Movies being named after animals is not unusal in the cine industry, even if the said movie isn't about the particular animal or about an animal at all. The Pink Panther for example is a franchise of comedy-mystery movies with a genius detective at the center, whereas the Shia LaBeouf starrer Eagle Eye is an out and out action thriller.
Tamil films are no exceptions to this line of naming and Kollywood has a long list of movies that are titled after animals, stand-alone and hyphenated.
When MovieCrow recently reported that Yaanai [Elephant] might be the proposed title for director Hari's upcoming movie with Arun Vijay [later confirmed by makers], conversations around the topic panned out thus.
Kuthirai on the way
— Kalip Eastwood (@kalippism) September 8, 2021
Kollywood films & animals title combination Athu neraya iruku😁...Hari films mattum sonnathu bro
— arunprasad (@Cinephile05) September 8, 2021
Among these movies, director Hari alone is credited with five - Seval [Rooster], Singam [Lion], Venghai [Leopard], Singam 2 [Lion 2], Yaanai [Elephant] whereas only Eli [Mouse], Ee [Fly] and Panni Kutty [Piglet] have had the actual creatures as part of the story-line.
- Singam (Lion)
- Singam 2 (Lion 2)
- Siruththai (Cheetah)
- Puli (Tiger)
- Singam puli (Lion Tiger)
- Paayum puli (Attacking Tiger)
- Eli (Mouse)
- Kalugu (Eagle)
- Myna
- Eee (Fly)
- Pambu sattai (Snake Skin)
- Cobra (Type of Snake)
- Vengai (Leopard)
- Vellai yaanai (White Elephant)
- Matha yaanai kootam (Mad herd of Elephants)
- Pattathu yaanai (Royal Elephant)
- Kulla nari kootam (Pack of Jackals)
- Kaaka muttai (Crow Egg)
- Onaiyum aatukuttiyum (Coyote and the goat)
- Sura (Shark)
- Irumbu kuthirai (Iron Horse)
- Pachchaikili muthucharam (Green parrot and string of pearls)
- Seval (Rooster)
- Sandakozhi (Fighter Chicken)
- Kozhi koovuthu (Chicken is Clucking)
- Jeikira kuthira (Winning Horse)
- Nadunisi naaygal (Midnight Dogs)
- Kuruvi (Sparrow)
- Pannikutty (Piglet)
- Yaanai (Elephant)