Imagine being trapped in a room where a child dictates the mood, pace, and peace—Maaman takes that vibe and stretches it into a 2.5-hour family drama that’s equal parts heart and headache.
The film opens on a sweet note. Inba (Soori) is the ultimate devoted uncle, whose world revolves around his sister Girija (Swasika) and more so, her son Laddu (Prageeth Sivan), born after years of waiting. Everything’s warm and fuzzy—until Inba marries Reka (Aishwarya Lekshmi), a doctor, and suddenly, the new wife is expected to share her husband with a 6-year-old who’s basically running the show.
Laddu isn’t your average cute kid. He’s a bossy little tornado whose attachment to his uncle borders on obsession. From wedding night sabotage to honeymoon hijinks, he stops at nothing—and while the film treats it all as adorable, it often feels exhausting. Some of his antics are less “aww” and more “why hasn’t anyone considered therapy yet?”
Soori plays Inba with sincerity, but his character often comes off as oblivious, missing every cue from his increasingly frustrated wife. Aishwarya Lekshmi brings grace and quiet strength, often acting like the only sane person in the room. You can’t help but admire her patience—how many family events can one woman attend without losing it? Swasika does well too, though her character’s blind spot when it comes to her son is both unrealistic and frustrating.
The film has some bright moments, especially through an older couple played by Rajkiran and Viji Chandrasekhar, whose constant bickering adds charm. There are hints at deeper themes—how hard it is to integrate into a close-knit family, or the importance of setting boundaries for children—but the movie rarely digs in. Instead, it defaults back to more of Laddu’s emotional dominance.
Maaman could’ve been a layered story about modern relationships and parenting, but it ends up being an uneven tug-of-war between affection and annoyance.