sounds interesting and warrants a watch.
Thanks Alex! Look fwd to your views