Forest (2025 film)
| Forest | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Chandra Mohan |
| Written by | Satya Shaurya Sagar |
| Screenplay by | Chandra Mohan Satya Shaurya Sagar |
| Story by | Chandra Mohan Satya Shaurya Sagar |
| Produced by | N M Kantharaj |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | V. Ravikumar |
| Edited by | Arjun Kittu |
| Music by | Songs: Dharma Vish Score: Anand Rajavikram |
Production company | NMK Cinemas |
Release date |
|
Running time | 145 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
Forest is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language comedy thriller film directed and co-written by Chandra Mohan.[1] It is produced by N. M. Kantharaj under his NMK Cinemas banner and features an ensemble cast of Chikkanna, Aniissh Tejeshwar, Gurunandan, Rangayana Raghu, Sooraj Pops, Sharanya Shetty and Archana Kottige.[2]
Principal photography commenced in April 2023 and continued till January 2025 where most of the film being shot in the forest regions of Madikere, Chikmagalur, MM Hills and few portions being canned in Bengaluru.[3] The film's cinematography was handled by V. Ravikumar and edited by Arjun Kittu. The music is composed by Veer Samarth and Dharma Vish.[4]
Forest was released on 24 January 2025.[5]
Cast
- Chikkanna as Buddy Kumara[6]
- Aniissh Tejeshwar as Sathisha
- Gurunandan as Sunil
- Rangayana Raghu as Maakalpatti Gopalswamy
- Archana Kottige as Meenakshi
- Sharanya Shetty as Sandhya
- Avinash as Mani, Meenakshi's grandfather
- Sooraj Pops
- Prakash Thuminad
- Deepak Rai Panaje
Production
Chandra Mohan, who previously directed Double Engine (2018) and Brahmachari (2019), announced his third film in April 2023. He roped in Chikkanna as one of the leads, with whom he worked in Double Engine previously. Rest of the cast was subsequently signed in. About 80% of the filming commenced in the forests of several districts in Karnataka.[7]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack consists of songs composed by Dharma Vish to the lyrics by Chetan Kumar and Puneeth Arya.[8]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Odo Odo Odo" | Puneeth Arya | Kailash Kher, Harsha Uppar | 2:22 |
| 2. | "Paisa Paisa" | Chetan Kumar | Chandan Shetty | 3:28 |
| Total length: | 6:20 | |||
Reception
The Movie received mixed reviews from critics, with a blend of positive and negative feedback on its humor and supernatural elements. The Times of India’s Sridevi S. wrote, “Forest is a decent attempt at blending comedy and supernatural thrills, with Chikkanna and R. Raghu’s chemistry standing out, though the narrative could have been tighter for a more impactful experience.”[9] A. Sharadhaa of The New Indian Express said, “Forest is a fun ride with comedy, thrills, and supernatural twists, keeping viewers hooked with lively characters, though parts feel predictable.”[10] Y. Maheswara Reddy of Bangalore Mirror noted, “Set in a dense forest, Forest delivers solid entertainment with humor and supernatural vibes, making it enjoyable despite small flaws.”[11] Shashiprasad S. M. of Times Now added, “Forest offers endless fun and laughs in a supernatural jungle setting, with strong performances making it a hit with audiences.”[12] In contrast, India Today’s Sanjay Ponnappa was critical, stating, “Forest aims for laughs but ends up disappointing, with a weak script and poor execution overshadowing its supernatural premise.”[13]
References
- ^ "Chandramohan's multistarrer titled 'Forest'". The New Indian Express. 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ "Anish, Gurunandan, and Chikkanna unite for a comedy thriller". The New Indian Express. 7 June 2023.
- ^ "chandramohan-directional-movie-forest-shooting-to-start-soon-in-forest-locations". AsianetNews.com. 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Into the Jungle". BangaloreMirror.com. 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Multistarrer Forest sets January 2025 release date". Cinema Express. 4 December 2024. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ "A diverse ensemble carries this story of a heist gone wrong in the wilderness". The Times of India. 20 January 2025. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ "Chandramohan's multistarrer titled Forest". Cinema Express. 17 April 2024.
- ^ "First Song Released from Chikkanna, Rangayana Raghu's Forest". timesnownews.com. 8 July 2024. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ Sridevi, S. "Forest Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Sharadhaa, A. "Forest movie review: A rollercoaster of comedy, thrills, and supernatural intrigue". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Reddy, Y. Maheswara. "Kannada Movie Review: Forest - Out and out entertainer set in a dense forest". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Shashiprasad, S. M. "Forest Movie Review: A Jungle Where Trespassers Are Treated to Unlimited Fun and Comedy". Times Now. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Ponnappa, Sanjay. "Forest Review: This Kannada supernatural film promises laughs, delivers disappointment". India Today. Retrieved 8 June 2025.