Two men poles apart in their nature, outlook and background and thrown together in a chance encounter, as reluctant travel companions on their journey from the flood-hit Orissa to their home town in Tamil Nadu. As they travel together through various misadventures, the younger one Anbarasu (#$#call me Ars#$#), a smart and suave advertising film-maker finds himself drawn to his older companion Nalla Sivam, and realises that he#$#s much to learn from him.

Sivam#$#s crude talk, ways and jokes had repulsed him earlier and he had scornfully brushed off the older man#$#s friendly overtures. In the company of Sivam however he soon finds himself evolving from a fussy, finicky, self-centered man, to a more mature and a more humane human being who comes face to face with the harsh realities of life. And for Sivam, at the end of it all, it is the complete exorcism of the ghosts of his past, and reconciling himself to his destiny.

It#$#s a touching story, laced with humour and sentiment, narrated with sensitivity by Sunder C, a meaningful film from Lakshmi Movie Makers. Engaging despite its slow pace at times. Kamal Haasan#$#s interesting story and screenplay  - strongly inspired by the Steve Martin starrer #$#Planes, trains and automobiles#$#, and Madan#$#s punchy, meaningful lines form the backbone to the narration. Enhancing the effect is Arthur Wilson#$#s camera and Vidyasagar#$#s music that captures the mood throughout. Slick editing (Sai Suresh), and authentic sets (Prabhakar) enhance the effect.

It#$#s a brilliant portrayal by Kamal Haasan, capturing impressively the various stages the character goes through. #$#Comrade#$# Nalla the workers#$# leader who stages street plays to create awareness among the people. Nalla falling in love with Bala, the boss#$# daughter, but not apologetic about it. Deciding to back out, but changing his mind after the support from his companions, and eloping with Bala for a secret marriage. The bus accident which renders him a cripple, with his handsome face scarred, a part of his moustache and a tooth missing, an anti-thesis of the person he was earlier. Finding Bala gone out of his life, but ploughing on for the cause of the workers, a strong belief in the goodness of humans. Kamal Haasan goes through the whole scenario re-establishing his credentials as one of the finest actors we have.

The perfect foil is Madhavan. Pitted against an actor of Kamal#$#s calibre, Madhavan plays the fussy, self-centered, suave man with perfect ease. A little put-on in the later scenes at the hospital-camp, where the evolution to a more humane person takes place. But here it#$#s more the clichιd scenes than the actor which is to be blamed.

Kiran is a revelation here. Glamorous, but not the dresses which had raised eye-brows, in her films earlier. Proving she can perform if given the chance. The dubbing voice given by Anuradha Sriram fitting her perfectly. Coming out well in the scene where she argues about their love with Kamal. Brilliant is Uma Riyaz Khan as Kamal#$#s comrade, doing street-plays with him, hiding her love for him, resenting when she sees him closer to Bala, and in a final outburst berating him for not reciprocating her love, a nice comic-tragic touch to the scene. Nasser as Bala#$#s father and Santhana Bharathi as his right hand provide support.

Sensitive and touching, light-hearted and humourous, it#$#s a film to be watched. One of those rare cases where the title is relevant to the theme. #$#Anbe Sivam#$# - a story about Anbu and Sivam. Anbe Sivam - love is God. What Sivam firmly believed in.