Diwali special: 7 Indian films with animals in significant roles

Diwali is here, and it’s vacation time for most of the kids. While evenings are usually occupied by friends, games, and fireworks (for those who still like to set off a few), the rest of the day is available for other activities, including entertainment. Now, films with animals in significant roles—either leading roles in animated films or roles that help to move the narrative forward in live-action dramas—have been children’s favourites and family attractions over the decades. While you may have watched popular Hollywood films with animal characters, have you and your kids seen some interesting Indian films of the last decade where animals play significant roles? If not, this is as good a time as any to catch up.

Beyond their roles as companions, animals such as dogs and cats hold a special place in human lives in a world marked by hustle and bustle, stress, and the challenges of modern living. This is not a random statement by some dog or cat person. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that human-animal interactions can bring emotional, physiological, and cognitive benefits and there is a remarkable healing connection between humans and animals. So it is no surprise if filmmakers are also trying to explore this bond through their works.

Here, then, is a list of some interesting Indian films with animals from the last 10 years, in no particular order.

777 Charlie (2022): Starring Rakshit Shetty and directed by Kiranraj K., 777 Charlie is a poignant tale about a lonely factory worker and a young Labrador who build a soulful bond during their journey together. Released in multiple languages on June 10, 2022, the travel film won widespread critical acclaim, including National Award for Best Kannada Film at the 69^th National Film Awards. The film, shot at many picturesque locations, also went on to become a big hit, grossing over Rs100 crore at the box office. (The Hindi-dubbed version of this Kannada film is available on Amazon Prime Video in India.)

Idak: The Goat (2017): This Marathi film, directed by Deepak Gawade and starring Sandeep Pathak, is a charming, heartwarming tale of optimism and an odd friendship between a simple guy and a goat on their journey together. The movie centres on Namya (Pathak), a good-for-nothing school dropout whose mother asks him to sacrifice a goat at a local fair. Namya agrees. Soon after, he locates a goat and sets off for the fair; however, the goat transforms the simple trek into a two-day excursion that teaches Namya the value of friendship. (This film is available on ZEE5 in India.)

Mughizh (2021): This 59-minute Tamil film starring Vijay Sethupathi, Regina Cassandra, and child actor Sreeja is a must-watch for every dog lover. The film, directed by Karthik Swaminathan, delivers profound observations on bereavement, parenting, and life itself—all from a child’s viewpoint, unlike your typical kid-animal comedy flicks. The narrative centres on a contented family consisting of a father (Sethupathi), mother (Cassandra), and daughter Kavya (Sreeja) who is terrified of dogs and doesn’t particularly like them. One day, her parents bring a cute puppy (Scooby) home to help her overcome her anxiety about dogs and she quickly connects with the new family member. However, Scooby chooses to split up sooner than anticipated, which devastates the family. (This film is available on Netflix in India.)

Jallikattu (2019): When we hear of a film depicting the human-animal bond, we expect it to be a lovely, heartwarming story with plenty of lighthearted moments. However, director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Malayalam action-thriller Jallikattu provides viewers with a unique storyline that stands in stark contrast to the cliched ‘sweet tale’ concept and offers a perspective on human-animal conflict that has been going on for thousands of years. Set in a hilly rural town of Kerala, the film tells the story of a buffalo that escapes from an abattoir and the people who set out to hunt it down. Pellissery’s film highlights human greed and the perils of a mob. He won the Silver Peacock for Best Director for this film at the 50^th International Film Festival of India in 2019. Jallikattu was also India’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 93^rd Academy Awards. (The film is available on Amazon Prime Video in India.)

Valatty (2023): First-time director Devan’s Malayalam adventure-comedy film Valatty: Tale of Tails was released in cinemas on July 21, 2023. The film tells the funny narrative of a gang of dogs—a Golden Retriever, a Cocker spaniel, a Rottweiler, a Labrador, and a native breed—and a rooster. Roshan Mathew, Raveena Ravi, Sunny Wayne, Indrans, Aju Varghese, and Soubin Shahir voiced the respective animals. Valatty is possibly the first Indian film in the 21^st century to include real dogs rather than VFX. Despite mixed reviews from reviewers, the film was a huge success, with many applauding the production and performances. (This film is available on Disney+ Hotstar in India.)

Rangaa Patangaa (2015): The story of Prasad Namjoshi’s debut directorial venture, Rangaa Patangaa, revolves around a Muslim farmer named Jumman (played brilliantly by Makrand Anaspure) from Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, whose beloved bullocks, Rangaa and Patangaa, have gone missing. Jumman embarks on a search with his friend Popat (Sandeep Pathak) after police refuse to accept his complaint. As he begins the search, everyone he meets uses him to further their own purpose, instead of helping the farmer find his animals. This cleverly written social comedy drama won the Best Film and Best Director awards at the 14th Pune International Film Festival. (This Marathi film is available on Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video in India.)

Entertainment (2014): As the title implies, this Akshay Kumar-starrer action-comedy is a madcap delight. The film, written and directed by screenwriter team Sajid-Farhad, tells the story of Akhil (Akshay Kumar), an underdog, who discovers that his real father was a wealthy diamond trader who owned assets worth Rs3,000 crore and died recently. When he tries to get his hands on the money, he discovers that his father left all his wealth to a dog named Entertainment. Akhil starts plotting to kill the dog. This madcap comedy falls into the ‘it’s so bad it’s fun’ category, with its cringe-worthy moments and quips. The dog plays a vital role in the film, constantly escaping Akhil’s many death traps. (This Hindi film is available on Vi Movies and TV in India.)

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