Anniyan -Indian Tamil psychological thriller film

Anniyan (English: Outsider or Stranger) is a 2005 Indian Tamil psychological thriller film written and directed by Shankar and produced by V. Ravichandran of Oscar Films. The film attempts to highlight increasing social apathy and public negligence. The plot centers on a disillusioned "everyman", whose frustrations at the sorry state of affairs leads him into developing a split personality which attempts to cleanse the system. Vikram stars as Ramanujam, an idealistic, law-abiding lawyer who suffers from multiple personality disorder and develops two other identities: a metrosexual fashion model Remo and a vigilante serial killer Anniyan. Sadha plays his love interest Nandini. Vivek, Prakash Raj, Nedumudi Venu and Nassar also feature.

Shankar conceived the film in mid-2003 during the post-production of his previous film, Boys. He based the film on his own life experiences during his growing up years, when he was disturbed by the societal happenings, and his eventual displeasure with the society. While pre-production began in November 2003, principal photography commenced in March 2004 and the film was in the making for 14 months due to numerous production delays. The film was shot at Hyderabad, Thanjavur, Villupuram and Chennai while the song sequences were filmed in Amsterdam, Mumbai, Malaysia and Tenkasi. The film was notable for its recreation of the Tyagaraja Aradhana music festival and the extensive use of time slice photography in an action sequence.

Cinematographer V. Manikandan abandoned the project partway through as the unexpected delays affected his other commitments; he was replaced with Ravi Varman. The technical departments consist of editing by V. T. Vijayan, production design by Sabu Cyril and stunt choreography by Peter Hein while the soundtrack was composed by Harris Jayaraj, making his maiden collaboration with the director. The film was touted to be the director's magnum opus and was budgeted at ₹263.8 million, making it the costliest South Indian film made during the time of its release. Notably, it was the first South Indian film to avail institutional finance and the largest insurance cover available for films at that time.

Originally filmed in Tamil, the film was dubbed and released simultaneously in all the four South Indian states on 17 June 2005 while a Hindi version titled Aparichit was released a year later on 19 May 2006. Further, the film was also dubbed into French and released in French-speaking countries worldwide by Columbia Tristar. While the film was commercially successful across South India, the Hindi version received lukewarm response and was a box-office failure. Anniyan received overall positive response from critics and audience alike and, together with its dubbed versions, grossed ₹570 million in its lifetime run. The film won a National Award for its special effects apart from winning eight Filmfare Awards and six State Film Awards.

Ramanujam Iyengar alias Ambi (Vikram), is an orthodox Brahmin and a straightforward consumer protection advocate who expects everyone to follow rules and files cases against those who break the law. However, his efforts fail as the circumstantial evidence always favour the accused. His efforts to raise civic awareness among the public fail, due to their lack of seriousness and pervasive corruption. Ambi is frustrated at his inability to bring about a change. Suppressed over a period of time, his anger manifests itself creating an alter-ego named "Anniyan", a violent and deranged grim reaper-themed serial killer who punishes indifference towards social commitment. Anniyan creates a website and sends out postal cards to random people urging them to file complaints against violators. He compiles a database of wrongdoers from his site and executes them in succession using punishments written in the Garuda Purana. On receiving a card, Ambi lodges the details of the perpetrators and moves on with some hope.

Then Ambi transfers into Anniyan and starts killing people. He murders a delinquent landlord in a cave full of buffalo, who tries to escape, but Anniyan kicks him. He falls into crowd of buffaloes which results his death. he was punished for not helping others and thinks of his wealth.the second homicide was railway catering caterer by applying sauce in his whole body and puts him in boiling oil which damages his body.he was killed for not caring of people.the third murder was brake cable company owner.tied in a tree,he puts leeches in his body which sucks his blood and makes his body into mummy. The reason was not providing good quality of materials. the fourth and fifth homicide was covetous landlord and wastrel. he make the landlord to eat money because he had crush on poor people's money.the wastrel was murdered in museum while anniyan brokes the glasses which was full of snakes.the wastrel died of a snake bite. the reason behind his death was his indisciplinary activities.later anniyan reveals about this in nehru stadium.

Ambi is secretly in love with his neighbour Nandini (Sadha), a medical student and an aspiring carnatic singer, but never expresses his love due to fear of rejection. When he does get the courage to propose her during the annual Tyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru, she rejects him outright as she cannot bear his strict adherence to rules. Distraught, Ambi attempts suicide, almost drowning himself before ultimately changing his decision. Subsequently, he develops another personality named "Remo", a fashion model. Nandini is smitten by Remo and his personality and falls in love with him. Soon, Nandini's family arranges for her marriage with Remo.

While purchasing a plot of land for her dowry, Nandini decides to undervalue the property to evade stamp duty. Ambi, who accompanied her for registration, refuses to help her. Later, when Nandini and Remo are on a date, Remo transforms into Anniyan and attempts to punish her for corruption. When he is about to kill her, an appalled Nandini calls out for Ambi. With a need arising for both his personas simultaneously, a confusion sets in and Ambi collapses and loses consciousness. Nandini takes Ambi to NIMHANS where he is diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. Through recovered-memory therapy, the psychiatrist (Nassar) uncovers Ambi's past to discover that he had witnessed the tragic death of his younger sister Vidya when he was fourteen years old due to civic apathy. The incident left deep scars in his mind and Ambi cites this as the reason for his lofty ideals. It is also discovered that while Anniyan and Remo are aware of Ambi as a separate person, Ambi is completely oblivious to such personalities within him. The psychiatrist declares that Remo will cease to exist if Nandini accepts Ambi's love, but Anniyan would cease to exist only if the society reforms. Nandini accepts Ambi's love and Remo disappears.

Meanwhile, DCP Prabhakar (Prakash Raj) and Sub-inspector Chari (Vivek), who is Ambi's friend, investigate the murders committed by Anniyan. In disguise, they discover clues left behind by Anniyan, which are the names of the punishments he meted out to the victims. Prabhakar is personally determined to bring Anniyan to justice as one of Anniyan's victims, Chockalingam (Shanmugarajan), an errant catering contractor with the Indian Railways, was his elder brother. Following a wide publicity stunt, Anniyan appears amidst the public and the press at the Nehru Stadium, donning face-paint to conceal his identity. Admitting to the murders, he explains the rationale behind them and appeals that only when every Indian is responsible and sincere will the country prosper on par with the developed nations. His methods draw both praise and criticism. Prabhakar tries to catch Anniyan, but he escapes.

On digitally investigating the recorded footage, Prabhakar discovers that Anniyan is actually Ambi and arrests him. Ambi is brutally interrogated by him and is almost killed, triggering Anniyan. Ambi's personality constantly changes between Ambi and Anniyan, resulting in ambiguity. He brutally subdues Prabhakar as Anniyan, but begs for mercy as Ambi. Using a CCTV, Chari records the interrogation and uses it as evidence of Ambi's condition during his trial. Ambi is sentenced to psychotherapy in a mental hospital and would be released when cured.

When Ambi is released after two years, his puritan adherence to protocol has diminished. He marries Nandini and while travelling on a train during their honeymoon, he notices a man (an electrician who was originally responsible for his sister's death several years ago) drinking amidst fellow passengers. Suffering a relapse, he transforms into Anniyan and throws the man off the train, killing him. However, he hides it from Nandini, indicating that he has successfully blended the personalities of Ambi, Anniyan and Remo into one instead of eradicating them.