Kaa – The Forest is a Tamil adventure thriller movie, released on 13 February 2026 starring Andrea Jeremiah and Salim Ghouse in the lead roles. Directed by Nanjil and produced by Shalom Studios, the film features Andrea as a wildlife photographer who gets stranded in a dense forest, leading to a high-stakes survival drama.
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The film started its box office journey on a quiet note, as is typical for heroine-centric survival thrillers in the Tamil market. It opened in approximately 250–300 screens across Tamil Nadu, with morning show occupancies hovering around 10–12%. On Day 1, Kaa collected approximately ₹0.35 crore net in the Indian market.
The film saw a slight improvement in evening shows within urban centers like Chennai and Coimbatore, primarily driven by Andrea’s fan base and the intrigue surrounding the late Salim Ghouse’s final performance.
Worldwide, the first-day gross reached ₹0.45 crore, with minor contributions from the Malaysian and Singaporean markets. As today is Saturday (Valentine’s Day), the film is competing for screen time with major romantic releases, making its path to recovery challenging despite the unique “man vs. nature” premise.
Kaa – The Forest 2026 Overview

| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Kaa – The Forest |
| Directed by | Nanjil |
| Written by | Nanjil |
| Produced by | John Max |
| Lead Actor | Salim Ghouse |
| Lead Actress | Andrea Jeremiah |
| Other Cast | G. Marimuthu, Kamalesh, Akshita, Naveen, Munnar Subramanian, Arjun Singh |
| Cinematography | Arivazhagan |
| Edited by | Elisa |
| Music by | Sundar C. Babu |
| Production Companies | Shalom Studios |
| Distributed by | Not specified |
| Release Date | February 13, 2026 |
| Running Time | 1h 52m |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Film Industry | Kollywood |
| Genre | Adventure, Crime, Thriller |
| Censor Rating | UA |
Kaa – The Forest Box Office Collection
| Day | Date | India Net (crore) | Fluctuation (%+/-) | India Gross (crore) |
| Day 1 | 13 Feb | ₹0.55 | (Opening Day) | ₹0.65 |
| Day 2 | 14 Feb | ₹0.80 | +45.45% | ₹0.94 |
| Day 3 | 15 Feb | ₹0.70 | -12.50% | ₹0.83 |
| Day 4 | 16 Feb | ₹0.35 | -50.00% | ₹0.41 |
| Day 5 | 17 Feb | ₹0.42 | +20.00% | ₹0.49 |
| Day 6 | 18 Feb | ₹0.38 | -9.52% | ₹0.45 |
| Day 7 | 19 Feb | ₹0.35 | -7.89% | ₹0.41 |
| Day 8 | 20 Feb | ₹0.32 | -8.57% | ₹0.38 |
| Lifetime India Net | – | ₹3.87 crore | – | – |
| Lifetime India Gross | – | ₹4.56 crore | – | – |
| Lifetime Worldwide Gross | – | ₹5.15 crore | – | – |
Kaa – The Forest is a Hit or Flop
Average
What is the budget of Kaa – The Forest
The budget is estimated at ₹5 crore.
Kaa – The Forest Ott release date
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- OTT date: To be announced post-release.
Our Review
Kaa – The Forest is a visceral, atmospheric survival thriller that attempts to push the boundaries of the “wilderness drama” in Tamil cinema. Andrea Jeremiah, known for choosing unconventional roles, delivers a gritty and physically demanding performance as a wildlife photographer trapped in the Western Ghats. The film’s greatest asset is its cinematography by Arivazhagan, which captures the forest not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing antagonist.
The late Salim Ghouse brings a haunting presence to his role, making this a bittersweet farewell for fans of the legendary actor. However, the film’s narrative is a bit of a double-edged sword. While the first hour is tightly paced and filled with genuine suspense, the second half occasionally falls into the traps of “survival movie” clichés. The CGI used for some of the predatory animals is noticeably inconsistent, which occasionally breaks the immersion built by the excellent sound design and location filming.
When compared to international survival hits like The Revenant or even the recent Malayalam hit Manjummel Boys, Kaa lacks the emotional depth and technical seamlessness required to become a massive crossover success. From a box office standpoint, the film has a steep hill to climb. With a budget of ₹6 crore, it needs to sustain steady collections throughout its first week to avoid being labeled a commercial failure.
The lack of a major male star or “mass” elements makes it heavily dependent on the multiplex audience. While the critical reception has been “passable” (averaging 2.5/5 stars), the film is currently being squeezed by the Valentine’s Day rush for lighter, romantic content. It remains a commendable effort for its technical ambition, but it might find a more appreciati
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plot of Kaa – The Forest?
The film intertwines the lives of a wildlife photographer, a forest guard, and a henchman in a dense forest, where they must fight to survive amid mysterious circumstances.
Who are the main stars in Kaa – The Forest?
It stars Andrea Jeremiah as the lead actress and Salim Ghouse as the lead actor, with Nivas Babu in a supporting role.
When is Kaa – The Forest releasing?
The movie is released on February 13, 2026.
What genre is Kaa – The Forest?
It is an adventure crime thriller set in a forest environment.
Who directed Kaa – The Forest?
The film is directed by Nanjil.
Disclaimer:
- Box office figures in this article are independently estimated by Tenvow based on an internal tracking methodology that evaluates theatre occupancy trends, distributor feedback, and regional trade indicators.
- The data reflects industry estimates available at the time of publication and may vary slightly from officially reported or audited figures released later.
- These figures should be considered preliminary and indicative, not official confirmations.
- Tenvow does not guarantee absolute accuracy of the data and presents it solely for informational purposes.
- All financial figures are stated in Indian Rupees (INR) and represented in crores, unless specified otherwise.
- All dates and times mentioned follow Indian Standard Time (IST) (UTC +5:30).
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