Ayan

“Ayan” (2009) is a Kollywood action thriller by K. V. Anand. Starring Suriya, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Prabhu, the film follows a smart smuggler whose life takes a turn when betrayal and tragedy push him to fight crime from within the system.

Deva, a young computer science graduate in Chennai, works in secret for Dass, a long-trusted smuggler (or “coyote”), who raised him. He brings in foreign goods, unlicensed films, and gold, all the shadiness - while keeping the truth of his world hidden from Momma Kaveri, who dreams of life beyond the slums for her son. When Kamalesh, son of rival smuggler Nemichand Seth, attempts a hostile takeover of Dass’s operation, Deva is caught in an ongoing battle. A man named Chitti Babu takes the fall for a smuggling bust and then becomes Deva’s right-hand man. They grow close through dangerous missions, and Deva develops a crush on Chitti’s sister, Yamuna. Deva finds out later that Chitti is in fact working for Kamalesh in secret. When Chitti, now forced into smuggling drugs, drops dead mid-flight and is kidnapped by Kamalesh’s men. Before his death, Chitti requests Deva to burn his body and conceal the truth from his family.

Shattered by the death of his best friend, Deva makes a decision to get out of the game and go legit. Bolstered by Yamuna’s protection, he gathers evidence and assists the incorruptible customs officer, Parthiban. As a team, they sabotage Kamalesh’s schemes. In retaliation, Kamalesh implicates Deva in a fictitious case, but Deva runs away and keeps on helping the police. He gets sucked back in one last time on a mission to reclaim diamonds smuggled out of the Congo. After an epic car chase that nearly destroys Mumbai, he flies back to India and passes himself in with a customs declaration form, handing over the diamonds. Impressed by his metamorphosis, Parthiban gives Deva a new chance as a customs officer.

“Ayan” is an action-packed, slick entertainer with emotion and a hard-hitting message about good vs. evil. Suriya makes an impression throughout, thanks to his energy and charm, because the film’s visuals, music, and international settings all contribute to creating excitement. Smartly performed and equally compelling story-wise, Ayan is yet another truly well-loved, action-packed comeback thriller.