Developmental Psychology of the Character: Ambi (Anniyan)

Ambi is the title character played by Vikram in Anniyan (2005). Anniyan is a complex character situated in an extreme psychosocial and emotional development throughout his existence. He involves himself in the character of Anniyan and another personality that he strikes up because he cannot bear the unkind behaviour of the corrupted society. This makes him equally interesting in the psychological gaze into transformation with reference to childhood trauma, identity issues, and coping mechanisms.

The movie Anniyan is a Tamil thriller directed by Shankar. Ambi is an unremarkable lawyer who develops multiple personalities after suppressing his emotions for many years and facing the external forces of society. Different sides of Ambi, the good and conforming, conflict with his other self, Anniyan, a crusader punishing the corrupt.

Reason for Selection: Ambi’s character indicates many different angles of emotional growth attached to those life experiences and particular milestones. Therefore, he is the best individual to study lifespan developmental theory due to his identity, social expectations, and areas of development.

Developmental Analysis Erikson: Early Childhood (Trust vs. Mistrust)

1. Psychological Development

There was much trauma in early childhood for Ambi, with no emotional backing for security and trust. There was, in fact, no development in early childhood because of the lack of emotional nurturing on the part of his parents. This in itself would have implications later in life concerning his emotional detachment.

2. Issues

In his childhood, he was very attached to his younger sister. He expressed love and affection for his sister. He played with her frequently. He was very responsible as her brother. Unfortunately, she died due to a government electricity fault during the rain. Even though his father was a lawyer, they weren’t able to get justice for her death. This affects him deeply and creates trauma. He felt aggressive towards the government unconsciously because of the impact of the death.

Erikson: Teenage Years (Identity vs. Role Confusion)

1. Psychological Development

Ambi is submerged in a world of pressure from teenage life concerning the realm of identity, against which he casts a firm Alterations of the law within the societal framework. An internal dilemma was evoked in him, as one aspiring to be a great lawyer, whilst being accepted by society, which creates confusion of identity. He has role confusion between what he studied, learned and the reality of the society.

2. Issues

Ambi attempts to meet different expectations from society, and thus, his identity in society. He is a perfectionist because of the need for acceptance in one’s mind and due to the needs he has to fulfil for society and family. It is this passion that drives him deeper into isolation and struggles. His internal psyche motivated him to become a lawyer because of the inspiration of his dad and his motive to change society (started from his sister’s death).

Development Analysis Erikson: Young Adulthood (Intimacy vs. Isolation)

1. Psychological Development

Most experience shown is the failure of Ambi to develop any tight bonds with people and especially Nandhini in the film. Because he hates to break the rules and expects everyone should follow the rules. Ambi developed strong feelings for Nandhini, but his fear of rejection and habitual suppression of emotions led him into isolation. As a result, he struggled to form meaningful relationships.

2. Issues

Emotional neglect in his formative years is at the basis of Ambi’s inability to work emotionally with anybody, and Nandhini becomes his love interest. Past traumatic experiences made it difficult for him to trust others, further complicating his emotional responses and attachment patterns. He is ‘considerably’ alone emotionally and cannot carry out love affairs because he wishes to be rated as a strict, law-abiding human being. Anniyan, his other personality, is a way for Ambi to escape the loneliness he feels. He uses this identity to avoid the pain of close relationships. This shows how deeply isolated he is emotionally.

Erikson: Emerging Adult–Middle Age (Generativity vs. Stagnation)

Psychological Development

Ambi, as he grows up, tends to find a way of giving back to society and leaving a legacy behind, and that pushes him to create the Anniyan personality because Anniyan would be punishing the corrupt in society, and also must carry his legacy within the world, although he suffers from his inner conflict. In middle age, Ambi needs to act like accepting society as it is.

Issues

His generativity becomes tainted because he cannot generate constructively without getting violent. His dualism and epitome of Anniyan exposed his attempt to bring balance and meaning to life in a disorganised world.

Application of Theory: Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development

A majority of the psychosocial crises in Erikson’s framework are witnessed in his growth at different life stages. For instance, in the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, Ambi is faced with an almost existential crisis. He is not sure about his role in life as well as in relationships with others. The birth of his alter ego, Anniyan, can be labelled an external manifestation of his failure to address positively this crisis of identity. Life for Ambi involves boundary conflicts between individual needs and demands by society, and his personified dichotomy eventually becomes an unaccepted feeling as well as to exist through temporary fugue effects through the alter ego “Anniyan.”

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

• Microsystem: Ambi’s immediate surroundings (family, workplace, friends) play an important role in his development. His parent-child relationship, the extent of social demands, and his occupation as an attorney all contribute to his internal conflict.
• Macrosystem: In contrast, those larger external social forces outside of the individual (corruption, law, culture) weigh heavily on Ambi. These expect him to act in a certain way; when he perceives a corruption of the institution in his world, yet does not take action, it is then that his “violent” nature is unleashed to confront those external social pressures.
• Chronosystem: Ambi’s challenges have manifested differently over time. As his emotional state becomes increasingly fragile, the emergence of dual personalities reflects a changing interaction pattern between his inner ecological system and larger social issues.

Conclusion: Summary of Insights

The personality of Ambi reflects his childhood trauma, and the effects of irresponsible people led to the ruin of his life. The mirror of his childhood affects his future relationship with others and the accepted realities of society. Even at the end of the movie, he doesn’t accept the people who didn’t follow the rules. On the other side, this character had multiple personality disorders to satisfy his needs, especially in his romantic life, and to have the perfect society. He had two personalities with him. One is Anniyan, who punished people vigorously who were irresponsible and did not follow the government’s rules. This leads society to follow the laws. The other one is Remo, who was the romantic, handsome and good-looking playboy. He was used to satisfy the love relationship with Nandhini. Once he satisfied both needs, they left.