Anbe Sivam(2003)
Anbe Sivam is a 2003 Tamil-language adventure comedy-drama film directed by Sundar C. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Madhavan, Kiran Rathod, and Nassar. The story follows Nallasivam, a disfigured but kind-hearted man, and Anbarasu, a selfish advertising executive, who are forced to travel together from Bhubaneswar to Chennai. Their journey is disrupted by floods, a train accident, and a child's death. The film explores themes of love, loss, and the meaning of divinity. It was praised for its emotional depth, strong performances, and philosophical dialogues. Anbe Sivam was released on January 14, 2003, and has since become a cult classic in Tamil cinema.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Sun Nxt, Netflix, Eros Now, YouTube, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 15 January 2003
- Director
- Sundar C.
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Rating
- 8.2/10
Storyline
Nallasivam is a poor, one-armed man with a scarred face. Anbarasu is a rich, arrogant advertising executive. Their flight is cancelled, and they must travel together by train and bus. Anbarasu wants to reach Chennai fast for a job interview. Nallasivam keeps stopping to help strangers. Their clashing personalities lead to conflict, but a series of disasters forces them to understand each other.
“Love is God.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Anbe Sivam
Cast reunions in this film: Nassar & Kamal Haasan (17 films together), Nassar & Vidyasagar (16 films together), Kamal Haasan & Santhana Bharathi (10 films together), Nassar & Dinesh Master (7 films together), Sundar C. & Vichu Vishwanath (7 films together), and Nassar & Santhana Bharathi (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film's original title was 'Anbe Anbe', but it was changed to 'Anbe Sivam' to better reflect its spiritual themes.
- Kamal Haasan initially hesitated to play Nallasivam, fearing the heavy makeup would limit his performance, but was convinced by the director.
- The famous train accident sequence was filmed using a real, decommissioned train carriage placed on a set, not with visual effects.
- Madhavan's character was named Anbarasu, which is also the real first name of director Sundar C.
- The song 'Mouname Paarvayai' was originally composed for a different film but was reused here after that project was shelved.
- Despite its later cult status, the film was only a moderate commercial success at the time of its release.
- The film's socialist dialogues were partly inspired by the real-life views of writer Sujatha, who contributed to the script.