anti indian movie review dinamalar

Anti Indian movie review: A scathing satire that doesn't take sides

Not just fortune, even Tamil audiences, it seems, favour the bold. Irrespective of content quality, anything fearless—be it an intimate romantic scene or expletive dialogues—is usually met with praise. It’s in such brazenness that Anti Indian, the directorial debut of YouTuber C Elamaran, stands out. It revels in its audacity, even at the cost of being oversimplified. There is no ‘kuriyeedu’ here; everything is straightforward and brazen.

The film opens with a close-up of the face of Basha (Elemaran), who has been murdered by unknown people for unknown reasons. The film or the characters don’t care about finding the culprits. This is intentional and leaves us with a lot to ponder about. After a long delay, his brother-in-law Ezhumalai (Jayaraj), a local upcoming politician, gets the body for burial. ‘Ezhumalai’ as a brother-in-law to ‘Basha’? That’s because their mother is a Hindu while the father is a Muslim. Due to the mixed religious identity, his body gets neither accepted in a Muslim burial ground nor a Hindu crematory ground.

Parallelly, we see how the Chief Minister (Radha Ravi) and the police department are preparing for an upcoming by-election, which they are most likely to lose. The opposition has the upper hand, and only superstar actor ‘Kabali’ can tilt the scale. So, the CM and the police have to come up with a plan to either win or stop the election altogether. The sequences involving the CM and the police officials create a sense of unease, given that they discuss sinister plans very casually. When the case of Basha’s body gets media attention, these men in power plan to use it for their benefit.

Since the Jallikattu protest of 2017, Tamil cinema has shown quite a bit of interest in the idea of political conspiracy and police brutality. Yet, most films have done so with a sense of caution. Even the recent blockbuster Maanaadu focussed more on the entertainment and less on such social issues. This is where Anti Indian distinguishes itself from the rest. It doesn’t mince words and is always in your face. Ezhumalai bears a saffron tilak on his head. His party leader is named Raja. And yet, the film is careful not to take sides. It paints Hindus, Muslims, Christians, media, police, and everyone in the film with the same brush.

The problem then is, what’s really the voice of the director? Perhaps, the nameless, black-clad character (Ghilli Maran), who takes digs at everyone, is the voice? He wanders around asking questions, like the one he poses to Ezhumalai: “How are all the leaders in your party fair while the followers are dark?” However, I wondered why this film steered clear of caste issues. Surely, this is a conscious decision from a filmmaker, who makes every other issue a target.

The craft is straightforward. With a limited budget, Maran has pulled off a decent film that isn’t worried about nuances. No aesthetic brilliance, no compositions that draw attention. It may be technically inferior, but the content makes up for this. The film only cares about its story, and I liked how a lot of it is shown and not told. There are expositions, sure, but they are decently executed. For instance, the idea of juxtaposing the impromptu gaana singing session at the funeral, while police and politicians devise evil plans is well done. It reminded me of Kaala’s climax—maybe it was supposed to. However, there are tonal inconsistencies. Predominantly, the film tries to be a satire, but at times, it does turn sober and realistic. At the end, it left me feeling admiration for the loudness and the boldness of its voice.

As a YouTuber, Maran has been notorious for his impertinent take on films, directors, and actors. As a filmmaker, he has taken on men of all religions and all types of politics… and ultimately, those who wield power. Perhaps the film’s greatest value lies in setting a new benchmark when it comes to freedom of expression in Tamil cinema.

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Anti Indian Movie Review

Yep, Tamil cinema has finally witnessed the debut of sensational film critic Elamaran popularly knowns as Blue Sattai Maran. If there is one film critic that the story tellers in k-town loath so much it would be undoubtedly Elamaran. Literally, many film makers were waiting to tear the man apart when he makes his first film. If fact, many have even sworn in the past that they would do it. When this was the case, the news of Elamaran’s debut flick hit the internet immediately making its way in to the trending zone becoming the troll material. Surprisingly, the man seems to have dissolved the hatred that was held against him with his drama Anti Indian. So how has his much awaited Anti Indian come out? To know that let us get in to the movie review.

