# Andhaghaaram (அந்தகாரம்)
**Andhaghaaram** (அந்தகாரம், translated as "darkness") is a 2020 Indian Tamil-language supernatural thriller written and directed by V. Vignarajan in his directorial debut, in which the lives of a blind librarian, a dispirited cricketer, and a desolate psychiatrist overlap under eerie influences as each seeks retribution and release.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram) The film was released directly on the streaming platform Netflix on 24 November 2020 and runs 2 hours 51 minutes.[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/andhaghaaram/andhaghaaram-review.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Netflix, 24 November 2020, direct OTT release worldwide[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/andhaghaaram/andhaghaaram-review.html) |
| Director | V. Vignarajan, who wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues; his directorial debut[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/andhaghaaram/andhaghaaram-review.html) |
| Production | A for Apple (Atlee), Passion Studios, and O2 Pictures[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/fullcredits/) |
| Lead cast | Arjun Das (Vinod), Vinoth Kishan (Selvam), Pooja Ramachandran (Pooja), Misha Ghoshal (Manasi), Jeeva Ravi (Dr. Vasanth), Kumar Natarajan (Dr. Indran)[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/fullcredits/) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 51 minutes (171 minutes)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram) |
| Reception | IMDb 7.5/10 from about 4,400 votes; Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 67% from 6 reviews, audience Popcornmeter 80%[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and structure
The film follows three men in Chennai whose separate storylines collide at crucial points. Vinod ([Arjun Das](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-das)) is a disillusioned former cricketer who earns a living coaching children; his life turns into a nightmare when anonymous calls begin arriving on his landline from someone holding a deep, dark secret of his.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/andhaghaaram/etmoviereview/79382395.cms) Selvam (Vinoth Kishan) is a blind man who works as a clerk at a public library and has inherited occult abilities from his father, an occultist, allowing him to interact with spirits of the dead.[5](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/andhaghaaram-2020/) The third thread centers on a psychiatrist, Dr. Indran (Kumar Natarajan), a celebrated clinician who is shot by a patient, loses his voice, and has his medical license revoked.[5](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/andhaghaaram-2020/)
Vignarajan described the film as a supernatural suspense thriller in which the supernatural is used only as a narrative element rather than a defining genre feature, calling it a hyperlink subject in which three stories collide.[6](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/filmmaker-vignarajan-opens-up-on-andhaghaaram-as-film-rules-twitter-trends-on-its-release-day/685957) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express)'s reviewer Manoj Kumar R described the structure as complex, looping from one point to another and weaving multiple plots into one interlocking narrative.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/andhaghaaram-movie-review-a-good-attempt-7063721/) The multiple-narrative design extended into production: the actors were given separate scripts for their own storylines, with only the director and the cinematographer knowing every detail.[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/Dec/07/andhagaaram-vinoth-kishani-am-not-in-cinema-for-the-applause-21642.html)
## Production history
The film had a long gestation. Vignarajan began work in 2014, shooting a pilot with his actors to assess the look and feel of the film and releasing a teaser; principal shooting started in 2016 and finished the following year.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arjun-dass-first-film-as-a-lead-will-be-a-supernatural-thriller/articleshow/75110641.cms) The director said he shot a pilot and pitched it to several producers, continuing to film with money pooled from various sources; when the film was two-thirds complete, Passion Studios took an interest, and Atlee's entry as presenter brought attention to the small production.[6](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/filmmaker-vignarajan-opens-up-on-andhaghaaram-as-film-rules-twitter-trends-on-its-release-day/685957) Atlee acquired the rights to the long-delayed film and released its official trailer in April 2020 under his banner A for Apple.[10](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/atlee-present-long-delayed-andhaghaaram-122565)
Although intended for a theatrical release, the pandemic situation led the makers to release it on an OTT platform.[6](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/filmmaker-vignarajan-opens-up-on-andhaghaaram-as-film-rules-twitter-trends-on-its-release-day/685957) The film was produced by Priya Atlee for A for Apple, Sudhan Sundaram and Jayaram for Passion Studios, and K. Poorna Chandra for O2 Pictures.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/fullcredits/)
