From MGR-Devar Films' Nalla Neram to Yogi Babu's Gurkha and Gorilla, a look at Tamil films that featured animals as star attractions
The hype for animal-based Tamil films seems to have grown exponentially this year, with two films featuring animals releasing this week, and many more queued up for release.
With Don Sandy's Gorilla, featuring a chimpanzee, and Sam Anton's Gurkha, starring a dog, getting a release this week, we trace the importance of animals in Tamil cinema in this photo-feature.
The usage of animals in Tamil films started way back in 1953, when Kothamangalam Subbu decided to cast elephants in his classic hit, Avvaiyar.
There was a scene when Avvai seeks the help of lord Ganesa. The lord sends her a herd of elephants to demolish a fort. The team used a herd that were being moved from Coorg to Andaman via Madras port
M.M.A Chinnappa Devar's films, in the 70s and 80s, will always find the involvement of at least one animal, say a dog, a ram,a cow, a horse, an elephant, and at times even a snake.
Nalla Neram (1972), a remake of the Hindi film Haathi Mera Saathi, starring Rajesh Khanna, was the last movie of MGR with Devar films, and their only collaboration in colour.
Earlier, the 1996 film, Saraswathi Sabatham, had Sivaji Ganesan sharing screen space with an elephant.
Aattukara Alamelu (1977), another Devar Films' production, famously featured a goat, along with Sripriya.
After MGR quit cinema for active politics, Devar started using the next popular hero, Superstar Rajniikanth. Rajini acted in many Devar films in the early 80s like Thai Veedu and Renga.
Annai oru Alayam, another Devar Films' production, starred Rajini as a hunter, who helps a baby elephant to reach its mother. It was a remake of Hindi film, Maa (1976).
Kamal Haasan's stint with Devar films was short - of which Ram Laxman (1981) was the most popular. The film explored the brotherly relationship between Kamal (Ram) and an elephant (Laxman).
The 1990 children's film, Durga, directed by Rama Narayanan, famously featured a dog and a monkey, along with Baby Shamili.
Aboorva Sagotharagal, which featured a midget Kamal as a circus clown, had the actor performing many stunts with dogs, tigers, lions, and rare birds.
Post MGR and Devar films, there were hardly any films in Tamil which used animals as protagonists, until Kumki (2012) and Naaigal Jaaikirathai (2014) happened.
Director Prabhu Solomon explored the bond between a 'kumki' elephant and his mahout in his drama, Kumki. The elephant, Manickam, that featured in the film, was trained in a camp for the film.
Shakti Soundar Rajan's Naaigal Jaakirathai was about the journey, a police officer and his military-trained dog, embark on. The dog helps the cop, suffering from PTSD, find his kidnapped wife .
After a gap, the hype for animal-based Tamil films seems to have caught on, again this year, as nearly half a dozen films featuring animals have already released. A lot more are under production.
GV Prakash's Watchman featured a 'wonder dog', a golden retriever called Bruno. The Vijay-directorial followed a youngster, who gets trapped in a bungalow with Bruno.
Monster, directed by Nelson Venkatesan, starred a rat, which troubles a compassionate man, played by SJ Suryah. It's perhaps the best children’s film to have come out in Tamil cinema in a long time.
Sam Anton's Gurkha, which gets a release this week, features Yogi Babu as a gurkha, guarding a mall, along with a dog. Gurkha is said to be a heist film, with a mall hostage situation.
Jiiva's Gorilla, which also gets a release this Friday, is said to be a heist comedy about a chimp, who helps a team rob a bank. The film, featuring a real-life chimp, named Kong, was shot in Thailand
Despite the makers of Gorilla claiming that they took special precautions for shooting with the chimp, PETA issued a statement stating that exploitation of the chimp for entertainment is animal abuse.
Ashok Selvan has signed his next with Bruce Lee director, Prasanth Pandiaraj. Titled Jack, the upcoming film, which happens at the LOC, is about the relationship between a soldier and an army dog.
Bigg Boss-fame Arav's upcoming film, Rajabheema, will apparently explore the relationship between a man and an elephant, again.
Prabhu Solomon's Kumki 2, which is currently in post-production, will reportedly not be a sequel. Instead, it will revolve around a baby elephant, a small boy, and their friendship over the years.
Prabhu Solomon's yet another pet project, Kaadan, which is in its final leg of shoot, is a tribute to the 1971 classic, Haathi Mere Saathi. Starring Rana Daggubati, it stars an elephant in the lead.
