Last updated: 5 May 2026


Tamil · Action, Crime, Thriller
2h 58m · 16 Nov 2001
Music: Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, Mahesh Mahadevan, Shankar Mahadevan | DOP: S. Thirunavukkarasu | Writer: H. Banerjee, Kamal Haasan, Kamal Haasan
Ratings
Our Rating
2.5
Aalavandhan is a psychological thriller centered around an army officer, Vijay Kumar, who investigates the mysterious behavior of his estranged brother, Nandu. The story unfolds as Vijay tries to uncover the truth behind Nandu's violent and erratic actions, revealing a complex past filled with trauma and mental illness. The narrative explores themes of sibling rivalry, psychological trauma, and the thin line between sanity and madness.
Aalavandhan is notable for its ambitious storytelling and innovative filmmaking techniques, especially for its time. The content delves deep into psychological themes, combining elements of thriller and drama with intense character study. The screenplay is layered and complex, employing flashbacks and hallucinations to depict the disturbed mind of Nandu, which can be both engaging and challenging for the audience.
The pacing of the film is uneven; the first half sets up the mystery and builds tension effectively, while the second half becomes more experimental and intense, which might not appeal to all viewers. The use of animation and visual effects to portray psychological states was pioneering but received mixed reactions. The songs and music, composed by a team including Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, Mahesh Mahadevan, and Shankar Mahadevan, are well-crafted but are used sparingly, fitting the film's dark tone. The background score stands out for its haunting and atmospheric quality, significantly enhancing the film's mood and psychological depth.
Overall, Aalavandhan is a bold and stylistically unique film that pushes the boundaries of conventional Tamil cinema, though its experimental nature and complex narrative may limit its mass appeal.
Kamal Haasan: Delivered a powerful dual role performance, portraying both Vijay and the disturbed Nandu with intensity and nuance.
Raveena Tandon: Played a supporting role with grace, providing emotional depth to the storyline.
Anu Hasan: Provided a solid supporting performance, complementing the main cast.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Suresh Krissna's direction is ambitious and experimental, effectively capturing the psychological turmoil of the characters. His approach to blending live-action with animation and visual effects was ahead of its time, though it resulted in a divisive reception. The writing is layered, focusing on psychological depth but sometimes at the cost of narrative clarity.
No rating sources available.
Our Rating
No collection data available yet.
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 40% |
| Neutral | 30% |
| Negative | 30% |
Critics praised Kamal Haasan's performance and the film's technical innovations, especially the visual effects and background score. However, many noted the film's uneven pacing and complex storyline as drawbacks. The film was recognized for its ambition but received mixed reviews regarding its accessibility to a broader audience.
Final Box-Office Result
Aalavandhan released on 16 November 2001 (2001).
Aalavandhan is declared a FLOP at the box office.
Budget of Aalavandhan is approximately ₹20 Crore.
Aalavandhan is available on Prime Video, Sun NXT. OTT date will be updated soon.
Aalavandhan directed by Suresh Krissna. Produced by S. Thanu.
Aalavandhan stars Kamal Haasan, Raveena Tandon, Anu Hasan, Milind Gunaji, Kitu Gidwani.
Tollybo rates Aalavandhan 2.5/5. Verdict: FLOP.
Music for Aalavandhan composed by Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, Mahesh Mahadevan, Shankar Mahadevan.
Aalavandhan — Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Runtime: 178 minutes, Language: Tamil.