Aval Peyar Thamizharasi creates some interesting characters against a unique, interesting backdrop. But it fails to fashion strong interactions between its two main characters. So the film, which aims to be an emotional love story, is neither emotional nor a strong love story.

Jyothimurugan(Jai) is returning to his village after 8 years and once he is back, looks back on his life and the important part Thamizharasi played in it over the years. Thamizharasi's family had come to his village for a week to put on a tholpavai puppetry show but ended up staying there permanently. The two were inseparable while growing up and this closeness soon turned to love. As Thamizharasi(Nandagi) aced her studies and prepared for higher studies, Jyothi, who hadn't done as well, felt that he was losing her and was scared.

When seen individually, the film presents two strong characters in Jai and Nandagi. Jai is deeply in love but the results of that love are not positive. He is consumed by feelings of possessiveness and jealousy - both of which are later proven to be unwarranted - and they drive him to actions that have strong consequences. And he is burdened by guilt, which is very much warranted, after that. Nandagi, on the other hand, suffers for no fault of hers. She does nothing wrong and has a bright future ahead of her. But she is misunderstood and ends up being the victim.

But the two of them aren't quite as strong together. Maybe because the film doesn't dwell much on the time they actually spend together or because there are so many other emotions in play between them, the love they share isn't showcased well. Nandagi never expresses her feelings strongly and while Jai makes his feelings clear, his search for her seems to be driven more by guilt than love. We never get the feeling that the two of them are meant to be together and so we never root for them. And that's a problem in a film that's basically a love story.

The lack of empathy for the lead pair and the connection between them does come as a surprise because the director is able to create supporting characters who earn our empathy. A simple sequence like a mother requesting a temporary seat in school for her kids touches us while the shot of Nandagi's grandfather begging for alms with the sounds of the circus(which is destroying his livelihood) in the background makes us feel for a man who is resolutely holding on to a dying art form while everyone else is moving forward. Once we are back in the present, the focus is more on Jai and the absence of such characters is another reason why his search doesn't hold our interest.

Jai's search and the places it takes him to reminds us of Jeeva's search for his own love in Katradhu Thamizh. APT though does a 'circle of life' allusion towards the end by a happening that mirrors an earlier incident but with the roles reversed (even the weather cooperates here since it even rains during both events!) But the way the second incident is brought about is plain silly and insults both the characters involved(one more than the other). So the film ends on a rather discordant note.

Jai and Nandagi share the blame for their characters not connecting with us. Jai looks the part both as a school student and a man searching for his lost love but his performance doesn't match up. He has a rather blank expression that he resorts to and that simply doesn't convey his emotions with the intensity the story calls for. Nandagi looks rather mature compared to Jai but carries a similar expression though it works a little better in her case considering her situation. Ganja Karuppu is a needless distraction and his segments are not much fun. Kudu Kudu Goods Vandi... is an enjoyable number that manages to convey the fun the kids have and Nee Otha Sollu Sollu... is a catchy number also.