Some performances earn applause, some performances leave a subtle mark on the actor long after the camera stops rolling. It has been twenty-one years since Anniyan (2005) stormed the theatres and became one of Tamil cinema’s classics, redefining psychological thrillers for mainstream audiences. One memory from actor Vikram continues to stand out, not from the sets, not from the box office run, but from what happened after pack-up.
Over the years, Vikram has been explicit about the physical transformations he undergoes for roles, pushing himself to extremes. But for Anniyan (2005) in particular, the challenge transcended external changes. The film stayed with him mentally. There weren’t any elaborate recovery routines, no grand escapes. Instead, there was silence, solitude and long hours spent on a terrace.
In an interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, Vikram reminisced about Anniyan (2005) times, recalling how playing three distinct personalities impacted him during production.
“Anniyan disturbed me a bit because we had three characters. Now it is easy for me to shift. Now, I can easily be a shapeshifter. Back then, I wasn’t like that,” he said.
The actor also added that the team shot each version of the character in phases. “We did Ramanujam (Ambi) first, then Remo, and then Anniyan. We aim for 15 days, and then Shankar sir will use the next 15 days to get ready. So it would be 15 days on and 15 days off.”
Those breaks weren’t exactly restful. “You won’t believe it; I actually used to go sit on my terrace. I had gotten pigeons. I’ll just sit there, set them free and watch them fly the whole day. I’ll have my breakfast, lunch and dinner there. I would lie down on a coir cot on the terrace the whole day. I’ll only come back in the evening. I wouldn’t talk to anybody because I couldn’t switch off,” Vikram noted.
Released in 2005, Anniyan will always remain one of Tamil cinema’s landmark psychological action dramas. Directed by Shankar, the film follows Ambi, a rule-abiding lawyer whose suppressed anger manifests through alternate identities–Remo, the flamboyant romantic, and Anniyan, the ruthless vigilante who punishes corruption employing references inspired by the Garuda Puranam.
A solid music album comprising classic 2000s Tamil hits like Kaadhal Yaanai, Andangkaka, and Kannum Kannum Nokia, composed by Harris Jayaraj, the film also stars Sadha, Vivek, Prakash Raj, Nedumudi Venu, Nasser, Cochin Haneefa, and Kalabhavan Mani, among others. The film, dubbed in Hindi and released as Aparichit in 2006, won the National Film Award for Best Special Effects and won six State Film Awards for Best Film, Best Villain, Best Director, Best Comedian, Best Music Director and Best Male Dubbing Artist.
Source: Cinema Express
