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{{Short description|2024 Indian film}}
{{Correct title|Kaa: The Forest|reason=:}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kaa: The Forest
| image = Kaa The Forest.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Nanjil
| writer = Nanjil
| producer = John Max
| starring = [[Andrea Jeremiah]]<br />[[Salim Ghouse]]
| cinematography = Arivazhagan
| editing = Elisa
| music = [[Sundar C. Babu]]
| studio = [[Shalom Studios]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2024|3| |premiere|2026|2|13|Worldwide}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kaa: The Forest'''''{{efn|"Kaa" is short for ''Kaadu'' or ''Kaanagam'', meaning jungle or forest.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 March 2022 |title=Andrea Jeremiah's Kaa trailer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/andrea-jeremiahs-kaa-trailer/articleshow/90307963.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318172704/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/andrea-jeremiahs-kaa-trailer/articleshow/90307963.cms |archive-date=18 March 2022 |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref>}} is a 2024 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Survival film|survival]] [[thriller film]] directed by Nanjil and starring [[Andrea Jeremiah]] and [[Salim Ghouse]]. [[Sundar C. Babu]] composed the music. The film, produced by [[Shalom Studios]], began production in April 2018,<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 April 2018 |title='Kaa' first look: Andrea Jeremiah gets a badass avatar for her next |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kaa-first-look-andrea-jeremiah-gets-a-badass-avatar-for-her-next/articleshow/63961946.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220170329/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kaa-first-look-andrea-jeremiah-gets-a-badass-avatar-for-her-next/articleshow/63961946.cms |archive-date=20 December 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> but was delayed for six years. It marks Ghouse's final film and posthumous appearance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 April 2022 |title=Vettri Vizhaa & Vettaikaaran actor Salim Ghouse passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vettri-vizhaa-vettaikaaran-actor-salim-ghouse-passes-away/articleshow/91149988.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327112234/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vettri-vizhaa-vettaikaaran-actor-salim-ghouse-passes-away/articleshow/91149988.cms |archive-date=27 March 2024 |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> The film premiered in March 2024 and was set to release theatrically the same month before getting delayed again due to legal and financial issues. It was eventually released on 13 February 2026.

== Plot ==
{{More plot|date=February 2026}}
A wildlife photographer, a forest guard and a henchman's lives are intertwined in this film, in which the characters fight to be alive.

== Cast ==
* [[Andrea Jeremiah]] as Venba Subbaiah
* [[Salim Ghouse]] as Victor Mahadevan
** Daffe Naveen as Young Victor Mahadevan
* Arjun Singh as Mathi
* Munnar Subramanian as [[Forest range officer|Forest officer]] Malaiyappan
* Kamalesh as Mahadevan's henchman
* Akshita as Mahadevan's [[unrequited love|one-sided love interest]]