Anti Indian is centered around Baasha (Elamaran), a political advertisement wall painter. The film opens with the murder of Baasha. With the murder, things get messier because of his complex family structure. His father is a Muslim, and his mother a born Hindu but later shifted to Christianity. Problem erupts because of his mixed religious identity. After police procedures, Baasha’s friends takes his body to a nearby mosque for burial. To their shock, the authorities refuse to allot space citing that Baasha never practiced Islam and that his mother was a Hindu. One of Baasha’s relative Ezhumalai (Jeyaraj), a local newbie right wing politician receives the body and takes it to the Hindu cremating ground. Even there the officials deny to bury the body stating that he was a Muslim. A group of Christians enter the picture led by a priest claiming that Baasha’s body should be buried in their burial ground as his mother embraced Christianity.

Meanwhile, by election is declared on that constituency. The ruling party is on the verge of losing the election. The head of the party and the Chief Minister of the state (Radha Ravi) is desperate to win it. He deploys the police force to somehow overturn the situation and earn a victory. On parallel developments we have a superstar actor Kabali who’s decision can alter the election results. The Chief Minister along with the assistance of the police department concocts a plan. They either want to win the election or stop the election in case their defeat is evident by stirring up religious riots. As the uncertainty around the death of Baasha begins to get media traction, politicians place themselves in to the frames and politics erupts on the burial of the cadaver. Will people realize the dirty politics that is played behind the dead body of Baasha, who is going to bury the body at last is what makes the rest of the flick.

Director Elamaran in a recent interview recited the popular dialogue from Soorarai Pottru , “Jaichita Maara” when asked about how people have received his film. There could not be a better response than that. Not sure how many film makers would have gone with the title Anti Indian knowing the magnitude of political heat that would have come to the release of the film. Director Elamaran’s bravery has rewarded him quite well. Being point blank, Anti Indian does not have the technical power to be even considered as a film. The imperative aspects that are a must for a film like proper screenplay, good performances, cinematography, editing, nothing falls in place for the entertainer. Yet Anti Indian is entertaining. The strength of the film lies in the bold and razor-sharp dialogues.

The entertainer is built on a simple premise. But story teller Elamaran exhibits his adeptness in setting up situations and the cunning political angles to make a solid entertaining political satire out of Anti Indian. For instance, Baasha’s family background is smartly designed to create room to make a simple story knot work well. His family structure gives ample space for a truck load of satires. In fact, the whole film is based on this simple intelligent arrangement. Everything is simple about Anti Indian. It is this simplicity that makes the flick entertaining. There are no euphemisms and identity for us to work our brain. Elamaran goes with brutal honesty and direct about the politics he wants to discuss. It is one of the reasons, or perhaps the only reason why the audience have given such a warn response to the drama. The audience celebrate the entertainer not for its craft but because it is an honest flick from an honest film maker. It would be interesting to see where Elamaran goes from here.

Anti Indian Movie Poster

Director Elamaran as actor is the man, we are so used to seeing on his YouTube videos. He really does not make any effort to perform. He just mouths his dialogue just like a conversation that he would have with anyone in real life. Yet that is entertaining. Seems like he has landed on a lucky star at the moment. Actor Jeyaraj has done justice to his role. Actor Aadukalam Naren is effective as usual. Veteran actor Radha Ravi makes his presence felt. Actor Velu Prabhakaran is adequate. Actress Lollu Sabha Seshu is impactful. The rest of the cast has delivered a below par performance.

On the technical front, the film is quite weak. Elamaran debuts as a music director as well in Anti Indian. His tracks are pretty average. His background score is adequate for the entertainer. Cinematographer Kathiravan’s frames could have been better. The visuals look like the vintage marriage videos. Editor Sudharshan’s scissors should have been a lot sharper.

