{{No plot|date=February 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = Attahasa | image = Attahasa.jpg | alt = <!-- see WP:ALT --> | caption = Promotional poster | director = A. M. R. Ramesh | producer = A. M. R. Ramesh<br />V. Srinivas<br />Jagadeesh | writer = A. M. R. Ramesh | screenplay = | story = | starring = Arjun Sarja<br />Kishore<br />Suresh Oberoi | music = Sandeep Chowta | cinematography = Vijay Milton | editing = Anthony | studio = Akshaya Creations<br />Sai Sri Cinemas<br />S Lad Entertainment | distributor = | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2013|02|14}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Kannada | budget = | gross = ₹5 crore<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/comedies-reaped-gold-southern-cinema-2299684 | title=Comedies reaped gold for southern cinema | date=17 December 2013 }}</ref> }} '''''Attahasa''''' ({{Translation|Defiance}}) is a 2013 Indian Kannada-language biographical film directed by A. M. R. Ramesh, based on the notorious forest brigand Veerappan.<ref>{{cite web |title= Veerappan Attahasa based on Dr. Rajkumar's kidnap |url= https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2011/veerappan-attahasa-dr-rajkumar-kidnap-300611-aid0062.html |publisher= Oneindia |access-date= 2012-06-30 |archive-date= 2 February 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202223843/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/news/2011/veerappan-attahasa-dr-rajkumar-kidnap-300611-aid0062.html |url-status= live }}</ref> Kishore plays the role of Veerappan in the film, whilst featuring Arjun Sarja and Suresh Oberoi. After much delay in the theatrical release the film was opened to screens on 14 February 2013 all across the southern states of India to positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/90933.html |title='Attahasa' on Thursday |website=IndiaGlitz |date=2013-02-13 |access-date=2014-04-26 |archive-date=15 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215082201/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/90933.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Anasuya Menon |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2639511.ece |title=Life & Style / Metroplus : Moustache, his fortune |work=The Hindu |date=18 November 2011 |access-date=6 August 2012 |archive-date=21 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121190927/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2639511.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Veerappan Attahasa based on Dr. Rajkumar's kidnap |url= https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2011/veerappan-attahasa-dr-rajkumar-kidnap-300611-aid0062.html |publisher= Oneindia |access-date= 30 June 2012 |archive-date= 2 February 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202223843/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/news/2011/veerappan-attahasa-dr-rajkumar-kidnap-300611-aid0062.html |url-status= live }}</ref> The film was partially reshot in Tamil as ''Vana Yuddham'' ({{Translation|Forest war}}).<ref> *{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vanayuddham-a-battered-biopic/article4422187.ece|title=Vanayuddham - A battered biopic|work=The Hindu|date=16 February 2013|last=Rangarajan|first=Malathi|quote=Though said to be a straight film, the early portions are clearly dubbed from Kannada. It’s only after Arjun’s arrival that you are made to feel that Vanayuddham is a Tamil film after all|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915191134/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/vanayuddham-a-battered-biopic/article4422187.ece|url-status=live}} *{{Cite web|url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/1933/vana-yudham-review---gripping-docu-drama|title=Vana Yudham Review - Gripping Docu-Drama|work=Moviecrow|date=16 February 2013|quote=Though the film is obviously dubbed, the lip sync is quite tolerable|access-date=14 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914212312/https://www.moviecrow.com/News/1933/vana-yudham-review---gripping-docu-drama|url-status=live}} *{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/tamil-review-vanna-yuddham-is-partly-engaging-591082.html|title=Tamil Review: 'Vanna Yuddham' is partly engaging|work=IANS|date=15 February 2013 |via=News18|quote='Vana Yuddham' suffers due to bad dubbing, which turns irksome after a point of time|access-date=14 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914212311/https://www.news18.com/news/india/tamil-review-vanna-yuddham-is-partly-engaging-591082.html|url-status=live}} *{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vana-yuddham/vana-yuddham-movie-review.html|title=VANA YUDDHAM MOVIE REVIEW|date=14 February 2013|work=Behindwoods|quote=The Kannada to Tamil dubbing leaves a lot to be desired though and there are a lot of sound mutes too which prove to be unsettling|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531144656/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/vana-yuddham/vana-yuddham-movie-review.html|url-status=live}} *{{Cite web|url=https://www.desimartini.com/tamil-reviews/vana-yuddham/partly-engaging-by-rajiv-menon-rd19309.htm|title=Partly Engaging|date=|quote=''Vanayudham'' is claimed to be a bilingual, but except for Kishore and Arjun, all other characters have dubbing voices. The dubbing was definitely a turn off and leaves most irked|work=desimartini|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915191134/https://www.desimartini.com/tamil-reviews/vana-yuddham/partly-engaging-by-rajiv-menon-rd19309.