Anniyan (released in Hindi as Aparichit) is a 2005 Tamil psychological action-thriller directed by S. Shankar, featuring Vikram in a career-defining triple role. By day, his character Ramanujam “Ambi” Iyengar is a meek, rule-obsessed lawyer who is tormented by the everyday civic irresponsibility in Chennai. Frustrated by chronic corruption and apathy, his repressed anger fractures him into two distinct alter egos: Remo, a suave, smooth-talking model who wins the heart of his neighbor Nandini (Sada), and Anniyan, a grim-reaper-themed vigilante who brutally punishes wrongdoers using tortures described in the Garuda Purana .

What begins as a dark fantasy of justice escalates into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game when Anniyan begins murdering corrupt officials and indifferent citizens. He even launches a website where people anonymously report civic offenders, and he personally enforces punishment . Meanwhile, Ambi’s rigid personality clashes with Nandini, who rejects him for his nitpicking nature, triggering the rise of Remo. This love triangle spiral forces all three personalities to confront each other—and one another’s secrets .

The film takes a psychological turn when Ambi is admitted to psychiatric care and diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, stemming from childhood trauma after witnessing his sister’s death. He undergoes therapy to integrate his fragmented identities. Yet, in a chilling end, the final scene hints that Anniyan may still lurk within, as Ambi’s moral rigidity resurfaces even on his honeymoon

Anniyan is celebrated for its bold fusion of message cinema and mass masala—a visually stunning, thought-provoking film infused with loud action, striking aesthetics, and scale. Vikram’s seamless transition between the insecure Ambi, flamboyant Remo, and menacing Anniyan won widespread acclaim. Shankar’s direction, combined with Harris Jayaraj’s music and Prakash Raj’s cop performance, elevated the film to blockbuster status. Its milestone transformation scene—where Ambi morphs into Anniyan—still resonates with fans even after 20 years .