On the whole, Anti Indian marks Elamaran’s successful venture in to Tamil cinema but his sustainability remains in how he improves his craft.

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Home » Review » Anti Indian movie review: Blue Sattai Maaran's film, which is a bold take on religious anarchy, deserves a better making »

Anti Indian movie review: Blue Sattai Maaran's film, which is a bold take on religious anarchy, deserves a better making

What makes the unusual and hard-hitting plot interesting in parts is its no-hold-barred depiction aided by effective dialogues

A poster of Anti Indian

• Thinkal Menon

Last Updated: 07.25 PM, Dec 09, 2021

Story: Baasha, a political street artist, has been gruesomely murdered by unidentified assailants. Being a Muslim, his relatives and friends take his body to bury it in a nearby mosque. However, the mosque officials refuse to bury Baasha's body as the deceased never followed any religion apart from the fact that his mother is a Hindu. 

His acquaintances take his body to a burial ground where Hindus are cremated. But the officials there disagree to cremate him citing his religious identity. A Christian clergy, too, becomes a part of the commotion by claiming that Baasha's body belongs to their religion as the mother of the deceased had converted to Christianity a while ago. 

Review: Anti Indian is quite an unusual and catchy title for a movie, given the fact that the term is often used in a derogatory manner on social media by many to purposefully offend and provoke those with a different opinion when it comes to topics of national interests. 

With YouTuber Elamaran aka Blue Sattai Maaran making his directorial debut with the movie, all eyes are on him from the time the project was announced, thanks to the popularity his scathing film reviews have garnered over the years among Tamil movie buffs. A political satire, Maaran has attempted an out-of-the-box idea with the film.

The movie begins with the close up shot of Baasha's (played by Maaran himself) dead body, followed by an establishment shot of his mother and other acquaintances grieving over the unfortunate incident. Baasha, a political street artist and a known figure among local politicians, has been murdered by unknown goons.

Post the official police inquiry, his friends and relatives take his body to a mosque to bury it. But the officials there disagree to bury his body there as, the deceased, according to them, is someone who doesn't practice any religion. They also point out the fact that Baasha's mother is a Hindu, another reason for them not to allow his burial there.

This leads to a small communal tension which is nipped in the bud by a few cops. Upon the suggestion of an opportunist right wing politician, they take back his body and decide to bury it at a cremation ground which is meant for Hindus. 

But little did they expect that they would be disappointed this time, too, as the official there expresses his disapproval for burying the body of a Muslim. A group of Christians enter the scene, under the leadership of a priest, and start claiming the body of Baasha as the mother of the deceased had converted to Christianity sometime ago.

Despite several people in the film industry waiting to malign him, it was bold of Maaran to take up a story that would face the wrath of the Censor Board. The movie, which obtained U/A certificate, in spite of facing various troubles with the censor formalities, has managed to release with just one dialogue muted in it. 

With an unusual, never-before-heard subject, Maaran threw light on the religious anarchy prevailing in the society. How organized religions can manipulate the fate of people and the extent to which they degenerate shamelessly have been depicted in an engaging manner. The film also tries to make a statement on who the real anti Indians are in our society. Moreover, it is quite spine-chilling to believe that the sequences in the film are based on a real incident.

The hilarious, but thought-provoking dialogues and racy first half stand out in the film in which Aadukalam Naren, Radha Ravi, Charles Vinod, Jeyaraj and Muthuraman have come up with realistic and gripping performances. The no-holds-barred portrayal of religious leaders taking law in their hands and inciting violence deserves praise.

However, the latter half of the film falters due to excessive dialogue-oriented sequences, repetition of gaana songs and strictly okayish making. A religious riot which occurs at a crucial part of the film appears staged because of which the impact it was supposed to leave gets affected.

The long aerial shots which appear towards the beginning of the film was a treat to watch. The background score, however, could have been more effective. Had the latter half and making been more gripping, the movie would have been a wholesome entertainer.  