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was dubbed into Telugu as ''Veerappan''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/attahasa-to-release-as-veerappan-in-telugu/articleshow/20573880.cms|title=Attahasa to release as Veerappan in Telugu|first=Sharanya|last=CR|work=The Times of India|access-date=14 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914212315/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/attahasa-to-release-as-veerappan-in-telugu/articleshow/20573880.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Cast == {{cast listing| *Arjun Sarja as D.G.P K. Vijay Kumar IPS, who killed Veerappan *Kishore as Veerappan *Suresh Oberoi as Rajkumar, who gets kidnapped by Veerappan *Lakshmi Rai as Vijetha Vasisht (guest appearance) *Ravi Kale as Senthamarai Kannan IPS *V. I. S. Jayapalan as Periyavar *Sampath Ram as Sethukuli Govindan *A. M. R. Ramesh as Gurunatha *Vijayalakshmi as Muthulakshmi Veerappan, Veerappan's wife *Bhavana Rao as Chandhini *Sulakshana as Parvathamma Rajkumar *Suchendra Prasad as DCF Srinivas *Jayachitra as Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu *Rishab Shetty as Bomb maker (Undercover Cop) *Nagappa Maradagi (abducted along with Rajkumar) as himself *Suresh Mangalore as Minister Nagappa *Yogi Devaraj as Veerappan's father *Suma Guha as Vijayakumar's wife *Besant Ravi (Tamil version) }}
==Production== In March 2011, A. M. R. Ramesh confirmed that his next directorial would be based on Veerappan and that he had completed the scriptment,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-04/news-interviews/28658892_1_veerappan-forest-brigand-film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202193445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-04/news-interviews/28658892_1_veerappan-forest-brigand-film |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-02 |work=The Times of India |title=Ramesh to direct a film on Veerappan|access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> while adding that Kishore had already agreed to play the lead role of Veerappan. Ramesh had been researching on Veerappan for 10 years and had spoken with several key people who were associated with him or involved in various incidents.<ref name="dnaindia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_its-all-about-veerappan_1531073|title=It's all about Veerappan — Entertainment — DNA|work=Daily News and Analysis|date=2011-04-12|access-date=2012-08-06|archive-date=31 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831160727/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_its-all-about-veerappan_1531073|url-status=live}}</ref> Ramesh clarified that he would just present the real happenings, without taking any sides.<ref name="indiaglitz1">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/69526.html |title=Arjun starts working for 'Vana Yudham' - Telugu Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |date=2011-08-08 |access-date=2012-08-06 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230045/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/69526.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Arjun won the role of the chief Special Task Force officer Vijayakumar.<ref name="dnaindia1"/> Initial reports claimed that Bollywood actress Rani Mukherji was considered for the role of Veerappan's wife, Muthulakshmi.<ref name="deccanchronicle1">[http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/others/veerappan’s-attahasa-rings-out-loud-724 Veerappan’s Attahasa Rings Out Loud] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116104957/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/others/veerappan%E2%80%99s-attahasa-rings-out-loud-724 |date=16 January 2012 }}. ''Deccan Chronicle''.</ref> Sources in July 2011 reported that Priyamani and Jayachitra were signed on to portray Muthulakshmi and the role of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-11-04/veerappan-amr-ramesh-26-07-11.html |title=Arjun, Priyamani in Vana Yuddham - Veerappan - Amr Ramesh - Priya Mani - Kishore - Vana Yuddham - Tamil Movie News |publisher=Behindwoods.com |date=26 July 2011 |access-date=6 August 2012 |archive-date=20 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220095704/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-11-04/veerappan-amr-ramesh-26-07-11.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Priyamani denied being part of the project, adding that she was not offered the role.