The film Anegan begins by establishing the year as 1962 and Burma as its setting. A Tamil laborer, Murugappan, rescues Samudra, the daughter of a wealthy Burmese general, at a local fair. She develops strong feelings for him, but her father opposes their relationship. Political upheaval occurs with a Burmese coup d'etat, and Murugappan attempts to smuggle Samudra to India. They are betrayed by Mallika, who was also in love with Murugappan. The pair jumps from a ship, but Murugappan is shot, and Samudra chooses to die alongside him. The narrative then shifts to the present day, where Madhumitha, a game developer working for Kiran’s company (called Tentacles), recounts these events while undergoing regression therapy. A poster of Aung San Suu Kyi, Samudra's classmate, hangs in her room. Madhu believes she is encountering figures from a previous life and anticipates meeting Murugappan again. Her expectation proves true when he reappears as Ashwin, a systems engineer at her workplace! She begins to pursue him, and while he initially dismisses the idea of reincarnation, he finds himself drawn to her. Simultaneously, following an accident, Madhu regresses further and narrates another story—that of Kaali and Kalyani, set in Madras in 1987. Kaali wins over Kalyani with his integrity and gentleness, but she is compelled to marry Ravikiran, a wealthy businessman. However, Kaali arrives on their wedding night and the lovers plan to escape, only to be tricked and murdered. The person responsible for their deaths may be someone close to them in their current lives, intending to repeat the crime. Anegan succeeds as a well-executed pulp story, with KV Anand and his writers SuBa delivering a tale of reincarnation and revenge. The film evokes the atmosphere of a pulpy crime novel, which is consistent with the writers' style. Dhanush delivers a remarkable performance, mirroring his work in Velaiilla Pattadhari, portraying Murugappan/Ashwin/Kaali as both heroic and believable. Few contemporary actors could have embodied the physical and emotional demands of these roles so convincingly. He’s convincing as the unassuming laborer Murugappan, relatable as the average systems engineer Ashwin, but truly shines as Kaali, the tough guy with a good heart. His portrayal distinguishes Kaali from characters like Karuppu in Aadukalam and the protagonist of Maryan, especially during his energetic dance number for "Danga Maari." The one role where he seems out of place is Ilamaran, due to his build not suiting the princely attire. Amyra Dhas makes a strong debut in Tamil cinema, receiving a substantial part. While her portrayals of Samudra and Kalyani are fairly standard—pretty women falling for men from lower social classes—she is quite convincing as the confused Madhu. Karthik initially appears restrained but unleashes his full potential during the climax, making his character’s actions understandable. Anand doesn't shy away from incorporating diverse elements—reincarnation, regression therapy, illegal drugs, military coups, ghosts, video games, murder, mystery, red herrings and various accidents (involving a Ferris wheel, an elevator, a car, and a truck). Unlike Maattrraan, which faltered after a promising start, everything here functions effectively. He also demonstrates a lighter touch, making the improbable plot more palatable. Despite its complexity, the storytelling remains clear. There are echoes of Magadheera, Enakkul Oruvan, Cloud Atlas, and The Fountain, primarily due to the reincarnation theme. While the individual love stories feel somewhat familiar and the third act is slightly predictable, and Ashwin’s realization of his past feels hurried, Anand ensures that there are moments designed for mass appeal—like Dhanush's comedic imitation of Karthik and the villain’s demise. Anegan is pure camp, but also thoroughly entertaining.

Source on TMDB