# Anjathe (அஞ்சாதே)
**Anjathe** (அஞ்சாதே; "Don't Fear") is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written, directed, and scored in part by Mysskin, starring Narain, Prasanna, Ajmal Ameer, and Vijayalakshmi. It follows two childhood friends whose paths cross when one becomes a police sub-inspector and the other joins a kidnapping gang, and it is regarded as the film that established Mysskin as a distinctive visual stylist in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema).[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922545/) • [2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/anjathey.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 14 February 2008, Tamil language, wide theatrical release in India[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anjathe) |
| Director and writer | Mysskin, who wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogue and also sang one song[4](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/movie-preview-in-tamil/%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%252525252525252585%2525252525252525E2%252525252525252580%25252525252525258C%2525252525252525E2%252525252525252580%25252525252525258C%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%25252525252525259E%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AF%25252525252525258D%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%25252525252525259A%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%2525252525252525BE%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%2525252525252525A4%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AF%252525252525252587-108021200045_1.htm) |
| Lead cast | Narain as Sathyavan, Prasanna as Deena Dayalan, Ajmal Ameer as Kirubakaran, Vijayalakshmi as Udhra[2](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/anjathey.html) |
| Key crew | Music Sundar C. Babu; cinematography Mahesh Muthuswamy; editing Sadagopan Ramesh[5](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/2008/anjathe.html) |
| Production | V. Hitesh Jhabak for Nemichand Jhabak[6](https://letterboxd.com/film/anjathe/) |
| Runtime and rating | 192 minutes (3 h 12 m); certified U/A in India[3](https://www.moviebuff.com/anjathe) |
| Reception | 8.1/10 on IMDb from about 2,700 users; topped the Tamil box-office chart in February and April 2008[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922545/) • [7](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/anjathe-claims-top-slot-at-tamil-box-office/13912/story.htm) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The film is set around a police housing colony where Sathyavan (Sathya), played by Narain, and Kiruba, played by [Ajmal Ameer](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajmal-ameer), have been close friends since childhood; their fathers are both constables and friends.[8](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/16-anjathey-film-review.html) Kiruba studies hard to become a sub-inspector, while Sathya drifts through drinking and violent fights with no particular ambition.[6](https://letterboxd.com/film/anjathe/) The tables turn when the examination results go the other way: Sathya becomes a sub-inspector and Kiruba is left outside the force.[6](https://letterboxd.com/film/anjathe/) • [9](https://pulseofcinema.com/en/film/anjathe/)
As a trainee cop, Sathya joins the hunt for a gang that kidnaps girls from rich families for ransom, led by Daya (Deena Dayalan), played by Prasanna against his usual romantic image as a serial rapist and kingpin.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm) The friendship becomes an investigation as the two friends are eventually pitted against each other in a cat-and-mouse game, and the film's subject is what the police uniform does to the man who wears it.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm) • [9](https://pulseofcinema.com/en/film/anjathe/) A widely discussed scene shows a man bleeding to death on a street at night while the officer Sathya tries everything to save him and only a flower seller comes forward to help.[11](https://24x7livenewz.com/tamil/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF-5-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF/8381728/)
## Production
The film was produced by V. Hitesh Jhabak under the Nemichand Jhabak banner and was Mysskin's second film as director after *Chithiram Pesuthadi* (2006).[6](https://letterboxd.com/film/anjathe/) • [7](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/anjathe-claims-top-slot-at-tamil-box-office/13912/story.htm) It was earlier titled *Aruvathu Sinam* before release.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm) Sundar C. Babu composed the music, with lyrics by Bharathiyar, Kapilan, and Priyan; Mahesh Muthuswamy handled cinematography and Sadagopan Ramesh the editing.[5](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/2008/anjathe.html) The supporting cast included [Ponvannan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ponvannan) as an assistant commissioner, [Pandiarajan](https://www.edgepedia.org/pandiarajan) as the kidnapper Logu, M. S. Bhaskar, Livingston, and Snigdha Akolkar in a special appearance in the "Kaththazha Kannaala" song.[12](https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/anjathe) The estimated budget was ₹30,000,000.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922545/)
## Visual style
**The film's reputation rests largely on its camera work.** Reviewers at the time singled out Mahesh Muthuswamy's cinematography, noting long low-angle shots, a sequence told entirely through the actors' feet as they enter and leave a house, and a climactic chase set in a sugarcane forest.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm) A retrospective of Mysskin's signature choices lists the film's use of extreme wide-angle shots, worm's-eye and ground-level framings, camera positions above streetlights that give the audience a godlike view, and heavy reliance on shadows and silhouettes for tension.[13](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2020/Feb/14/12-years-of-mysskin-s-anjathe-10-signature-filmmaking-choices-of-one-of-tamil-cinemas-emerging-au-900.html) The hospital fight, in which Sathya alone confronts masked killers, became one of the film's most cited action sequences.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm)
The film has also drawn academic attention. A 2013 study in *Media Watch* by Nithin Kalorth, then at Mahatma Gandhi University, analyzed 36 shots from *Anjathey* to examine its film language, mise-en-scène, sound, and editing as an example of Tamil new-wave cinema.[14](https://indianjournals.com/article/mw-4-3-010)