<ref>{{cite web |author=Prakash KL |url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2011/priyamani-veerappan-wife-300711.html |title=Priyamani isn't Veerappan's wife |work=OneIndia |date=2011-07-30 |access-date=2012-08-06 |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202224737/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/news/2011/priyamani-veerappan-wife-300711.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, Vijayalakshmi was finalized for the role.<ref name="indiaglitz1"/> Although Ramesh wanted Akkineni Nageswara Rao to play Kannada actor Rajkumar,<ref name="dnaindia1"/> who was kidnapped by Veerappan, Suresh Oberoi was eventually roped in,<ref name="deccanchronicle1"/> while Sulakshana would play his wife Parvathamma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/veerappan-saga-on-screen-news-tamil-liljv6cihcf.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112113615/http://www.sify.com/movies/veerappan-saga-on-screen-news-tamil-liljv6cihcf.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-11-12 |title=Veerappan saga on screen|website=Sify |date=2011-08-12 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> Ramya was initially supposed to enact the role of a journalist,<ref>{{cite news|author=V Lakshmi |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-15/news-interviews/29777497_1_muthulakshmi-veerappan-kolathur-mani |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202194215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-15/news-interviews/29777497_1_muthulakshmi-veerappan-kolathur-mani |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-02 |title=Veerappan comes to Life|date=2011-07-15 |time=01.36PM IST |work=The Times of India |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> however the actress too dismissed the reports,<ref>{{cite news|author=Pratibha Joy |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-22/news-interviews/30310374_1_divya-spandana-veerappan-song |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202194109/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-22/news-interviews/30310374_1_divya-spandana-veerappan-song |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-02 |title=I'm not doing an item number: Divya Spandana|date=2011-10-22 |time=12.47PM IST |work=The Times of India |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> following which Nikita Thukral was approached for the role.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-15/news-interviews/30159925_1_nikitha-thukral-association-and-sign-producer-manju |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202192507/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-15/news-interviews/30159925_1_nikitha-thukral-association-and-sign-producer-manju |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-02 |title=Nikitha is in demand|date=2011-09-15 |time=06.28PM IST |work=The Times of India |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> Lakshmi Rai then confirmed that she was offered the role.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sunayana Suresh |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-06/news-interviews/30369947_1_film-amr-ramesh-veerappan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202192731/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-06/news-interviews/30369947_1_film-amr-ramesh-veerappan |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-02 |title=Miracle on the sets of Vanayuddham|date=2011-11-06 |time= 06.28PM IST|work=The Times of India |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> Bhavana Rao, known under her stage name Shikha in Tamil cinema, revealed that she was playing a character called Chandhini, who was considered as "Veerappan's right-hand".<ref>{{cite news|author=Shankaran Malini |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-06/news-interviews/30481058_1_k-town-three-films-veerappan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202192858/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-06/news-interviews/30481058_1_k-town-three-films-veerappan |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-02 |title=Shika: Back in K-Town|date=2011-12-06 |time=11.00AM IST |work=The Times of India |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> Nagappa Maradagi, who also was abducted by Veerappan, and Shivakumar Mugilan, who was part of Veerappan's gang, were involved in the making of the film.<ref name="deccanchronicle1"/>
Vijay Milton and Anthony were confirmed as the cinematographer and editor, respectively,<ref name="dnaindia1"/> while Sandeep Chowta was signed on to compose the film's score, although initial reports suggested that Yuvan Shankar Raja would be the music director.<ref name="dnaindia1"/>
