Benjithe Hunted is a 1987 American adventure drama film directed and written by Joe Camp and produced by Ben Vaughn. It is the fourth film in the Benji series. The film is about Benji trying to survive in the wilderness and looking after orphan cougar cubs after their mother is shot and killed by a hunter. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures. This was the last Benji movie to star Benjean, daughter of Higgins, in the title role.
In Oregon, Benji has gone missing while filming a movie. Benji's trainer, Frank Inn, tells a reporter that he and Benji had been on a fishing boat in the Pacific when a storm caused the vessel to capsize. Inn fears that Benji is dead but the movie producers plan to use a helicopter to search for him.
The next day, Benji lies near the shoreline when a helicopter flies overhead but he goes unnoticed. Benji wanders the woods and sees a female cougar just as a hunter shoots it. Benji tries to comfort the dying animal but the hunter drives him off and carries away the dead cougar. When the helicopter flies overhead again, Benji runs after it while barking to no avail. Benji encounters four cougar cubs that belong to the killed cougar and decides to look after them. While hunting, Benji comes face to face with a rabbit but spares it. Benji finds a cabin where a quail is being cooked over a fire and two other dead quails are hanging on a line nearby. He takes one of the quails from the line back for the cubs.
The next day, Benji returns to the cabin to get the other dead quail but the hunter catches and ties him up. Reading Benji's collar, the hunter remembers there is a reward for the dog's rescue. When the hunter goes inside, Benji tries to break free. Just then, a black wolf growls at Benji. When the hunter comes outside, the wolf runs away. The wolf returns and Benji makes a commotion. The hunter comes outside, scaring away the wolf. The hunter briefly unties Benji to unravel his rope. Benji grabs the other dead quail and runs back to the cubs.
Benji sees an adult female cougar with a cub and barks but she attacks him. Benji tries to show one of the cubs, but the helicopter scares the female who flees with her cub following her. While doing this, the helicopter flies overhead and Benji sees his trainer in the window. He wants to join him but remembers that without him the cubs will be lost. Meanwhile, another animal has eaten the quail. Benji then moves the cubs to a new location, following the cougar mother. Meanwhile, the wolf begins to move in on the cubs but the helicopter scares him away.
The next day, Benji sees the cougar and the wolf nearby. The wolf chases Benji but Benji manages to escape. Later, the four cubs follow Benji. A large grizzly bear comes into the clearing. Benji and the cubs hide but one of the cubs tries to confront the bear. The bear scares the cub back to the hiding place. When the bear moves toward them, Benji barks and runs in the opposite direction. The bear chases but soon loses interest. However, the wolf appears again and chases Benji for a long distance until Benji leads the wolf to the bear who scares away the wolf.
Later, the female cougar and her cub cross a river just as the helicopter flies overhead, scaring away the cougar again. When Benji spots the cougar again, he barks at the cubs to follow him across the stream. The helicopter lands nearby and Inn gets out, calling for Benji who sees him but decides to help the cubs before he can reunite with his owner. Unaware Benji is nearby, Inn leaves in his helicopter. Soon after, an eagle grabs one of the cubs and flies off. When the eagle later approaches the remaining cubs, Benji scares it away.
Benji spots the cougar and barks at her until she gives chase but Benji loses her along the way but almost runs off a cliff concealed by bushes. Benji finds the cougar near the waterfall. Benji runs to get the cubs but finds the wolf watching the cubs. Benji barks at the wolf and attacks him to draw his attention. As the wolf gives chase, Benji tricks the wolf by hiding in the bushes concealing the cliff and sends the wolf off the cliff to its death. Benji calls the cubs to come out from under the rock and carries them up the steep mountain. With all three cubs on the mountaintop, the cougar comes and appears to adopt them. Benji goes to rest in plain sight just as the helicopter approaches.
The film's score was written by Betty Box and Euel Box. The film features one original song, "Too Many Yesterdays," with lyrics by Joe Camp and music by Betty Box and Euel Box. Guy Hovis performs the song which plays during the film's opening credits.
