Anniyan - A Must watch!

Anniyan - A Review

Every Shankar movie, brings with it, an uncomparable expectation among the tamil film-goers. There is always a hype surrounding its release. And that gets multiplied when it is the 2nd most costliest film in India and the costliest in the south. Also when it stars a National-award winner in Vikram. And when the director calls it his very best, and there are hoardings staring at you at every corner of the busy streets of Chennai, even your grandmom would like to know what's so special about it.

So, here's the million dolar question. Or rather the 36 crore one - Is this hype justified? You bet it is.

Shankar, after his average 'Boys', turns to the 'Man' of the moment Vikram and churns out a stunner in Anniyan. This film is explicitly crafted by the director and it shows. After hitting out at the Governing system, corruption, ministers and even the chief minister in his previous movies, this time he picks up the most evident target - We, the people.

Vikram stars as 'Ambi' an orthodox, brahmin lawyer, a perfectionist, rule driven soft spoken dude. Better defined as a 'pazham' in chennai lingo. He has a crush on his neighbour 'Nandini' who rejects him for being a time-table. He complains about everything that happens around him. From faulty break wires in his moped, to the bus romeos of chennai, to the under-cooked rice in the railways food. But when the others choose to look the other way, he tries to create awareness about it, but is trampled by the junta. Even his dad tells him that a single person can't change the whole system. So what does he do? He visits a website which he comes across in a post-card, and in one of the most well done special effect sequences in recent tamil film history, comes across Anniyan - The Stranger.

And thus comes to life Anniyan - A one man, Sanskrit speaking, killing machine, who dishes out hell on earth to wrongdoers. Taking inspiration from 'Garuda-puranam', a sort of Judgement day script for the hindus, he goes on carrying out imaginative executions to people who shrink away from duties. He is a Chitrgupta on earth who keeps a track of doings of all people and punishes them accordingly. Obvioulsy, Anniyan is none other than Ambi's alter ego, who doesn't know the other exists. Vikram does a Dr.Jekyll/Mr.Hyde, and scores in differentiating the two with his voice modulation and long hairdo. The issue of Multiple Personality disorder (MPD) is explained by Shankar as simple as possible.

To woo Nandini, there rises another alter ego - REMO, a suave, stylish ramp-model. But Vikram mouthing a horrible, artificial accent doesn't gel well. But he does manage to look cool. Sada as 'Nandini' does what is required of her - Look beautiful and show off her shapely, fair skinned figure. Vivek's comedy is definitely a plus.

The action is in a league of its own, but a bit over maybe sometimes. If you love action and loved movies like the Matrix and The One, you are in for a treat. Martial arts choreography is wonderful, and the time-splicing technique makes it a treat to watch on screen.
But the movie belongs to Vikram. Watch out for the climax where he drifts from one personality to the other in seconds. Vikram shows yet again why he is a National award winner. This movie gives him a chance to show off all his skills.

Songs on the screen would answer the question as to why this movie cost so much to make. Each of the songs is beautiful and each frame is a visual delight. The 'andankaka' song brings the house down with the riot of colour on screen. And if you are one of those who goes out for a smoke during songs, well let me warn you, you'll miss quite a lot.

Shankar goes back to the formula of delivering a film with a message and the audience don't mind it if it is always told in a way as it was done here. Surely does make you think, when on screen, the truth about the progress of Singapore and Japan is told on screen and is compared with India. He does manage to drive in the message. As for the film, the first half is ok, the second half is excellent, and the climax is mind-blowing. So what are you still waiting for - Go watch Anniyan!