Shankar tackled the Multi Personality Disorder in the most commercial way ever in Tamil cinema and Vikram rocked as the innocent Ambi, the daper Remo and the ruthless Anniyan.  The film released in 2005 went on to become a commercial blockbuster and also won many awards including the National Award for Best Actor bagged by Vikram.

'Anniyan' produced by Aascar Ravichandran was the first Tamil movie to be fully financed by a bank (IDBI) and at a budget of 27 Crores was the costliest South Indian movie at the time.  It was also the first Tamil movie which had its own website Annyiyan.com and when one enters the figure of Anniyan would appear along with the words "He who has come from hell is not afraid of hot ashes".

Both the Telugu and the Hindi versions titled 'Apparachithudu' and 'Apparachit' also became hits. 'Anniyan' is also significant as  Shankar's first collaboration with a music director other than A.R. Rahman as Harris Jayaraj scored the music and all the songs became huge hits.  Shankar known for authenticity filmed the real Thiruvaiyaaru music concert that happens every year and featured top Carnatic singers.

For the song "Randakka" an entire village, a highway road and a rocky mountain was painted in colors for the background.   For the fight sequences the time slice technology was used for the first time in Tamil cinema which enhanced the viewing experiences for the audience.

'Anniyan' was the first Tamil movie to be dubbed in French and was acquired by Columbia Tristar who distributed in French speaking countries. One of the highlight scenes of 'Anniyan' is when Vikram keeps changing as Ambi, Remo and Anniyan and Prakash Raj echoes the audience reaction in his dialogue "I have seen MGR, Sivaji, Rajini and Kamal...But never seen an acting like you".