Ambi is a different film, its director Nagendra Prasad often claimed. How different is it? Well, the film is about a hardened criminal turning over a new leaf! Audithya, the hero, played an innocent student turning into a criminal in his previous film, Deadly Soma. Keeping that in mind, this film is certainly different for him. Is it also different for the director, after his earlier sentimental film, Nalla. But, except for these 'differences', Prasad has nothing new or different to offer.
Audithya's last film was a big success so, naturally, expectations for Ambi were high. The actor is certainly a good performer, but the film clearly proves he can excel only when backed by a good script. Ambi does not have one. This is more surprising when one realizes that Prasad entered the industry as a dialogue writer and lyricist.
On a positive note, one has to admit that Ambi is much better than Audithya's first two films, but certainly several steps below the quality and presentation of Deadly Soma. The film has some unnecessary comic sequences that affect the overall ambience, and Prasad even fails to maintain continuity.
Ambi tells the story of an underworld hireling working under a don called Annaaji. The police are on the lookout for Ambi, but without much success. Pallavi, a television journalist, is also tracking Ambi's story. She unknowingly gets in touch with him on the telephone, and the two fall in love without seeing each other. Finally, Ambi decides to surrender to the police and even intimates Annaaji about his decision. A confrontation then begins, with Ambi finally succeeding in getting Pallavi.
This could have been a better film. Sadly, performance wise, Audithya has very little scope to prove his talent. A talented actress like Maanya is also wasted here. The result is mediocre fare.
Rediff Rating: