Anniyan
Director Shankar is known for his larger-than-life movies and strong social message. Anniyan is no different from this for it is one of the big budget movies ever to have come out in Tamil filmdom.
Shankar's movies normally have all commercial elements including humour, glamour, action and emotion besides a strong message. In Anniyan too, he has dealt on rooting out corruption.
According to director Shankar, Anniyan is a racy entertainer, which is about a person who tries to bring a change in the society.
Vikram, who is riding a high in his career after having won the National Award for best actor for his Pithamagan, plays the lead role.
The movie has been churned out for a period of over a year and Vikram patiently waited to complete the project without taking up other offers that came his way. He also has taken pains to sport different make up and hairstyles to get the right feel for his character.
Some people say that the film's hero has shades of dual personality --- or at worst, is like the hero of Indian. That is, he has an other side to him.
Vikram, who plays a lawyer, takes up all efforts to educate the people and bring them up in their life. Sada plays his ladylove. For the first time Shankar has associated with a music director other than A R Rehman. Music for Anniyan has been by Harris Jayaraj.
Some of the highlights of the movie includes a Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Utsavam being recreated, a song shot at annual flower show at Amsterdam and another song shot in a huge mountain painted in different colors.
Every scene in the movie has been shot in a grand manner and at a lavish cost, says Shankar.
Cinematography is by Ravi Verman and Manikandan, art direction is by Sabu Cyril, editing is by V.T.Vijayan and stunts by Peter Hayen. Others in cast include Prakash Raj, Nedumudi Venu and Vivek.
Producer Oscar Ravichandran has not baulked at any expense and has spent money on the film without thinking twice.
Shankar says he is lucky to have got such a producer.
Most of the details of the film have been kept a closely guarded secret.
And that is adding to the essential allure of the film.