Suriya's 2014 film Anjaan has found its way to theatres again. This time, for its re-release, the makers had opted to re-edit the entire film, restructure it and present it as a new experience to fans as well as the audience. Ahead of its release, director Lingusamy addressed the trolling the film faced 11 years ago and the viral remark he made in an interview that became a subject of several memes on social media.
When asked about the comment "idhuvaraikkum kathukitta moththa viththayum erakki irukken" (I have implemented all the tricks I have learnt in my life), he remarked, "Can a single line ruin an entire film?"
"That interview wasn’t even for this film. It was given before the shoot began, when we hadn’t finalised the story. They just used it. What’s wrong if a guy from a small village dares to say something confidently? What overconfidence is there in that? Hadn’t I already made Run and Sandakozhi before that? That line was used at that time. We know who did it and who made it happen," he added.
It is to be noted that Lingusamy's remark surfaced a month after the film's initial theatrical run and became viral on social media. It led to severe criticism and a barrage of memes on social media which worked against the film's favour. Many had called out the film's overhyped publicity and stated that this reason might have led to its underperformance at the box office.
In the same press meeting, Lingusamy said Anjaan was "one of the most trolled films" when it hit theatres. "We were caught in it and. But even today, many people who genuinely enjoyed the film ask me why it was criticised so much. We create it thinking it was some world-changing film — it’s just a film, that’s all. Many Suriya fans liked it back then. This re-release is for them, and for our own satisfaction," he added.
The film followed the story of a disabled man (also played by Suriya), who arrives to Mumbai to find his brother Raju, a gangster. Samantha played the female lead while Vidyut Jamwaal, Manoj Bajpayee, Dalip Tahil, Soori, Murali Sharma, and Piyush Mishra, amongst others were seen in pivotal roles.