==Reception== Srikanth Srinivasa of ''Rediff'' gave the film a rating of three out of five stars and praised the performance of Kishore as Veerappan in the film. Also, the role of the cinematographer was praised. Srinivasa concluded saying, "A M R Ramesh has made another visually captivating film, notwithstanding the flaws. The movie makes for quite an engaging watch with timelines and specific instances. Veerappan’s final encounter is interesting, making it an edge-of-the-seat thriller"<ref>{{cite news |title= Review: Attahasa is an edge-of-the-seat thriller |url= http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-attahasa-is-an-edge-of-the-seat-thriller/20130215.htm |publisher= Rediff |date= 2013-02-15 |access-date= 2013-02-27 |archive-date= 7 March 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130307164646/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-attahasa-is-an-edge-of-the-seat-thriller/20130215.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> IBN too praised the performance of all the departments in the film and call the film, a technically brilliant biopic of Veerappan".<ref>{{cite news |title= Review: 'Attahasa' is a technically brilliant biopic of Veerappan |url= http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kannada-review-attahasa-is-a-technically-brilliant-biopic-of-veerappan/373120-71-203.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130223220642/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kannada-review-attahasa-is-a-technically-brilliant-biopic-of-veerappan/373120-71-203.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2013-02-23 |publisher= CNN-IBN |date= 2013-02-16 |access-date= 2013-02-27}}</ref> The Times of India scored the film at 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Kishore has done a neat job as Veerappan with good dialogue delivery and expressions. Arjun Sarja and Ravi Kale have done justice to their roles. Suresh Oberoi is quite good as Rajkumar. Music by Sandeep Chowta is excellent. Cinematography by Vijay Milton is catchy".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/attahasa/movie-review/18517118.cms?from=mdr|title=ATTAHASA MOVIE REVIEW|work=The Times of India|access-date=14 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=17 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617065504/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/attahasa/movie-review/18517118.cms?from=mdr}}</ref> The New Indian Express wrote "Telling the life of a forest brigand is violent but compelling. Biographical facts are not an easy job but Attahasa has brought an interesting element into Kannada films".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Feb/16/attahasa-kannada-450935.html|title=Attahasa (Kannada)|date=5 February 2013 |publisher=The New Indian Express|access-date=14 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019164210/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/feb/16/attahasa-kannada-450935.amp}}</ref>
==Controversy== Mysore based writer T. Gururaj, who wrote a book on Veerappan titled ''Rudhra Narthana'', filed a complaint against Ramesh for using his content in the film without his permission.<ref>{{cite news |title= Attahasa controversy |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/news-interviews/32353334_1_veerappan-inputs-attahasa |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202191234/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/news-interviews/32353334_1_veerappan-inputs-attahasa |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2014-02-02 |work= The Times of India |access-date= 2012-06-30 }}</ref>
Veerapan's wife Muthulakshmi filed a case against the film's production company calling for its ban, as she felt her husband was portrayed in a bad light.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemahour.com/gossips/kollywood/27279/veerappan-s-wife-demands-a-ban-on-vanayudham.html |title=Veerappan's wife demands a ban on 'Vanayudham' |publisher=Cinemahour.com |access-date=2014-04-26 |archive-date=28 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628015623/http://www.cinemahour.com/gossips/kollywood/27279/veerappan-s-wife-demands-a-ban-on-vanayudham.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Supreme court of India asked the producers to pay Rs. 2.5 million to the widow. The film was then released during the course of the day.<ref>{{cite news|last=Venkatesan|first=J.|title=SC asks film producer to pay Rs. 25 lakh to Veerappan's widow|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/sc-asks-film-producer-to-pay-rs-25-lakh-to-veerappans-widow/article4416067.ece|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 February 2013|archive-date=16 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216130931/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/sc-asks-film-producer-to-pay-rs-25-lakh-to-veerappans-widow/article4416067.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=2938702}} {{A. M. R. Ramesh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Attahasa}} Category:2013 films Category:2013 Kannada-language films Category:2013 Indian films Category:Indian films based on actual events Category:Indian biographical films Category:Indian crime thriller films Category:2013 crime thriller films Category:Biographical films about bandits Category:Films scored by Sandeep Chowta Category:Films directed by A. M. R. Ramesh Category:2013 biographical films Category:Illegal logging in India Category:Crime thriller films based on actual events