Hathi (1998) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 3 May 2026
Hathi (1998) Review
Hathi (1998) is a Telugu drama film starring Venkatesh. Directed by Philippe Gautier. 5000 years ago, in India, men started to capture and tame elephants for war, parades and worship. Still today, the young Makbul grows up in daily contact with the wild and domesticated elephants that live in the forest around his native village in southern India. Over the objections of his mother, M... Our Rating: 3/5. Verdict: ABOVE AVERAGE. Released: 26 Nov 1998. Runtime: 1h 36m.

Hathi(1998)
Telugu · Drama
1h 36m · 26 Nov 1998
Writer: Prajna Chowta
Ratings
Our Rating
3
📖 Story
Hathi is a Telugu drama centered around the emotional bond between humans and an elephant, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and the challenges faced by wildlife in a changing world. The narrative follows the protagonist, played by Venkatesh, as he navigates personal and societal conflicts while protecting the elephant from various threats.
Hathi presents a heartfelt story that attempts to blend emotional drama with social commentary on wildlife conservation. The screenplay is straightforward, focusing on the relationship between the lead character and the elephant, though it occasionally suffers from predictability. The pacing in the first half is steady, establishing characters and setting up the emotional stakes effectively. However, the second half tends to drag, with some scenes feeling repetitive and slowing down the narrative momentum.
The film's music and background score play a supportive role but lack memorable impact, as there is no notable music director credited and the songs do not stand out significantly. The cinematography captures the natural settings well, adding to the film’s atmosphere, but overall technical aspects remain average. While the emotional core of the story is touching, the execution could have been tighter to maintain engagement throughout.
Venkatesh: Delivered a sincere and heartfelt performance, effectively portraying the emotional depth required for his role.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Emotional core centered on human-animal bond
- ✓Strong lead performance by Venkatesh
- ✓Natural scenic cinematography
Weaknesses
- ✕Predictable screenplay
- ✕Slow pacing in the second half
- ✕Lack of impactful music and songs
🎬 Direction & Writing
Philippe Gautier's direction focuses on the emotional narrative but lacks the dynamism needed to elevate the story. The writing is simple and clear but does not offer much novelty or complexity.
📰 Critic Reviews
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 7 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 56 | |
| 7 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 30% |
| Neutral | 50% |
| Negative | 20% |
Critics
No numeric critic ratings were found from the specified Telugu or Indian critic sources for this film.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Hathi release in theatres?▾
Hathi released on 26 November 1998 (1998).
Is Hathi a hit or flop?▾
Hathi is declared a ABOVE AVERAGE at the box office.
Where to watch Hathi online? OTT release date?▾
Hathi OTT release date not announced yet.
Who directed Hathi?▾
Hathi directed by Philippe Gautier. Produced by Rock Demers.
Who are the main cast members of Hathi?▾
Hathi stars Venkatesh.
What is the Tollybo rating for Hathi?▾
Tollybo rates Hathi 3/5. Verdict: ABOVE AVERAGE.
What is the genre and runtime of Hathi?▾
Hathi — Genre: Drama, Runtime: 96 minutes, Language: Telugu.
