Naadu

Naadu (transl. Country) is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by M. Saravanan. Produced by Narayanan Sri Arch Media and Entertainment, the film stars Tharshan and Mahima Nambiar in the lead roles. The music was composed by C. Sathya with cinematography by K. A. Sakthivel. The film was released theatrically on 1 December 2023.^[1]

Naadu
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	M. Saravanan
Starring	Tharshan Mahima Nambiar
Cinematography	K. A. Sakthivel
Music by	C. Sathya
Production companies	Sri Arch Media and Entertainment
Release date	1 December 2023 (2023-12-01)
Running time	127 mins
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Cast

• Tharshan as Maari
• Mahima Nambiar as Dr. Shobana
• R. S. Shivaji in dual roles as Maari’s father and Maari's uncle
• Singampuli
• Aruldoss
• Inba Ravikumar as Yogi
• Vasantha

Production

Prior to the start of production, the team engaged in a 35-day acting workshop.^[2] The film was shot throughout 2022, and Saravanan balanced post-production work on Raangi (2022), with making Naadu. It became the first film to be shot at the Kolli Hills mountain range.^[3][4]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by C. Sathya in his fourth collaboration with Saravanan after Engaeyum Eppothum, Ivan Veramathiri, and Raangi.

Naadu
Soundtrack album by C. Sathya
Released	2023
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	17:13
Language	Tamil
Label	Think Music
Producer	C. Sathya
C. Sathya chronology
Raangi (2022) Naadu (2023) Hit List (2024)

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Yelelaai"	Thozhan	Suganthi	3:45
2.	"Malainaatile"	Karthik Netha	Ananthu	3:26
3.	"Dull Aavaadha"	Viveka	Sneha, Irfan Hyder, Vaimu	3:12
4.	"Maavilai Maavilai Thorananga"	Viveka	Anthony Daasan	3:48
5.	"Vandhanam Vandhanam"	M. Saravanan	Gold Devaraj, Muthu Sirpy, Nehru Samidurai, Puratchi Mani	3:02
Total length:				17:13

Release and reception

The film had a theatrical release on 1 December 2023 across Tamil Nadu. A reviewer from Times Now noted that the film told a "heartwarming tale" and that "is sure to make you question both your service to your nation and your sense of humanity".^[5] A critic from Cinema Express wrote "the melodrama in Naadu is insufferably overstated and all for a story that is flat and pretty straightforward" and that "Naadu might have its heart in the right place but the heart pumps gallons of tears instead of blood".^[6]