A terrorist organization, looking for more funds, comes up with a plan to kidnap the children of millionaires and hold them for ransom. Jayaram(Manoj. K. Jayan), a singer, learns that his daughter Priya, is one of the targets and so he in on the lookout for a bodyguard for Priya. A family friend, an ex-policeman, suggests another ex-policeman Vijay(Arjun) for the job. Vijay initially keeps Priya at an arm's length but she soon wins him over and he begins to genuinely care for her.

At the heart of the movie is the only relationship that the original was based on - the relationship between a little girl and her bodyguard. And that's the one that serves to differentiate Aanai from other masala flicks. Arjun's stony heart being gradually thawed by the talkative girl is nice to watch. And the affection he develops for her is key since that is what drives him in the second half. Since romance and comedy intrude on the relationship, it does not get enough time and feels rushed. But inspite of that, there are a few tender moments that work well.

When you have an "action king" leading the cast, action is what you go to the movie for and the director serves up quite a bit of that too. Arjun's grimness and the seriousness of his mission give an added edge to the proceedings. Many of the stunts are also marked by some clever moments(like the way Arjun saves the people at the burning marriage hall) that elevate them a notch above the usual shoot-em-ups. But such moments are balanced by the silliness that creeps in whenever the canvas gets large. The whole London link seems silly and scenes, like the way Arjun catches the main bad guy, are amateurish.

This being a Tamil film, romance and comedy have to be part of the package. But both manage to keep our interest from flagging. We get two romances though I was never sure who, if either Namitha or Keerthi, Arjun likes. And eventually, it looks like the director wasn't sure either since he doesn't provide a resolution either. This leads to some very awkward places to insert duets. Vadivelu has a separate comedy track as usual. Though not as funny as Giri , his previous association with Arjun, there are an equal number of hits(like the segment where he buys oil) and misses(like his encounter with a drunk passenger when he becomes an auto driver).

Arjun is serious almost throughout the film, except for a few smiles exchanged with the little girl. Namitha, apparently added on Arjun's insistance since she is the most popular heroine in the B and C centres, does what she was added for, parading around in clothes a few sizes too small. Keerthi Chawla is oK but doesn't stand out. Manoj.K.Jayan overacts in most scenes.