Verdict: Though the political satire is engaging only in parts, the filmmaker deserves praise for handling hard-hitting plot.   

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Anti Indian Review: A Socio-Political Commentary That Could Have Done Without the Dramatics

The most entertaining part in  Anti Indian  arrives a little over an hour into the film. A man ( “Blue Sattai” C Elamaran as Basha) is dead, and the devout – across faiths – refuse him their cemeteries citing religious ambiguity. Even as his mother and uncle try to preserve his dignity in death, the various political establishments take note of the development and try to wedge their advantage in the upcoming by-elections.

The entertaining moment though, belongs to a worker who puts up canopies at social events. Basha’s uncle – Elumalai who’s swathed in orange – and Basha’s mother who’d coupled with a Muslim leading to an inter-faith by-product of their marriage, struggle to find a few feet of burial space. The worker though, goes on a fuck-all rant because it’s the third time he’s having to erect the canopy after two pseudo-burials – in such chaste Madras Tamil that it’s a laugh-out-loud moment. It’s in these instances of dark humour that  Anti Indian  shows some character.   

Otherwise, the film – written by Elamaran – is filled with dramatic overtures by the writer-director, who’s also styled himself with the now-popular prefix “blue sattai” in credits. Elamaran has also written the screenplay and made music for good measure – always a bad, bad idea. For someone who’s made a living doling out scathing – sometimes with a hint of truth – reviews about movies, Elamaran makes the rookie mistake of taking up one too many jobs within a production. But surprisingly, the story that Elamaran narrates does hold attention.

When  Anti Indian  opens – probably named thus due to the secularist messaging and what being secular is synonymous with in the country – Elamaran begins the tale just as he would a review. In the same voice, the same tenor, and the same let-me-make-it-simple-for-your-ears analogy. Something plucked out of or written for children and dumbed down enough that it ultimately turns into a story that you’d read in a badly-edited reprint of a book, devoid of any and all nuance.   

In a while though, you sense where Maran is going with the story – he’s chosen a route to appeal to the masses, to the humanity at large, and he sets the stage up. It’s funny in the parts that don’t try too hard to deliver lessons, or train the camera on the bereaved. Indeed, towards the end, Maran surprises us with some genuine theatre. And that’s where, in between all the sniffling and crying and bandying about in whites and cop outfits, not to mention a costume party involving three religions,  Anti Indian  unfolds – with moments here and there that engage.   

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Then, Radha Ravi emerges on screen. When the openings credits play, there’s a curious little apology to actors who’d auditioned but were not cast, and actors whose scenes have been edited out. It’s almost sweet, until Radha Ravi rolls up as the second member of the cast. It’s delicious irony to what Maran preaches in his writing, in his screenplay and the dialogues. He does care about people, his co-citizens; he wants them to be peaceful, lovely, diverse human beings who group together in a large bungalow and sing secular verses. But he’s also chosen sides in his film – a supposed socio-political commentary that has a singular agenda, and desperately bats [only] for religious unity.   

This Anti Indian review is a Silverscreen original article. It was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the movie. Silverscreen.in and its writers do not have any commercial relationship with movies that are reviewed on the site.

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Anti Indian

2021 ‘ஆன்டி இண்டியன்’ Directed by Elamaran

Baasha dies just few days before the assembly by-Election for Mylapore constituency while the election campaign by the political parties are in full swing. Various obstacles faced to bury the deceased are revealed.

Elamaran Radha Ravi Adukalam Naren Velu Prabhakaran Udhayabanu Mageswaran Charles Vinoth Muthu Raman Florent Pereira KPY Bala

Director Director

Producer producer, writer writer, editor editor.

R. Sudharsan

Cinematography Cinematography

Production design production design.

Veeramani Ganesan

Stunts Stunts

Hari Dinesh

Composer Composer

Makeup makeup.

Moon Pictures

Alternative Title

Anti-Indian

Releases by Date

10 dec 2021, releases by country.

