Athithi (2014 film)

Plot

Madhiazhagan (Nandha) is a highly successful project manager at a leading property promoters firm. He's happily wedded to Vasugi (Ananya) and has a five-year-old daughter Pavi. Posh house, heftily paying job, highly appreciative and supportive boss, and a happy family - Madhi's life is a far fetched dream to most people in this era. But all changes one day, when a man requests to be dropped en route, when Madhi and Vasu set out on a pleasant weekend. The mysterious stranger pulls out a pistol and begins to threaten the couple to bend to his wishes, holding Pavi as hostage. And the day sets off with the stranger making the couple draw out all the money Madhi has, to the last penny and setting it all on fire. Next, he makes Madhi lose his career by leaking the top secrets of his company, trusted to him, to their competitor. And the day goes on with further more gimmicks by the stranger, while the couple are cornered to do it all for their little daughter's life. And for the same reason, they also refrain from making a complaint to the police, although they are tantalizingly near their target. While this seems endless, how they figure a way out of the mess, with a completely unexpected twist to the whole story in the end, 'Athithi' is an edge-of-the-seat realistic thriller.

Cast

Production

The film was announced in September 2013 when Spellbound Films Inc revealed they had signed on Ananya and contracted with Bharathan to make the film. Initially, actor Seenu who was, until now, seen in small roles, and Nikesh Ram, were touted to play the two heroes. However, before production began, Nandha replaced Seenu in one of the leading roles. The film began shoot in November 2013. This film is Bharathan's second directorial after Azhagiya Thamizh Magan (2007).

Critical reception

The Hindu wrote, "It’s a solid backbone for a thriller — except that Athithi, after a while, abandons this angle and drifts into a more personal zone. The bigger problem with Athithi is that the writing is all over the place." The Times Of India gave 2 stars out of 5 and said "This is a solid line for an edge-of-the-seat thriller but Bharathan resorts to formulaic filmmaking — unwarranted songs and a comedy track featuring Thambi Ramaiah that kills tension like bucketfuls of water dousing a minor fire; The whiplash editing tries to whip up some tension but it only feels desperate and overdone". Silverscreen.in summarized its review with "Athithi had a thrilling premise– a normal man playing a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with a brooding stranger, but it is marred by poor execution and apathetic performances from the cast." Indiaglitz was more positive in its assessment, saying the movie was "worth investing your time in". Deccan Chronicle gave 2.5 stars and wrote, "The movie moves at its own pace with inconsistent narration, but it has its thrilling moments as well", calling it "Above Average".

Soundtrack