## Cast and crew
Arjun Das, known for *Kaithi*, plays Vinod, his first film in a lead role.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arjun-dass-first-film-as-a-lead-will-be-a-supernatural-thriller/articleshow/75110641.cms) Vinoth Kishan plays the blind librarian Selvam, a role he prepared for with a bag containing a [walking stick](https://www.edgepedia.org/walking-stick), glasses, his shirt, and kohl, trimming his hair and drawing dark circles whenever a shoot was possible.[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/Dec/07/andhagaaram-vinoth-kishani-am-not-in-cinema-for-the-applause-21642.html) The supporting cast includes [Pooja Ramachandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/pooja-ramachandran), Misha Ghoshal, Jeeva Ravi, Kumar Natarajan, and Arul Vincent.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/fullcredits/)
The technical crew comprises V. [Pradeep Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/pradeep-kumar) for music and background score, A. M. Edwin Sakay for cinematography, Sathyaraj Natarajan for editing, and Rembon Balraj as art director.[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/andhaghaaram/andhaghaaram-review.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/fullcredits/)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed to positive. Behindwoods [Review Board](https://www.edgepedia.org/review-board) rated the film 3.0/5, calling it high on thrills, performances, and technicalities while noting that at almost three hours it could have been trimmed for brevity.[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/andhaghaaram/andhaghaaram-review.html) The Times of India gave 3.0/5, describing it as a long-drawn yet engaging thriller.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/andhaghaaram/etmoviereview/79382395.cms) The Indian Express gave 2.5/5.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/andhaghaaram-movie-review-a-good-attempt-7063721/) On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 67% Tomatometer from 6 reviews, with an average of rated reviews of 5.70/10, and an 80% audience Popcornmeter score from fewer than 50 ratings.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram) On IMDb it holds a 7.5/10 rating from about 4,400 users.[11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/)
Reviewers repeatedly singled out the film's atmosphere and craft. Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion wrote that taken as a whole the film is underwhelming, and yet scene for scene it is some kind of spectacular, calling it the arrival of a very real talent.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram) [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu)'s review noted that the film appears complicated due to a drawn-out screenplay but called the debut an interesting piece of work.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram) The Times of India praised Edwin Sakay's camera work and Rembon Balraj's art production.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram)
Following the release, the team met actor [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) to show him the film and seek his blessings, and the film trended on Twitter on its release day.[12](https://www.galatta.com/tamil/movie/news/director-atlee-arjun-das-and-andhaghaaram-team-meet-kamal-haasan/)
## Director's background
Before this film, Vignarajan had assisted filmmaker Radha Mohan on *Mozhi* (2007) and *Abhiyum Naanum* (2008). He began his directing career with *Orey Nyabagam*, which was shelved after half the script was filmed.[6](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/filmmaker-vignarajan-opens-up-on-andhaghaaram-as-film-rules-twitter-trends-on-its-release-day/685957)
## References
1. [Andhaghaaram | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/andhaghaaram)
2. [Andhaghaaram (aka) Andhagharam review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/andhaghaaram/andhaghaaram-review.html)
3. [Andhaghaaram (2020) - Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/fullcredits/)
4. [Andhaghaaram Movie Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/andhaghaaram/etmoviereview/79382395.cms)
5. [Andhaghaaram (2020) Plot Summary & Story Explained](https://www.plotexplained.com/movie/andhaghaaram-2020/)
6. [Filmmaker Vignarajan opens up on Andhaghaaram, Zoom TV Entertainment](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/filmmaker-vignarajan-opens-up-on-andhaghaaram-as-film-rules-twitter-trends-on-its-release-day/685957)
7. [Andhaghaaram movie review: A good attempt, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/andhaghaaram-movie-review-a-good-attempt-7063721/)
8. [Vinoth Kishan: I am not in cinema for the applause, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/Dec/07/andhagaaram-vinoth-kishani-am-not-in-cinema-for-the-applause-21642.html)
9. [Arjun Das's first film as a lead will be a supernatural thriller, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/arjun-dass-first-film-as-a-lead-will-be-a-supernatural-thriller/articleshow/75110641.cms)
10. [Atlee to present long-delayed 'Andhaghaaram', The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/atlee-present-long-delayed-andhaghaaram-122565)
11. [Andhaghaaram (2020), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9110340/)
12. [Director Atlee, Arjun Das and Andhaghaaram team meet Kamal Haasan, Galatta](https://www.galatta.com/tamil/movie/news/director-atlee-arjun-das-and-andhaghaaram-team-meet-kamal-haasan/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2020s › Tamil films of 2020 and 2021*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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