| Director | S. Shankar |
|---|---|
| Budget | ₹26.4 crore |
| Box office | ₹57 crore |
Ramanujam "Ambi" Iyengar is a highly principled but deeply frustrated consumer protection advocate residing in Thiruvallikeni, Chennai. He strictly adheres to civil laws and routinely attempts to prosecute public offenders; however, his legal efforts consistently fail due to systemic corruption and a lack of cooperative evidence. Met with public apathy and widespread indifference to his civic awareness campaigns, Ambi's repressed psychological rage triggers the manifestation of an alter ego named Anniyan. Operating as a grim-reaper-themed vigilante, Anniyan launches a website to compile a database of corrupt individuals. He systematically assassinates these wrongdoers using torturous execution methods inspired by the Garuda Purana, an ancient Hindu scripture detailing punishments in hell.
Ambi harbors an unspoken affection for his neighbor, Nandini, an aspiring Carnatic vocalist. When he finally gathers the courage to propose to her during the annual Tyagaraja Aradhana festival with the help of his friend, Sub-Inspector Chari, she flatly rejects him, citing his overbearing nature, constant nitpicking, and rigid perfectionism. Devastated, Ambi attempts suicide by drowning, though he backs out at the last second. The profound emotional trauma fractures his psyche further, creating a third personality: Remo, a charismatic, metrosexual fashion model. In stark contrast to Ambi, Remo's polished charm completely captivates Nandini, and the two quickly become engaged.
The personalities collide when Nandini attempts to purchase a plot of land for her dowry and intentionally undervalues the property to evade government stamp duty. While Ambi refuses to abet her white-collar crime, Remo takes her on a date later that evening. Mid-encounter, Remo abruptly transitions into Anniyan, who binds Nandini and prepares to execute her for corruption. Terrified, Nandini screams out for Ambi, causing the vigilante persona to recede; Ambi regains control of his body and immediately collapses.
Nandini admits him to NIMHANS, where Chief Psychiatrist Dr. Vijaykumar diagnoses Ambi with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Through recovered-memory therapy, the doctor uncovers a foundational childhood trauma. When Ambi was ten years old, he helplessly witnessed the electrocution and death of his younger sister, Vidya, caused directly by stagnant rainwater and a civic line worker's negligence. Vijaykumar discovers that while Anniyan and Remo possess full awareness of Ambi, Ambi remains completely oblivious to them. The psychiatrist determines that Remo will permanently dissolve once Nandini genuinely reciprocates Ambi's love, but warns that Anniyan will persist until society fully reforms. Nandini embraces Ambi's true self, causing Remo to vanish.
Concurrently, DCP Prabhakar and Chari spearhead the investigation into Anniyan's murders, deciphering the scriptural clues left at the crime scenes. Prabhakar is personally driven to neutralize the vigilante, as his older brother, a corrupt railway catering contractor, was murdered by Anniyan. During a high-profile public gathering, Anniyan makes a dramatic appearance to the press, defending his executions by asserting that India can only match the prosperity of developed nations if its citizenry adopts absolute personal accountability.
Using digital forensics to track Anniyan's IP address and analyzing facial recognition data, Prabhakar identifies Ambi as the killer and arrests him. During interrogation, Ambi passes a polygraph test, proving his genuine ignorance of the crimes. Enraged, Prabhakar clears the room and brutally tortures Ambi, utilizing the exact methods from the Garuda Purana. The near-death agony forces Anniyan to surface. Ambi's psyche rapidly alternates between the two personas; he brutally assaults Prabhakar as Anniyan while weeping and begging for mercy as Ambi.
Chari covertly records the unauthorized torture and presents the footage during Ambi's trial alongside Vijaykumar's medical diagnosis. Deemed mentally unfit, Ambi is acquitted of criminal charges and remanded to a psychiatric facility. Two years later, a seemingly cured Ambi is released, exhibiting a more relaxed, accommodating demeanor. He marries Nandini and embarks on their honeymoon. While traveling by train, Ambi spots a heavily intoxicated passenger, the exact line worker whose negligence caused Vidya's death. Ambi covertly hurls him from the speeding train to his death while concealing the incident from Nandini, revealing that he and Anniyan have achieved a seamless, symbiotic equilibrium.