## Reception and box office
*Anjathey* opened well and quickly rose to the number one position on the Tamil box-office chart, a placement IANS reported it still held in early April 2008, with collections increasing daily.[7](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/anjathe-claims-top-slot-at-tamil-box-office/13912/story.htm) • [15](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/dream-run-for-anjathe-at-tamil-box-office/14733/story.htm) Critics praised the casting above all: the Filmibeat review wrote that Narain's transformation from a loafer into a policeman had never been acted or filmed with such finesse, and that Prasanna's villainous turn was a courageous departure from his chocolate-boy image.[8](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/16-anjathey-film-review.html) Rediff's reviewer called it the best Tamil film of the year to that point.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm) The soundtrack also topped the Tamil music charts, with the song "Kaththazha Kannaala," sung by Naveen Madhav with lyrics by Kapilan, becoming a hit.[16](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/anjathe-tops-tamil-music-charts/14734/story.htm) The film won one Filmfare Award in the Tamil category.[17](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/anjathey/movieshow/64927153.cms)
## Legacy and sequel
*Anjathey* is frequently described as Mysskin's breakthrough into the major league of Tamil directors and remains among his most-remembered films.[18](https://www.fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/27.-Viswanath-Compassion-as-Salve.pdf) • [19](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2020/May/20/mysskin-to-team-up-with-arun-vijay-for-anjathey-2-3417644.html) Its influence reaches later filmmakers: director PS Mithran has said the film was the one that made him decide to become a filmmaker, citing its leg-focused fight choreography and time-lapse shots.[20](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/features/2022/Nov/16/films-that-made-me---ps-mithran-interview-36713.html)
A sequel has been reported but not confirmed. In 2016 Mysskin said he would direct a second part the same year, with Hitesh Jhabak producing again and the cast to be decided once the script was complete.[21](https://tamil.webdunia.com/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/anjathe-part-ii-directing-miskine-116021500020_1.html) In January 2024, Dinamani reported that Mysskin had decided to direct *Anjathey 2* with [Arun Vijay](https://www.edgepedia.org/arun-vijay) as the lead, after actor Simbu, a fan of the original, withdrew because of prior commitments; official details were said to be forthcoming.[19](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2020/May/20/mysskin-to-team-up-with-arun-vijay-for-anjathey-2-3417644.html)
## References
1. [Anjathe (2008), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922545/)
2. [அஞ்சாதே (Anjathey) movie page, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/anjathey.html)
3. [Anjathe (2008), Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/anjathe)
4. [அஞ்சாதே! preview, Webdunia Tamil](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/movie-preview-in-tamil/%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%252525252525252585%2525252525252525E2%252525252525252580%25252525252525258C%2525252525252525E2%252525252525252580%25252525252525258C%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%25252525252525259E%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AF%25252525252525258D%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%25252525252525259A%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%2525252525252525BE%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AE%2525252525252525A4%2525252525252525E0%2525252525252525AF%252525252525252587-108021200045_1.htm)
5. [அஞ்சாதே - Anjathe, Tamil Thiraiulagam](https://www.tamilthiraiulagam.com/films/2008/anjathe.html)
6. [Anjathe (2008), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/anjathe/)
7. ['Anjathe' claims top slot at Tamil box-office, Nowrunning/IANS](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/anjathe-claims-top-slot-at-tamil-box-office/13912/story.htm)
8. [அஞ்சாதே - பட விமர்சனம் (Anjathey film review), Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/16-anjathey-film-review.html)
9. [Anjathe (2008): Plot, Cast & Where to Watch, Pulse of Cinema](https://pulseofcinema.com/en/film/anjathe/)
10. [Review: Anjathe, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssanja/20080215.htm)
11. [மிஷ்கின் இயக்கிய 5 முக்கிய தமிழ்த் திரைப்படங்கள், 24x7 Live News](https://24x7livenewz.com/tamil/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF-5-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF/8381728/)
12. [Anjathe (2008), JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/anjathe)
13. [12 Years of Mysskin's Anjathe: 10 signature filmmaking choices, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2020/Feb/14/12-years-of-mysskin-s-anjathe-10-signature-filmmaking-choices-of-one-of-tamil-cinemas-emerging-au-900.html)
14. [Nithin Kalorth (2013). Identification and Analysis of Images in Anjathey, Media Watch 4(3): 391–400](https://indianjournals.com/article/mw-4-3-010)
15. [Dream run for 'Anjathe' at Tamil box office, Nowrunning/IANS](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/dream-run-for-anjathe-at-tamil-box-office/14733/story.htm)
16. ['Anjathe' tops Tamil music charts, Nowrunning/IANS](https://www.nowrunning.com/news/tamil/anjathe-tops-tamil-music-charts/14734/story.htm)
17. [Anjathey Movie, The Times of India eTimes](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/anjathey/movieshow/64927153.cms)
18. [S Viswanath, Compassion as Salve, E-CineIndia (FIPRESCI India)](https://www.fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/27.-Viswanath-Compassion-as-Salve.pdf)
19. [மிஷ்கின் - அருண் விஜய் கூட்டணியில் அஞ்சாதே 2?, Dinamani](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2020/May/20/mysskin-to-team-up-with-arun-vijay-for-anjathey-2-3417644.html)
20. [Films that Made Me - PS Mithran, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/features/2022/Nov/16/films-that-made-me---ps-mithran-interview-36713.html)
21. [அஞ்சாதே இரண்டாம் பாகம் - மிஷ்கினே இயக்குகிறார், Webdunia Tamil](https://tamil.webdunia.com/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/anjathe-part-ii-directing-miskine-116021500020_1.html)
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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 2000s › Tamil films of the late 2000s*
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