Kumki 2
| Kumki 2 | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Prabhu Solomon |
| Written by | Prabhu Solomon |
| Produced by | Dhaval Gada Jayantilal Gada (presenter) |
| Starring | Mathi Arjun Das Shrita Rao |
| Cinematography | M. Sukumar |
| Edited by | Buvan |
| Music by | Nivas K. Prasanna |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Pen Marudhar Cine Entertainment |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Kumki 2 (transl. Trained elephant 2) is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language musical adventure children's drama film written and directed by Prabhu Solomon and produced by Pen Studios. A standalone sequel to the director's earlier film Kumki (2012),[1] the film stars Mathi (in his debut as lead actor), Arjun Das and Shrita Rao in the lead roles.
Kumki 2 was released in theatres on 15 November 2025, a day after Children's Day and received mixed reviews from critics.
Cast
- Mathi as Bhoomi
- Arjun Das as Paari
- Shrita Rao as Anali
- Hareesh Peradi
- Suzane George as Bhoomi's mother
- Srinath
- Nadackal Unnikrishnan as Nila
- Athu Ithu Ethu Andrews as Khalis
- Florent Pereira[2]
- V. Thiruselvam
- M. Sasikumar as narrator (voice)[3]
Production
Following the disappointing response to Thodari, Prabhu Solomon chose to finish scripting the sequel to Kumki and registered the title Yaanai for a production for Eros International during the final quarter 2016.[4] The film marks the debut of Mathiyazhagan, N. Lingusamy's nephew.[5][6] In mid-2017, Shivani Rajashekar and Mirnaa (then known as Adhiti Menon) were initially considered to star in the film.[7][8][9][10] Arjun Das plays a role with shades of grey.[11] Pen India Limited took over as producers and Nivas K. Prasanna was signed as the music composer, before the start of the shoot in August 2017 in Thailand.[6][12]
The film was shot in mid-2018 at Shivanasamudra Falls, with the last Tamil film to be shot there being Idhayakkani (1975).[5] Production ended in late 2018.[13] Dubbing of the film was recorded during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020.[14]
Music
| Kumki 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Language | Tamil | |||
| Label | Junglee Music | |||
| Producer | Nivas K. Prasanna | |||
| Nivas K. Prasanna chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Kumki 2 | ||||
| ||||
The music was composed by Nivas K. Prasanna in his second collaboration with Prabhu Solomon after Sembi (2022).
The first single titled "Pothi Pothi" was released on 1 November 2025.[15] The second single titled "Hey Kurinjiye" was released on 12 November 2025.[16]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pothi Pothi" | Mohan Rajan | Nivas K. Prasanna | |
| 2. | "Hey Kurinjiye" | Mohan Rajan | R. Sivatmikha |
Release
Kumki 2 was scheduled to release in theatres on 14 November 2025,[17] but a few days before, the Madras High Court put a stay on the release over unpaid dues to a third party.[18] On 15 November, the court cleared the film's release.[19]
Reception
Abhinav Subramanian of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "The core issue isn't the premise but the execution. Prabhu Solomon stitches scenes together without organic flow, leaving characters underdeveloped. [...] Thankfully, we're also free of pointless romantic tangents. Beyond those positives, the film never quite gels."[20] Prashanth Vallavan of Cinema Express gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Kumki 2 is a collection of unintentionally hilarious sequences and several bizarre and random creative choices, but the worst part is the first twenty minutes, [...] so you stay and give it a shot, hoping it gets better, but it only gets worse by the minute."[21]
References
- ^ "Kumki 2 is not a 'conventional sequel; it has zero romance: Prabu Solomon". The Times of India. 4 October 2025.
- ^ "From behind the scenes to in front of the arc lights". The Times of India.
- ^ "Sasikumar lends his voice for Prabu Solomon's Kumki 2". Cinema Express. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ "Forthcoming releases" (PDF). Eros International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2017.
- ^ a b Subramanian, Anupama (3 August 2018). "Kumki 2 shot at old MGR film locale". Deccan Chronicle.
- ^ a b "'Kumki 2' shoot begins in Thailand". Sify. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017.
- ^ Jonnalagedda, Pranita (16 June 2017). "Shivani to sign Kumki 2?". Deccan Chronicle.
- ^ "Actor Rajashekar's daughter in talks for 'Kumki 2'". Sify. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Shivani to debut with Kumki 2?". Cinema Express. 16 June 2017.
- ^ K, Janani (29 July 2017). "Adhiti Menon bags Kumki 2". Deccan Chronicle.
- ^ "Arjun Das is excited to make his acting debut". The Times of India. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Nivas Prasanna to score music for Kumki 2". The Times of India. 15 July 2017.
- ^ "'Kumki 2' wraps up the shoot". The Times of India. 2 November 2018.
- ^ Kumar, Pradeep (12 May 2020). "'Master', 'Indian 2' among other Tamil films to start post-production work". The Hindu.
- ^ தினத்தந்தி (1 November 2025). "பிரபுசாலமனின் "கும்கி 2" படத்தின் பர்ஸ்ட் சிங்கிள் வெளியீடு". www.dailythanthi.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "'Hey Kurinjiye' song from Kumki 2 is a soothing melody". Cinema Express. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "'Kumki 2': Mathi introduced as lead; Prabhu Solomon's film slated for release on November 14". The Times of India. 4 October 2025. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "Madras HC orders interim stay on release of Prabu Solomon's Kumki 2". Cinema Express. 12 November 2025. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Madras HC clears hurdles for Prabu Solomon's Kumki 2, film releases in theatres". Cinema Express. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "Kumki 2 Movie Review: Well-meaning tale hampered by weak craft". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ Vallavan, Prashanth (15 November 2025). "Kumki 2 Movie Review: Bizarre concoction of melodrama, randomness, and poor choices". Cinema Express. Retrieved 16 November 2025.