Jun. 17, 2005|India|181 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Action;Drama;South;Indian;Thriller
Description: “Anniyan,” a 2005 film, tells the story of Ramanujam Iyengar, known as Ambi, a staunch consumer protection lawyer from Triplicane, Chennai. Ambi is deeply committed to upholding the law and seeks to hold wrongdoers accountable. However, his efforts often fail due to corruption and a lack of societal awareness. Frustrated by his inability to bring about change, he develops an alter ego named Anniyan, a vigilante who punishes the corrupt using methods inspired by ancient Hindu scriptures.
Ambi harbors unspoken feelings for his neighbor, Nandini, a medical student and aspiring Carnatic singer. Fear of rejection prevents him from expressing his emotions. With the encouragement of his friend, Sub-inspector Chari, he finally confesses his love during the Tyagaraja Aradhana festival, but Nandini rejects him due to his rigid adherence to rules. Devastated, Ambi nearly takes his own life but stops at the last moment. This emotional turmoil leads to the emergence of another personality, Remo, a charismatic fashion model who wins Nandini’s heart. Unaware that Remo is part of Ambi’s fractured psyche, Nandini agrees to marry him.
Later, while purchasing land for her dowry, Nandini attempts to undervalue the property to avoid stamp duty. Ambi refuses to assist her, but during a date with Remo, he transforms into Anniyan and tries to punish her for her dishonesty. As he is about to harm her, Nandini calls out for Ambi, causing him to revert to his original personality. Ambi collapses and is taken to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), where he is diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. Through therapy, it is revealed that Ambi’s childhood trauma—witnessing the death of his younger sister due to civic negligence—shaped his ideals and drove his crusade against corruption.
Cast director: Shankar
Cast actor: Vikram, Sadha, Prakash Raj, Vivek, Nedumudi Venu, Nassar, Cochin Haneefa, Kalabhavan Mani, Charle, Shanmugarajan
Original name: அந்நியன்