Kaadan

Kaadan (transl. Forester) in Tamil, Aranya (transl. Forester) in Telugu, and Haathi Mere Saathi in Hindi (transl. Elephants are my friends), is a 2021 Indian action adventure film[1] written and directed by Prabhu Solomon.[2] Produced by Eros International, the film stars Rana Daggubati, Vishnu Vishal (Tamil and Telugu), Pulkit Samrat (Hindi), Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Zoya Hussain.[3] It was filmed simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages, each with slightly different cast members.[4]

Kaadan
Aranya
Haathi Mere Saathi
Release poster (Tamil version)
Directed byPrabhu Solomon
Written byPrabhu Solomon
Produced byEros International
Starring
CinematographyA. R. Ashok Kumar
Edited byBuvan
Music byShantanu Moitra
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 26 March 2021 (2021-03-26) (Tamil and Telugu)
  • 18 September 2021 (2021-09-18) (Hindi)
Running time
178 minutes
CountryIndia
Languages
  • Tamil
  • Telugu
  • Hindi

Kaadan and Aranya were released on 26 March 2021, delayed from the initial release of 2 April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatrical release of Haathi Mere Saathi was put on hold which subsequently opted for a direct-to-video release on Zee Cinema and Eros Now on 18 September 2021.[5] The film was promoted as a comic strip by famous children's magazine, Tinkle as Little Bandev.

Plot

Kaadan (Tamil)/Aranya (Telugu)/Bandev (Hindi) is a true-blue animal film signifying a deep and strong bond between humans and animals.

Cast
Cast (Tamil/Telugu) Cast (Hindi) Role (Tamil) Role (Telugu) Role (Hindi)
Rana DaggubatiVeerabharathi "Kaadan"Narendra Bhupathi "Aranya"Sumitranandan "Bandev"
Vishnu VishalPulkit SamratMaaranSingaShankar
Zoya HussainAruviArvi
Shriya PilgaonkarArundhati
Ravi KaleSuperintendent of Police
Anant MahadevanKurinjinathanKanakamedala Raja GopalamJagannath Sevak
Sheeba ChaddhaJudge
Srinath—Attorney
Bose VenkatVishwajeet PradhanDivisional Forest Officer
Raghu BabuAnkit SagarMaaran's uncleSinga's uncleShankar's uncle
Bhuvan AroraAarav
Sampath RamAlok GagdekarDivisional Forest Officer

Production

The film was announced on 13 December 2017.[6] Prabhu Solomon wanted to bring the issue of elephant abuse to the light.[7] Unnikrishnan, an elephant who played a role in Kumki 2, also plays a pivotal role in the film. Hindi actress Zoya Hussain was signed to play a role.[8] Rana Daggubati shed 15 kilograms for this film by eating vegetarian food for six weeks.[9][10][11] The makers initially announced Kalki Koechlin to play a role in the film, however, she was replaced by Shriya Pilgaonkar.[12] Vishnu Vishal was signed to play a role in the Tamil and Telugu versions while Pulkit Samrat will reprise his role in the Hindi version.[13][14]

Release

Initially scheduled for release on 2 April 2020, the film release was then indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[15][16] before being rescheduled to be released on 15 January 2021 to coincide with Pongal festival.[17] In January 2021, the film has been announced to release on 26 March 2021.[18]

In March 2021, owing to the COVID-19 situation, the release of Hindi version Haathi Mere Saathi has been postponed. Tamil and Telugu versions, however, are released as scheduled.[19] The Hindi version is set to have a direct-to-video release on the television channel Zee Cinema followed by the streaming platform Eros Now on 18 September 2021.[20] The satellite rights of the film were sold to Zee Tamil for Tamil Version and Telugu version was sold to Zee Telugu

Music
Kaadan
Aranya
Haathi Mere Saathi
Soundtrack album by
Shantanu Moitra
Released17 March 2021 (All languages)[21][22][23]
Recorded2019-20
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length
LanguageTamil
Telugu
Hindi
LabelEros Music
ProducerEros International

The music for the film has been composed by Shantanu Moitra and lyrics written by Swanand Kirkire (Hindi version) and Vanamali (Tamil and Telugu versions).

Tamil
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Thaalaattu Paadum"Haricharan4:53
2."Chinna China"Haricharan4:24
3."Idhayame"Javed Ali5:06
Total length:14:23
Telugu
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Chitike 'Se' Aa Chirugaali"Haricharan4:53
2."Vellu Vellu"Haricharan4:24
3."Hrudayame"Javed Ali5:06
Total length:14:22
Hindi
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Shukriya"Rituraj Mohanty4:53
2."Dheeme Dheeme"Adriz Gosh4:26
3."Ae Hawa"Javed Ali5:06
Total length:14:25

Reception

Aranya

The Times of India critic Suhas Yelupantla rated the film 3.5 stars of 5 and calling it an "engaging ride." He added that, "The first few minutes of the film are among the best. The visual effects, backed by the background score is spot on. The portrayal of the elephants is even better."[24]

Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu felt that the film could have been better, and added "Rana singularly tries to hold things together, trying to save the elephants as well as the film."[25] Hemanth Kumar, in his review for the Firstpost, also echoed the same, stating that: "Rana Daggubati's film on ecosystem conservation, is educational but exceptionally insipid."[26] The Indian Express journalist Manoj Kumar rated the film 2/5 and called it "sub-standard." He added that Aranya was redeemed by its cinematography, Resul Pookutty's sound design, and Daggubati's acting."[27]

Kaadan

A reviewer from Sify called it a "noble attempt." They termed "Rana and his earnest performance as Kaadan" and "AR Ashok Kumar's splendid cinematography" as the film's main highlights.[28] Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times opined that the film was predictable and added: "its grandeur merely used as a gimmick to project the film on epic scale." Pudipeddi appreciated Daggubati's performance, calling it "one of his best till date."[29] M. Sugandh in his The Times of India review wrote: "Prabu Solomon is more interested in telling us a story. It is only in the climax that the filmmaker starts to sermonise, which feels unnecessary given that we get the movie's 'message' even without the need for any underscoring."[30]

Haathi Mere Saathi

NDTV's Saibal Chatarjee rated the film 2/5 and opined that the film rode on Daggubati's shoulders. He added that Solomon delivered the message on increasing deforestation in a gratuitously high-pitched manner, completely devoid of nuance.[31] Writing for the Rediff.com, Sukanya Verma gave a negative review and said: "Between bad writing, hysterical acting and a shoddy blend of CGI and the real deal, Haathi Mere Saathi completely neglects the message of saving our elephants."[32]

References
  1. Ghosh, Devarsi (22 March 2021). "How Rana Daggubati lost weight and gained new insights into nature for 'Haathi Mere Saathi'". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021. All of this is delivered in an action-adventure tone, the most fun way to consume this story.
  2. "'Haathi Mere Saathi' completes second schedule". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  3. Ians (2 January 2018). "Rana unveils his new look in "Haathi Mere Saathi"". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  4. Iyengar, Shriram. "Haathi Mere Saathi first look: Rana Daggubati is intense, fierce as Bandev". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  5. "Rana Daggubati's Haathi Mere Saathi to premiere on TV on September 18". India Today. 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. "Rana Daggubati on Twitter". Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  7. "Kaadan is a soulful film: Rana Daggubati". The Times of India. 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  8. "Mukkabaaz actress Zoya Hussain to star in Haathi Mere Saathi?". Deccan Chronicle. 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  9. "Rana Daggubati sheds 15 Kg for his upcoming film Haathi Mere Saathi". Deccan Chronicle. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  10. "Jungle Book: Rana Daggubati spends 200 days in different forests for 'Kaadan'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  11. Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (2 March 2020). "Into the wild: Rana Daggubati on 'Kaadan' and running with herds of elephants". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. "Shriya Pilgaonkar replaces Kalki Koechlin in Rana Daggubati's Haathi Mere Saathi". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  13. "Vishnu Vishal wraps up 20-day schedule for Kaadan". The Times of India. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  14. "Vishnu Vishal's look from Kaadan released". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  15. "Haathi Mere Saathi postponed due to coronavirus outbreak". Cinema Express. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  16. "Makers of Kaadan announces the film's postponement". The Times of India. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  17. "Vishnu Vishal-Rana-starrer Kaadan slated for a Pongal release in theatres". The Times of India. 21 October 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  18. "Rana Daggubati and Vishnu Vishal's 'Kaadan' to release on 26 March". The Times of India. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  19. "Rana Daggubati's Haathi Mere Saathi theatrical release postponed due to rise in COVID-19 cases". The Indian Express. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  20. "Rana Daggupati Led 'Haathi Mere Saathi' Skip The OTT Route To Go Straight To DTH". Koimoi. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  21. "Kaadan (Tamil) - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jio Saavn. 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  22. "Aranya (Telugu) - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jio Saavn. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  23. "Haathi Mere Saathi (Hind) - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jio Saavn. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  24. "Aranya Movie Review: An engaging ride", The Times of India, archived from the original on 25 March 2021, retrieved 26 March 2021
  25. Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (26 March 2021). "'Aranya'/'Kaadan' movie review: The jungle giants deserved better". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  26. "Aranya movie review: Rana Daggubati and the elephants deserve a better film". Firstpost. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  27. "Aranya movie review: Rana Daggubati and a worthy cause let down by a sub-standard film". The Indian Express. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  28. "Kaadan review: Watch it for Rana's earnest performance". Sify. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  29. "Kaadan movie review: Rana Daggubati's film does a disservice to noble story". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  30. "Kaadan Movie Review: Earnest storytelling keeps Kaadan engaging", The Times of India, archived from the original on 26 March 2021, retrieved 26 March 2021
  31. "Haathi Mere Saathi Review: Rana Daggubati's Film Is In Desperate Need Of A Rescue Act". NDTV.com. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  32. VERMA, SUKANYA (20 September 2021). "Haathi Mere Saathi review". Rediff. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
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