| Director: | Adhik Ravichandran |
| Producer: | S. Michael Rayappan |
| Music: | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Cinematography: | Krishnan Vasant |
| Editing: | Ruben |
| Studio: | Global Infotainment |
| Distributor: | T-Series Films |
| Runtime: | 136 minutes[1] |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan, also known as AAA, is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language romantic action comedy film, directed by Adhik Ravichandran and produced by S. Michael Rayappan. The film stars Silambarasan in a triple role, along with Tamannaah Bhatia and Shriya Saran. The film has music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with Krishnan Vasant and Ruben handling the cinematography and editing, respectively.
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan was released on 23 June 2017. The film was critically panned and underperformed at the box office.
In Dubai, a cop named Ruby interrogates an old man in an attempt to capture the dreaded don Michael. The man narrates Michael's story. In 1992, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Madurai Michael is a notorious thug who works for a smuggler named Senthamarai and kills for money. He spends his time with his sidekicks played by Mahat and VTV Ganesh. Michael falls for Selvi, a girl from his town. Selvi rejects him initially, but later reciprocates his love. She asks him to leave his gangster life and move to Dubai, starting a new life. Michael half-heartedly accepts this. However, an enemy from the same gang backstabs Michael by turning into a witness for many murders committed by Michael and the latter is jail.
Michael then escapes prison with the help of his friends and finds out that Selvi is soon to marry a man of her parents' choice. Understanding that he is going to be on the run forever, Michael leaves Selvi and migrates to Dubai where he rose to become a dreaded gangster. Back in Dubai, the old man, one of Michael's friends, dies soon after narrating the story. Ruby and the other cops figure out that Michael will be over 50 years old and would be fearing for his life, hiding somewhere. They circle in on Chennai and send a fax of Michael's photo to the police in Chennai. But Michael is revealed to be living a lavish and happy life in Chennai under the Michael's grandfather Ashwin Thaatha.
Ashwin has all the money he wants in his life except for a woman. So he decides to get married. While interviewing probable brides, he falls in love with a much younger girl called Ramya, who along with her father is running an old-age home. Ashwin mistakes Ramya's friendly talks as a reciprocation of his love and is ecstatic when she decides to tell her father about her love. At a ceremony, Ramya breaks the news to her father by saying that she loves someone and wants to marry him, but the age difference might be a problem. To Ashwin's surprise, Ramya introduces a younger man called Shiva who looks like Ashwin. It turns out that Shiva is only a few years younger than Ramya and they had pursued a long-distance relationship, he is settled in the US.
A heartbroken Ashwin, overwhelmed by his emotions, resorts to drinking and becomes increasingly negative. In his desperation, he kidnaps Shiva. To further his plan, he hires a prominent makeup artist to transform his appearance, intending to use their resemblance to pose as Shiva and win over Ramya.
Adapted from the opening credits:[2]
In February 2016, Adhik Ravichandran announced that his second directorial project would feature Silambarasan in the lead role, with several crew members from Trisha Illana Nayanthara returning. He would direct the film while working on Virgin Maapillai. Yuvan Shankar Raja was appointed as the music director in June 2016.[3] Trisha Krishnan was considered for a leading female role but did not join the project. Shriya Saran was later cast as the lead heroine opposite Silambarasan. The film's title was announced in May 2016.[4] Silambarasan gained weight and grew a beard for one of his roles.[5] Filming began in July 2016 and was mostly completed by June 2017, with only a song sequence remaining.[6]
| Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan | |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Type: | soundtrack |
| Artist: | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Released: | 2017 |
| Genre: | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length: | 26:11 |
| Language: | Tamil |
| Label: | Lahari Music |
| Producer: | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Prev Title: | Kadamban |
| Prev Year: | 2017 |
| Next Title: | Gowdru Hotel |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
The film's music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.[7] The first single, "Trend Song", featuring vocals and lyrics by Silambarasan, was released as a New Year special on 30 December 2016.[8] [9] The next single, "Rottula Vandi Oodudhu", with lyrics by Silambarasan and sung by Ilaiyaraaja, was released on 2 June 2017.[10] The album features seven tracks, three of which are instrumental.[11]
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan was theatrically released worldwide on 23 June 2017, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr.[12]
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan received generally negative reviews from critics.[13]
The review of The Indian Express was slightly more on the positive side, rating the film 3 out of 5 stars, and stating that "AAA's highlight would be the dialogues, especially ones about lead actor Simbu's father TR Rajendran and humour will draw audience to the theatres."[14] Sify rated the film 2.5 stars, and Indiaglitz rated 2.25 out of 5 stars, stating that "This film is strictly for STR fans."[15] Thinkal Menon from The Times of India rated 2 out of 5, stating that "A suspense cameo towards the end makes things worse as the film, by then, makes one yawn unapologetically."[16] Behindwoods rated 1.75 out of 5 and stated "AAA – Doesn't live up to the expectations."[17]
Sreedhar Pillai, for Firstpost, rated the film 2 out of 5 and summarised that "AAA is hugely disappointing and a crashing bore. The film tests your patience with a confusing screenplay and disjointed narration."[18] Srivatsan of India Today rated 2 out of 5 stars, stating that "From what we get, Adhik Ravichandran wanted to bring Subramaniyapuram into his of Trisha Illana Nayanthara space. Save for the bits with Madurai Michael, there's no denial that Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangathavan is not even an ordinarily made film."[19] Sowmya Rajendran of The News Minute reviewed it as a loud, tacky "gentlemen" oriented film.[20] Baradwaj Rangan wrote for Film Companion, "Adhik Ravichandran appears to make movies with male gaze. He bandages the inabilities and insecurities of his target audience with scene after scene that could be subtitled, "women are like this only."[21]
Several months after the film's release, producer S. Michael Rayappan and director Adhik Ravichandran publicly criticised actor Silambarasan for his alleged unprofessional behavior during production. They claimed that the first schedule was delayed by two months because no actress wanted to work with Silambarasan due to his reputation. Additionally, they stated that he insisted on moving the shoot from Madurai to Dindigul because he disliked the warm climate in Madurai. Even after relocating, he allegedly refused to shoot in public areas or on Sundays and often did not show up according to the agreed schedule.
During the first schedule, Silambarasan reportedly refused to film a song sequence, unfairly requested that Shriya Saran be replaced after she had completed her scenes, demanded the shoot be moved from Dubai to London, and failed to meet the script's requirement to reduce his body weight. In the second schedule, he allegedly refused to undergo makeup sessions, arrive on time, pay for his hotel expenses, and demanded a hotel room on the East Coast Road and the dismissal of a production executive. Silambarasan also allegedly cancelled the third schedule, demanded that the film be released in two parts, and sent his team to Thailand at the producers' expense. He later refused to cooperate in completing necessary scenes and half-heartedly provided dubbing work.
Rayappan revealed that out of an agreed schedule of seventy-six days, Silambarasan only worked for thirty-eight days, leading to the wastage of Tamannaah Bhatia and Shriya Saran's dates.[22] Sources close to Silambarasan countered that Rayappan failed to pay his full remuneration, which caused him to avoid many shoot days. Nonetheless, Silambarasan faced widespread criticism from his peers in the Tamil film industry.[23] [24] In September 2023, the Tamil Film Producers Council issued a "red card" to Silambarasan, prohibiting him from working on new projects until further notice. However, in June 2024, Silambarasan denied receiving a red card.[25] [26]