2005 · Film
Aparichit (Anniyan)
S. Shankar's Tamil thriller, dubbed in Hindi as Aparichit, about a meek, rule-abiding man (Vikram) with dissociative identity disorder whose alter egos include an anti-corruption vigilante.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Aparichit (Anniyan) is free to watch in India on YouTube.
- Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026Open ↗
The story
Ambi is a mild, rule-abiding consumer-rights lawyer in Chennai who keeps trying to take people to court for everyday negligence and corruption, but nobody takes his complaints seriously. Frustrated by public indifference, he quietly loves his neighbour Nandini, a Carnatic singer. Meanwhile, a mysterious vigilante calling himself Anniyan (Aparichit in Hindi) begins punishing corrupt and careless people in ways drawn from the Garuda Purana, and the police start hunting for him.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
For viewers who like social-message thrillers about corruption and public apathy, with a psychological twist. The Tamil original carries a U certificate, but sources describe torture-style killings and violent fight scenes.
tenseaction-packedthought-provoking
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Anniyan was released in Tamil on 17 June 2005. The Hindi dub, titled Aparichit: The Stranger, reached cinemas on 19 May 2006, and a Telugu dub, Aparichithudu, was re-released in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on 17 May 2024. Produced by V. Ravichandran's Oscar Films on a budget Wikipedia puts at about ₹26 crore, it was among the most expensive South Indian films of its time. Shooting took around 14 months, and one action sequence used more than 120 cameras for time-slice photography.
The film won the National Film Award for Best Special Effects and eight Filmfare Awards South, including Best Film (Tamil) and Best Actor for Vikram. Wikipedia reports a lifetime gross of ₹57 crore. In 2021 Shankar announced a Hindi remake with Ranveer Singh, but it stalled after producer V. Ravichandran objected to it.
The facts
- Language
- Tamil
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Psychological action thriller, Vigilante
- Runtime
- 181 min
- Certificate
- U
- Director
- S. Shankar
- Cast
- Vikram, Sadha, Prakash Raj, Vivek, Nedumudi Venu
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Aparichit (Anniyan) in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Aparichit (Anniyan) is free to watch in India on YouTube.
- Is Aparichit (Anniyan) available in Hindi?
- Yes. Aparichit (Anniyan) was made in Tamil, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available on YouTube.
- Is Aparichit (Anniyan) suitable for children?
- Aparichit (Anniyan) has a CBFC U certificate, which means it is suitable for viewers of all ages.
- How long is Aparichit (Anniyan)?
- Aparichit (Anniyan) runs for 3 hours 1 minute (181 minutes).