Aadu (film)

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Aadu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMidhun Manuel Thomas
Written byMidhun Manuel Thomas
Produced byVijay Babu
Sandra Thomas
StarringJayasurya
Vijay Babu
Sunny Wayne
Vinayakan
Saiju Kurup
Dharmajan Bolgatty
Narrated byMamukkoya
CinematographyVishnu Narayanan
Edited byLijo Paul
Music byShaan Rahman
Production
company
Distributed byFriday Tickets
Release date
  • 6 February 2015 (2015-02-06) (India)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Aadu (transl.Goat) is a 2015 Indian slapstick comedy film, written and directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. It was an adaptation from the Guy Richie film "Snatch" where the dog and diamond were replaced by the Goat and "Neela Koduveli". It was produced and distributed by Vijay Babu and Sandra Thomas through Friday Film House. The film stars an ensemble cast includes Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Sunny Wayne, Vinayakan, Saiju Kurup, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Vineeth Mohan, Bhagath Manuel, Renji Panicker, Sandra Thomas, Chemban Vinod Jose, Indrans, Bijukuttan and Harikrishnan.[1]

Aadu was released in India on 6 February 2015. Upon release, it received mixed response and under-performed at the box office. However, after its DVD release the reception towards the film were positive and in time attained a cult following.[2][3] A sequel Aadu 2 was released in 2017, a third installment Aadu 3 has been announced for a release in 3D format.[4] Aadu was re-released in Kerala on 16 March 2018.[5]

Plot

The film opens in Bangkok with a gangster named Dude being roped in by his boss to fetch a rare herb known as Neelakoduveli, which is believed to bring eternal fortune to its bearer.

Meanwhile in Kerala, Shaji Pappan and his friends, who live in the High Range area in Idukki have a tug-of-war team called 'Winners Pothumukku'. They manage to win a tug-of-war tournament, the prize of which is a female goat, whom the team calls 'Pinky'. Shaji, who suffers from frequent back pain, has a tough past with females, due to his wife Mary eloping with his driver.

He reluctantly allows Pinky inside his van, after Abu, one of his teammates, assures him that he will slaughter it for a feast. Abu, however, is revealed to be unable to slaughter the goat. This, along with many other problems on their journey back make Shaji determined to get rid of Pinky.

On their way back, they are stopped by Inspector Sarbath Shameer, a quirky police officer, who is also known for his habit of ramming the culprits' forehead on a lemon placed on a table, and drinking its juice. As Shameer interrogates the team, Menaka Kanthan, an animal welfare activist, accuses the group for abusing the goat and presses charges.

In the meantime, Dude and his boys arrive in Kerala in search of Neelakkoduveli, which is now in possession of Satan Xavier, a high-profile drug dealer. Kanjavu Soman makes a deal with Dude to retrieve the herb from Xavier. Howerever, Soman is robbed of the chest containing Neelakkoduveli by masked assailants driving a van. Dude and his men mistake Abu for the thief and capture him along with Pinky as hostages.

Elsewhere, a veteran left-wing leader named P.P Sasi foolishly discloses politically driven murders to the public and has to escape to evade the law. Shaji is sent a ransom video by Dude and is able to work out the location of their hideout. They attempt to rescue Abu and Pinky, however, they run into Shameer and are unable to do so due to the firepower that Dude has.

Shaji reluctantly decides to seek help from his estranged elder brother Thomas. As an iron-smith, Thomas arms the group with rifles to confront Dude and his thugs. The century-old rifles turns out to be useless. But they defeat Dude and rescue Abu and Pinky. During this clash, Shameer and his men arrive and apprehend Dude, the chest containing Neelakoduveli and also find Sasi hidden nearby.

Shameer is praised by his superior officer, for recovering the Neelakkoduveli. However, on opening the trunk, they only discover dung. Due to his negligence, Shameer gets suspended.

In a flashback, it is shown that Soman switched the herb chest with a decoy trunk filled with dung. While escaping with the chest, he falls into an elephant pit and the contents of the chest are dispersed. Pinky who was nearby ate the Neelakkoduveli from the popped open chest. The power of the exotic herb rendered Pinky auspicious, which might be the reason why the ewe lamb wasn't harmed.

Pappan finally manages to sell Pinky to a butcher. On the sight of his friends' evoked grievances, he feels a stroke of sympathy and takes Pinky back.

Cast

Reception

Upon release, the film received mixed response. Full comedy scenes[6] Akhila of FilmiBeat stated "Film fails to meet the expectations raised by the first looks and promotion".[7] Veeyen of nowrunning.com said "'Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeevi Aanu' is a fiasco of colossal proportions that is little more than a series of insipid conversations between supposedly hilarious characters. Suffering from some severely smug writing, Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeevi Aanu is iffy stuff that delivers none of the promises that it makes, which includes serving a few earnest laughs as well."[8]

Music

Aadu Oru Bheegara Jeeviyanu
Soundtrack album by
Released28 January 2015
Recorded2014
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length5.23
LanguageMalayalam
LabelSargaswara Audio Lab
ProducerShaan Rahman
Shaan Rahman chronology
Ormayundo Ee Mukham
(2014)
Aadu Oru Bheegara Jeeviyanu
(2015)
Oru Vadakkan Selfie
(2015)

The original soundtrack and background score were composed by Shaan Rahman, with lyrics by Manu Manjith.[9]

Soundtrack
#Title Singer(s) Lyrics Length
"Chingaariyaadu" Harsha K. H., Jayasurya, Muhammad Ashad Manu Manjith 2:51
"Kodikayarana" Anwar Sadath, Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 2:32
Background score
#Title Singer(s) Lyrics Length
"Shaaji Paappan" Anwar Sadath, Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 00:52
"Abu Bheekaran" Anwar Sadath, Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 00:54
"Dude" Anwar Sadath, Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 00:46
"Sarbath Shameer" Anwar Sadath, Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 00:50
"Sathan Xavier" Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 00:52
"Lal Salaam(Shashi Ashan)" Muhammad Ashad, Shaan Rahman Manu Manjith 00:46

Sequel

A sequel called Aadu 2 was released on 22 December 2017 and was commercial success at the box office.

References

  1. ^ "Review: Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeeviyanu is anything but entertaining".
  2. ^ "Cult hit 'Aadu' to be re-released this month". The Times of India. 7 March 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Pinky, back with a bleat".
  4. ^ https://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/aadu-3-shajipappan-and-team-will-come-back-with-yet-another-laugh-riot-in-2019/amp_articleshow/63300591.cms[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ https://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/cult-hit-aadu-to-be-re-released-this-month/amp_articleshow/63199583.cms[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Nicy V P (7 February 2015). "'Aadu Oru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu' Review Roundup: Jayasurya Starrer Fails to Meet Expectations". International Business Times.
  7. ^ Menon, Akhila (6 February 2015). "Aadu Oru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu Movie Review: Not As Expected!". Filmibeat.
  8. ^ "Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeeviyanu Review | Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeeviyanu Malayalam Movie Review by Veeyen". NOWRUNNING. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  9. ^ TNN (13 February 2015). "Aadu Oru Bheekara Jeeviyanu Music Review". The Times of India.

External links