AndhaDhun (2018)

Starring: Mani
Directed by: Sriram Raghavan

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains potential spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A blind pianist named Akash (Ayushmann Khurrana) gets caught up in a seemingly endless stream of trouble.

Featured Feline: We will warn again this review contains spoilers, and this is really a movie you should see without knowing too much about beforehand, so proceed at your own risk! We will try to avoid giving away as much as possible. Akash owns a small tuxedo cat named Rani (played by credited cat actor Mani). Rani is seen running up the steps to his apartment in the opening scenes.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani running up stairs animated gif

Rani then comes in through the window while Akash is playing the piano. Rani sniffs around then sits down to enjoy the music.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani walking on piano as Akash Ayushmann Khurrana plays

When Akash gets to a point in the music where he is stuck, Rani leans over and sniffs at his chin.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani sniffing at Akash Ayushmann Khurrana

Rani is next seen when Akash is appealing to Inspector Manohar Jawanda (Manav Vij) to help him find Rani who he believes was killed by the boy downstairs. In actuality, Akash is just using Rani as an excuse after going to the police station to report a crime, only to find the person he’s reporting it to to be the one who is guilty and in a position of power! The Inspector suspects that Akash knows something about the crime (knowing full well he was at the scene of the crime at the time) and asks what color the cat is. When Akash says the cat is black and white the Inspector asks how he knows. Akash calmly explains that someone told him. Just when things are looking hairy, Rani shows up and Akash quickly dismisses the Inspector and gives Rani some milk to drink.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani walking on pianobeing picked up from floor

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani being fed milk by Akash Ayushmann Khurrana

After the Inspector has gone, Akash tells Rani, “Good girl!”

Later Akash is seen feeding Rani in his kitchen while the boy downstairs tries to get some incrimminating evidence against Akash.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani drinking milk from bowl on table

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani about to jump from table to kitchen counter

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani drinking milk on kitchen counter

Rani is last seen when a woman named Simi (Tabu), the other person involved in the aforementioned crime, comes to see how much Akash knows. After incapacitating him, Simi hears notes played on the piano. She walks into the other room and sees Rani walking on the keys before jumping down to the bench.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani stepping onto keys of piano

Rani then jumps to the coffee table to drink some left over milk from a bowl.

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani drinking milk from bowl

Sadly after being used as a plot device, Rani is not seen again for the rest of the movie. But she did appear on posters for the film!

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani with Akash Ayushmann Khurrana on yellow movie poster

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani with Akash Ayushmann Khurrana and Simi Tabu on blue movie poster

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani with words Miss Know it All on yellow poster

According to one interview on Scroll.in, the cat’s name in the movie was original Mozart, but that was changed. The film’s editor Pooja Ladha Surti explained, “Rani is an untrained stray. We had to scatter food all over the piano. We also had to use a lot of fish oil and Whiskas.” Co-writer Arijit Biswas added, “The cat was always part of the script. Initially, the house had a lift, and whenever he would come in, the cat would come running to the door.”

AndhaDhun - tuxedo cat Rani walking on piano

The cat’s presence in the film has even sparked some theories as to her significance. One fan theory, published on the website BuddyBits.com is a real eye opener (but be warned there are major spoilers!)