Annai (2000 film)

Annai is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Manobala. The film stars Bhanupriya, Nassar and Baby Sadhika while Ramesh Khanna, Manobala, and Mayilsamy among others form an ensemble cast. Music for the film was composed by Dhina and the film was released on 11 February 2000.

Plot
A wealthy widow named Kanagamahalakshmi, who loses her husband and unborn child in a car crash, opts to look after an orphan child for a period of one month every year. Her decision operates smoothly for a few years. However, when the child, Anjali, returns to the house for a third year, problems begin to arise. She expresses her distaste at the various deficiencies of Kanagamahalakshmi's household, including her foster parent itself. How Anjali makes the members in the house behave properly forms the rest of the story.

Production
The film was shot on a budget of 33 lakh rupees within 14 days.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by Dhina.

Reception
Krishna Chidambaram of Kalki criticised the director for treating the theme of adoption half-heartedly. S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu appreciated Kannan's cinematography, the dialogues by Kavitha Bharathi and Rajprabhu, and Manobala's writing and direction, but felt Dhina's music "at times drifts away" from the main story.