== Music ==
The film's music was composed by [[Sundar C. Babu]]. In 2018, the director stated that the film would not feature any songs, a decision he took after consulting musician [[Amresh Ganesh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmi |first=V |date=30 April 2018 |title=No songs in Andrea's jungle-based crime thriller |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/no-songs-in-andreas-jungle-based-crime-thriller/articleshow/63960917.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401082113/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/no-songs-in-andreas-jungle-based-crime-thriller/articleshow/63960917.cms |archive-date=1 April 2024 |access-date=1 April 2024 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2018 |title=Andrea Jeremiah's upcoming thriller 'Kaa' will feature no songs |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/andrea-jeremiah-s-upcoming-thriller-kaa-will-feature-no-songs-80447 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208045138/https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/andrea-jeremiah-s-upcoming-thriller-kaa-will-feature-no-songs-80447 |archive-date=8 February 2026 |access-date=8 February 2026 |website=[[The News Minute]] |language=en}}</ref> However, contrary to this statement, the team released a song titled "Kaatu Puli Uru Urumma" on 22 March 2024. The song was sung by Kidakuzhi Mariammal and Gold Devaraj.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2024 |title=Kaatu Puli Uru Urumma – Kaa (From "The Forest") – Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/kaatu-puli-uru-urumma-kaa-from-the-forest-single/1738449341 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20260327020352/https://music.apple.com/us/album/kaatu-puli-uru-urumma-kaa-from-the-forest-single/1738449341 |archive-date=27 March 2026 |access-date=8 February 2026 |website=[[Apple Music]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Release ==
''Kaa: The Forest'' was initially scheduled to release on 29 March 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 2024 |title=Andrea Jeremiah's 'Kaa' to release on March 29 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/andrea-jeremiahs-kaa-to-release-on-march-29/articleshow/108207855.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307121914/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/andrea-jeremiahs-kaa-to-release-on-march-29/articleshow/108207855.cms |archive-date=7 March 2024 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> and premiered somewhere in the same month.<ref name="TOI review">{{Cite news |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Roopa |date=28 March 2024 |title=Kaa: The Forest Movie Review : A slow-going film that's all over the place |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kaa-the-forest/movie-review/108854564.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401082131/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kaa-the-forest/movie-review/108854564.cms |archive-date=1 April 2024 |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref> The same day, Jayakumar, the owner of the production company Eight Entertainment Company who had given a loan of {{INRConvert|20|l}} approached the [[Madras High Court]] seeking an injunction against the release of the film. After he did not receive his money back, he went to court and obtained an interim ban on the film's release till the dues were settled.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2024 |title=ஆண்ட்ரியாவின் 'கா' படத்தை வெளியிட இடைக்காலத் தடை! - Andrea Movie Kaa The Forest Ban |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/ta/!state/madras-high-court-interim-ban-to-andrea-film-kaa-the-forest-tns24032807630 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331062310/https://www.etvbharat.com/ta/!state/madras-high-court-interim-ban-to-andrea-film-kaa-the-forest-tns24032807630 |archive-date=31 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=[[ETV Network|ETV Bharat News]] |language=ta}}</ref> The court subsequently put a stay on the film's release until 12 April.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=ആൻഡ്രിയാ ചിത്രം 'കാ - ദി ഫോറസ്റ്റ്' ൻ്റെ പ്രദർശനം കോടതി തടഞ്ഞു |trans-title=The court stopped the screening of Andrea's film ''Kaa – The Forest'' |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/stay-for-andrea-movie-ka-the-forest-1.9445555 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331062309/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/stay-for-andrea-movie-ka-the-forest-1.9445555 |archive-date=31 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=[[Mathrubhumi]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2024 |title=Andrea Jeremiah's Tamil movie 'Kaa' lands in legal trouble, release postponed |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/tamil/andrea-jeremiahs-kaa-release-postponed-due-to-legal-issue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330171406/https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/tamil/andrea-jeremiahs-kaa-release-postponed-due-to-legal-issue/ |archive-date=30 March 2024 |access-date=10 April 2024 |website=The South First |language=en}}</ref> In early February 2026, the film was given a new release date, 13 February the same month.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2026 |title=Andrea Jeremiah's long-delayed Kaa – The Forest locks new release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/story/tamil/news/2026/feb/05/andrea-jeremiahs-long-delayed-kaa-the-forest-locks-new-release-date |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260205110723/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/web/20260205110723/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Feb/05/andrea-jeremiahs-long-delayed-kaa-the-forest-locks-new-release-date |archive-date=5 February 2026 |access-date=5 February 2026 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref> The film's Telugu dubbed version titled ''Kaana: The Forest'' released theatrically across the [[Telugu states]] on 6 March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaana: The Forest |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-details/kaana-the-forest/movieshow/129154999.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306134131/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-details/kaana-the-forest/movieshow/129154999.cms |archive-date=6 March 2026 |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
In a review dated 28 March, Roopa Radhakrishnan from ''[[The Times of India]]'' rated the film {{Fraction|1|1|2}} stars out of 5 and wrote, "The spookiness of a film, which revolves around multiple people fighting for their lives, is effectively conveyed. But if we go beyond that, the screenplay is all over the place".<ref name="TOI review" /> In February 2026, independent critic Malini Mannath wrote, "A survival saga, it has a rambling screenplay that makes a futile attempt to link different tracks into a coherent whole. It's a week narrative that meanders through situations that lack conviction and clarity".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=13 February 2026 |title=Review-Kaa:The Forest |url=https://malinimannath.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/review-kaathe-forest/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214094228/https://malinimannath.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/review-kaathe-forest/ |archive-date=14 February 2026 |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=Malini Mannath |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Maalai Malar]]'' rated the film {{Fraction|1|1|2}} stars out of 5, praising Andrea's performance and the cinematography but criticising the screenplay and pacing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2026 |title=கா- The Forest: திரைவிமர்சனம் |trans-title=Kaa- The Forest: Movie Review |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/kaa-the-forest-movie-review-809908 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260219041108/https://www.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinemanews/kaa-the-forest-movie-review-809908 |archive-date=19 February 2026 |access-date=19 February 2026 |website=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

[[Category:2020s survival films]]
[[Category:2024 films]]
[[Category:2024 Indian films]]
[[Category:2024 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2024 thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about photographers]]
[[Category:Films scored by Sundar C. Babu]]
[[Category:Films set in forests]]
[[Category:Indian survival films]]
[[Category:Indian thriller films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language thriller films]]

Kaa – The Forest - Revision history

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