• Theatrical UA

140 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Bustardss

Feels like propaganda on religion opposition Failed to transmit the emotions

Review by Valeri6a ★★★

Could have made a shorter crisp version

Review by Santhosh ★★

Potential is sharp, writting is bit razor-igniting-safe but many will lose interest due to it's presentation, nevertheless you don't have any other option in liking it.

But technically there are issues. Just because i like it doesn't mean i can bear with it.

Review by yashwanth ★★★

Good dialogues but a quite stretched out screenplay,could have been shorter and crispier. Performances were good. Good debut by Blue sattai Maran.

Review by ashokk ★★½

Thought provoking political content but falls flat in its execution. Dialogues👌

Review by Antonyraj ★★½

Had a lot of potential but wasted due to the director's personal ideologies. Overall, it started well and ended in an average manner.

P.S. How the fuck can the director name the protagonist, who is a dead body, after one of the most iconic characters of an actor,and bash out the same actor personally in his movie!

Review by Premkumar Ethirajulu ★★★

Revisionist approach towards Political Satire genre that is sharp and straight - Maaran's way of saying that he deserves to comment on films and he doesn't have to abide by any conventional standards of Film criticization just like his film that refuses to stick to a template ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wanted to avoid this film as much as possible as my hatred towards Blue sattai Maran kept growing because of the consistency manifested from his lousy approach in passing comments on films in the name of film review. He never understood the idea of film appreciation and crafts.

However that doesn't seem to have stopped Maaran to make a film around a not so catchy premise of funeral procedures and how…

Review by san_hitler ★★★

Blue shirt maaran Annan debut on this political satire is good dialogues were good Some said technically poor but it was a decent work story and direction is pretty good Overall one time watchable .

Characters using the word "otha" is gonna be my favourite genders

A fine work from blue shirt maaran

Hitler's rating:7.0/10

Review by Kalai ★★★★

First of all, let me make it clear. I hate Blue sattai Maran's YouTube reviews. I still believe his comments are reckless and his understanding of a movie is extremely poor. This is evident from his review of Uttama Villan. It was evident his reviews were just to get views, likes and comments. That was the last review I saw of his. And like enormous number of people when his movie was announced I could not wait to pound on his movie to vent out my frustration. Turns out I might have a new grown respect. I simply can't believe not only has he scripted, screen played and directed this movie he also did the music. Coming to the movie,…

Review by Ganesh ★★★½

A bold political satire made in an average way! Spoiler free review!

A Tamil movie starring Elamaran (*Blue sattai *Maran), Aadukalam Naren, Radha Ravi, Velu Prabhakaran, Suresh Chakravarthy. Story, screenplay, direction, music by Elamaran (debut in all departments). Theatrical release on December 10. OTT release is 28 days later as per this (https://twitter.com/tamiltalkies/status/1469171641179463684) tweet. The film talks about the opportunistic politics done with a dead body whose parents belong to different religions.

Politics in India can broadly be classified into two types - Electoral and Ideological. While the latter is the one which will make an actual difference to peoples’ lives **over the years**, the so called “difference” is what is promised in the former. Courtesy - humans are impatient…

Review by Lawliet ★½

Almost two and half hours of speech about three major religions in India. I slept for 20 mins in first half and 45 mins in second half. If someone had insomania please watch this film if this film doesn't make you sleep then no one in the world can save you. I rated this movie with one and half marks because i watched jail a day before.🥴🥴

Review by vinvin28 ★★★½

I felt the idea of this film was really good, but it was lacking on the technical side, especially the camera work was sub par. Also there was no reason for Blue Sattai Maran to compose the music himself, he could have given it to some actual professionals. Overall the movie is a decent watch tho.

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Anti Indian(Tamil)

1 hr 59 min

Baasha's death sparks political turmoil in Mylapore, where the by-election is heating up. Further, his burial is hindered by many challenges that reveal a hidden reality. What is the connection between his death and the by-election?

Radha Ravi, Elamaran, Jeyaraj, Charles Vinoth, Vijaya