Remaking old Tamil films got official with films like Billa and Naan Avanillai but we've always had 'unofficial' remakes like Azhagesan and Ilavattam - films that presented the same basic story as earlier films, just packaged differently. First time director Madhumita follows this in Vallamai Thaaraayo as she puts her own spin on Manirathnam's classic Mouna Raagam. The film's strong female character makes it stand out among the slew of hero-centric films but as was the case with those other remakes, it pales in comparison to the original.

Nandita(Chaya Singh) is in love with her cousin Sekhar, who is studying abroad. But her father(Anandraj), who is not on very good terms with his sister, forces Nandita to wed Anand(Parthiban). Nandita's heart is not in the marriage and she clings to the hope that Sekhar will come and rescue her. Anand meanwhile is willing to give her the time she needs to accept him. But things come to a head and Nandita asks him for a divorce.

A woman still holding a candle for her past lover and unable to come to terms with her marriage and accept her husband. A man who loves his wife and is willing to wait until she reciprocates his love. These are the same two principal characters in Mouna Raagam and so comparisons to Manirathnam's film are inevitable. The screenplay proceeds in similar fashion too and individual sequences, like a surprise party thrown by the couple's office colleagues, further remind us of the older film. It is in the characters of the these two players - how far they are willing to go as they stick to their principles and policies - that Madhumita brings in some differences. She also safely keeps away from devoting any time to Chaya's past since there is no way such a segment could've matched the cuteness or brilliance of the Karthik-Revathi romance.

Its Chaya Singh's character that's at the heart of the movie and that, fortunately, has been shaped well. She is stubborn and even rude but she earns our respect. And its nice that she's allowed to keep this respect right until the end instead of having some ridiculous turnaround that goes against her character. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Parthiban's character. His behavior makes sense as long as he tolerates Chaya's rudeness but turns annoying after he grants the divorce. He intrudes on her privacy and doesn't give her the space she needs and so its not just Chaya who gets irritated. His good intentions don't justify his actions either. So, while Chaya is unreasonable and obstinate and Parthiban is good-hearted and accomodating, the other aspects of their characters put us in Chaya Singh's camp.

In Mouna Raagam, with Karthik dying in the flashback, there wasn't really any suspense as to how the Mohan-Revathi track would proceed. Since we only know as much as Chaya about her cousin's whereabouts, there is some suspense about how the story would go on if and when he shows up. Things are resolved cleanly - even if a bit conveniently - but the climax doesn't cheat us and treats all the characters with respect.

I've always felt Chaya Singh was a good actress who just hasn't gotten the right breaks and her work here does nothing to dispel that impression. She reveals just the right kind attitude and is able to make her character work without being over-the-top. There's a scene where she sees a shop's name, smiles at the memories it invokes in her but becomes sad almost immediately after realizing her current situation. Her expressive face conveys these emotions perfectly. Parthiban initially reigns in his usual nakkal persona but isn't able to do it for long. His dialog delivery and ill-timed jokes are partially responsible for the irritation that his character earns.