Aalavandhan

Aalavandhan (transl. The one who came to rule) is a 2001 Indian action thriller film directed by Suresh Krissna and produced by S. Thanu. It is an adaptation of the novel Dhayam that was written by Kamal Haasan in 1984 and has elements of magic realism. The film stars Kamal Haasan in dual roles, with Raveena Tandon, Manisha Koirala, Sarath Babu, Gollapudi Maruti Rao, Madurai G.S. Mani and Milind Gunaji in supporting roles. The film was simultaneously shot in Hindi with the title Abhay (transl. Fearless) with three different actors.

Although a commercial disappointment, Aalavandhan was positively received over the next few years, subsequently becoming a cult classic, with some critics stating that the film was "way ahead of its time". The film won the National Film Award for Best Special Effects, and was featured retrospectively at the 2016 Fantastic Fest, where it fetched standing ovation. In 2013, Rediff included the film in its list, "The 10 Best Films of Kamal Haasan". A digitally remastered version was released on December 8, 2023.