On Siskel & Ebert & The Movies, film critic Roger Ebert gave "Thumbs Up" rating for the film. Gene Siskel gave the film a "Thumbs Down", accusing Ebert of liking the film more than Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, which was reviewed in the same episode.[1] In response, Ebert insisted that every film needs to be judged in its proper context.[2]
The film was subjected to a series of lawsuits, which were filed by Vestron Inc. and Vestron Video against Buena Vista Home Video, Walt Disney Pictures and Television, Embark Productions, Embark Releasing, Benji/Tracker, Starwolf and Airline Containers. The legal action commenced in 1985 when Mulberry Square Productions sued Vestron Video for a breach of contract.[5]
In a slum in Chennai, Naai Kutty (Selvin), an orphan, is brought up by a cycle rickshaw puller. He spends his time drinking alcohol in the company of his friend Maari (Soori), and he does not go for any work. Malli (Nicole) sells flowers in a temple near the slum, and she is in love with Naai Kutty, while her friend Ammu (Sippy) treats him like her brother. After the death of his adoptive father, Naai Kutty decides to ride his cycle rickshaw. Naai Kutty then comes in contact with prostitutes who uses his rickshaw and he gets paid handsomely for his service. Naai Kutty starts to carry prostitutes and he eventually buys an auto rickshaw. One day, rowdies try to misbehave with the prostitutes in a brothel, Naai Kutty beats the rowdies up and saves the prostitutes. Impressed by his strength, the kingpin of the flesh trade Reddy (Jayakumaran) hires Naai Kutty as his henchman.
One day, Ammu is sold by her father to Reddy, Naai Kutty clashes with Reddy to save her and he quits his job in disgust. Later, Naai Kutty sells his auto rickshaw and buys a van to start a new life. In the meantime, Maari, who runs in the councillor election, begs Naai Kutty to lend him money for the election, but Naai Kutty refuses because he has run out of money. A vengeful Reddy hatches a conspiracy against Naai Kutty, and he convinces Maari to leave Malli to him. Malli is drugged, and wealthy clients rape an unconscious Malli in the brothel. Naai Kutty then meets Reddy, and Reddy gives him money to dispose of a body. At the cemetery, a drunk Naai Kutty discovers the body of Malli, and he is in shock. The slum dwellers who come across Naai Kutty misunderstand the situation and beat Naai Kutty to death. The film ends with Ammu killing Maari for betraying Naai Kutty.
The film was announced by V. A. Durai, producer of Pithamagan (2003) and Gajendra (2004), in mid-2008, where it was reported that S. S. Joe, an associate of Ram, would work on a film revolving a youth brought up in a Chennai slum. S. S. Joe was himself raised in the slums of Chennai and so he was expected to bring out the emotional and social plight of slum dwellers with reality as the strength.[1] Prasanna and Nicole signed to play the lead roles while comedian Santhanam was approached to play a significant role and Sundar C. Babu was chosen to compose the music.[2][3]
The film was inaugurated in Chennai on 24 September 2008 without the presence of S. S. Joe.[4] In late-September 2008, a complaint had been lodged by director Ram Shiva in the councils of Tamilnadu film producers and directors. Director Ram Siva, regarding his complaint said, "The story of Naai Kutty has been stolen from the Kannada film Nanda Loves Nanditha which was a smash hit in Karnataka. I hold the copyright to remake the movie in Tamil. As the efforts of Durai and Sathaji to buy the right for the remake ended in vain, they have ventured into remaking the same movie in Tamil with a different name Naai Kutty". Director S. S. Joe had withdrawn from the project and had left Chennai, to avoid facing the legal problems which would possibly come in the future.[5][6]
Subsequently, V. A. Durai restarted the project with a new script and Sathaji was chosen to direct the film whereas Kannada music director Vijayabharathi signed to compose the music.[7] Newcomer Selvin signed on after Prasanna opted out of the role and Soori replaced Santhanam.[8][9]
The film score and the soundtrack were composed by Vijayabharathi. The soundtrack features 6 tracks, and it was released on 25 July 2009 by actor Silambarasan.[10][11][12] A reviewer rated the album 2.5 out of 5 and said, "This album doesn't shout from the rooftops, of course. But it is pleasant, neat and functional, probably falling well in line with the storyline".[13]
Sify wrote, "There is nothing positive in the film. It tries to cash in on the slum life and its brutal ways but ends up as too pretentious" and called the film "a waste of time".[15] Behindwoods rated the film 0.5 out of 5 stars and stated, "Naai Kutty is a sorry tale of a man for whom nothing went right in life. It does not bring any cheer to the audience, neither is it able to make the viewer pity nor feel for the suffering characters".[16] Indiaglitz said, "Though Naaikutty had all potential to become a sleeping hit, it has ended up a dull affair, blame predictable sequences narrated in a vague way".[17]
The Little Tramp rescues an orphan from the streets and raises him as his own. Chaplin and Jackie Coogan make a miraculous pair in this clever and innovative marriage of sentiment and slapstick, a story of pancakes, fistfights, and dodging social ...
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