Film: Anegan | Directr: K.V.Anand | Cast: Dhanush, Amyra Dastur, Karthik, Aishwarya Devan, Thalaivasal Vijay, Ashish Vidhyarthi
He is a director who within the parameters of commercial cinema has attempted to strike away from the beaten path - either by a deviation in the theme or by the fresh way he tried to portray his protagonists. At times it has worked (Ko) and at times it hasn’t (Mattraan). And this time, K V Anand in his first teaming with Dhanush, showcases his protagonist against various time periods, where he gets to sport different looks. Reality and drug induced illusion, rebirths and vendetta, and a triangular love story are all weaved in here.
The plot centres around game artist Madhu and her colleague Ashwin who work at a video-game developing company owned by Kiran (Karthik). Madhu (Amyra) under psychiatric treatment and regression therapy feels that Ashwin (Dhanush) is her soulmate through various rebirths. Ashwin, wary of her rather crazy attitude and familiarity with him, however, seems to indulge her. ‘Hovering between illusion and reality’ is what her doctor opines of her. The first episode opens in 1962 in Burma, capturing the uprising, the exodus of Tamils, and a pair of lovers caught in it. Dhanush is a coolie and Amyra a wealthy girl here. The ambiance is new, the information provided is interesting. It’s separation and unrequited love. A few more such episodes follow, the ambiance changed, but the fate of the duo similar to their first one. The best is the Kaali-Kalyani episode set in 1987, where Kaali, a street guy, falls for Kalyani, a comely Brahmin girl. Suspense is weaved in, and a 25-year-old murder mystery solved. It becomes a tad complicated in the end with one rebirth story merging into another.
Anand has attempted a novel style of story-telling for the Tamil screen. A tighter screenplay with more clarity would have helped. A simple knot seems to have been stretched to a complicated form. There are quite a few loopholes, logistical flaws and unanswered questions. And much that would confuse a layman.
The song Danga mari... is the pick of the lot, the rest only seem to intrude. The song where Dhanush appears as a warrior prince seems unsuitable and wasted. And there is the tendency to explain to the audience what they already knew, like the viewers were either morons or suffering from temporary amnesia. Kathik’s whole monologue towards the end is one example.
Dhanush gets to sport various looks and change of headgear. But apart from that, there is neither any depth in the characterisation nor in the performance. He is the boy-next-door in all his avatars with no change in body language or mannerisms. This whether he’s playing the coolie of the 60s, or the guy who attacks single handedly a dozen goons and kills their leader, or the modern day urban employee in a firm.
Amyra is just about adequate, the duo’s screen chemistry not very inspiring. It’s Karthik in a comeback role who manages to pep up the scenes with his stylish dialogue delivery and quirky ways.
Anegan is a mildly engaging entertainer that had the potential to become an engrossing one. If only it’s screenplay had been more coherent and clear.