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, including 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
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 was released in India on 6 February 2015. Upon release, it received a mixed response and underperformed at the box office. However, after its DVD release the reception towards the film was positive and in time, attained a cult following.[2][3] A sequel Aadu 2 was released in 2017, and 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

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In Bangkok, a gangster named Dude is asked by his boss to search for and bring a rare herb known as Neelakoduveli from Kerala which is believed to bring eternal fortune to its bearer.

In Kerala, Shaji Pappan and his friends, who live in the High Range area in Idukki participate in and 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 an issue with women, due to his wife, Mary, eloping with his driver.

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

One such problem is that they are stopped by Inspector Sarbath Shameer, a quirky police officer, who is known for ramming the culprits' forehead on a lemon and drinking the juice. As Shameer questions them, Menaka Kanthan, an animal welfare activist, arrives and accuses the group of abusing the goat and presses charges. Elsewhere, a veteran leader named P.P Sasi foolishly discloses politically driven murders publicly and has to escape to evade the law.

Dude and his boys now arrive in Kerala in search of Neelakkoduveli, which is now in possession of Satan Xavier, a high-profile drug dealer living in the High Range area. They make a deal with Kanjavu Soman, a low-level drug dealer, to retrieve the herb from Xavier. However, the trunk containing Neelakkoduveli is stolen from Soman by masked assailants driving a van similar to the one that Shaji drives. Dude thinks that Shaji and his group are the thieves and his men then capture Abu and Pinky as hostages.

Shaji is sent a ransom video by Dude and is able to work out their location. The group attempts to rescue Abu and Pinky but is unable to do so due to the firepower that Dude unleashes. Shaji then reluctantly decides to seek help from his estranged elder brother, Thomas, who arms the group with ancient rifles. These rifles turn out to be duds but the group is still able to defeat Dude and rescue Abu and Pinky. During this clash, Shameer and his men arrive and apprehend Dude, the trunk, and also find Sasi hidden nearby. However, on opening the trunk they discover cow dung instead of the herb.

It is then revealed that Soman had switched the trunk with a decoy one filled with dung. While escaping with it, he falls into a pit and the contents of the trunk are dispersed. The herb is then eaten by Pinky who is nearby. The power of the herb brought Pinky luck, which was why the lamb wasn't harmed.

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

Cast

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Reception

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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

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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

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

References

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  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". 8 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Aadu 3: Shajipappan and team will come back with yet another laugh riot in 2019". The Times of India. 14 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Cult hit 'Aadu' to be re-released this month". The Times of India. 7 March 2018.
  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.
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