Anyone remembering Bombay(which was set in Bombay in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition) and expecting Ayodhya to be in some way related to the same event or its aftermath is in for a rude shock. In fact, anyone expecting even a slightly serious look at Hindu-Muslim relations is in for a rude shock. Probably named thus just to gain some publicity, Ayodhya's only link to religion is that it features two Hindu-Muslim romances. But the director has complicated the romances so much that even he is unable to close things off cleanly!

Sundaram Pillai(Saranraj) and Hussein(Livingston) are best of friends in Ayodhyapuri, a place that is marked by perfect harmony between the Hindus and Muslims. But Sabapathy(Manivannan) turns their friendship into enmity for his own personal gain. Meanwhile Sundaram's wife Seetha(Seetha) swaps babies with Hussein's wife Jamila(Saranya), fearing that Jamila's baby may die. But both babies survive, growing up in their respective families. Sundaram's son, growing up as Amir(Mohankumar) in Hussein's house, falls for Sundaram's niece Usha(Rekha Unnikrishnan) while Hussein's son, growing up as Sekhar(Ramanaa) in Sundaram's house, falls for a Muslim girl(Ragini).

Like Ayyaa, we know as soon we see Saranraj and Livingston be close friends, that a break in their friendship is imminent. But my reaction to the reason behind their being driven apart can be summed up in one word - "Huh?!" The two are at each other's throats over an issue so silly that we wonder how their friendship lasted this long. But we atleast understand that monetary gain was behind Manivannan's plan to break their friendship. But it is never clear why he keeps them apart throughout the movie.

A simple love story between a boy and girl from the two opposing families could have been sufficient. But the director, determined to take on more than he can handle, brings in the baby-swapping. So whenever the two heroes appear, we start thinking hard to remember what religion they really belong to! And worse, with this swapping, there's really no potential conflict since its a Hindu boy and girl and a Muslim boy and girl who are in love. So its even more surprising that the director made a mess of things in the climax.

There have been good climaxes and bad climaxes but Ayodhya's climax has to be the first one to leave the viewer unsure about what exactly happened! It is both incomplete and confusing and gives the impression that the director had no idea how to unravel the complicated knot that he has created. The entire climax involves only Mohankumar and his decision and Ramanaa, who so far had equal importance in the story and whose decision is just as important, is nowhere to be seen. We are never really sure if the whole issue of the school being demolished has been solved and whether the Hindus and Muslims will live peacefully thereafter.

Mohankumar lacks the talent, looks, physique and voice to be a leading man, which leads to the question as to what the producer saw in him to cast him as hero. Ramanaa fares better compared to him but the actor, also seen in Meesai Madhavan better choose movies with more care. Rekha looks pretty and is the only one in the cast to show some acting skills. Ragini is simply along for the ride. The long list of character actors do their jobs capably. Manivannan plays the smooth-talking villain quite well while Ilavarasu as always raises some laughs as he passes snide comments.