Naanu Matthu Gunda (2020)

Shankar drives an auto-rickshaw in a small town and has no interest in pets. When a stray dog attaches itself to him, he tries to get rid of it, but the dog, whom he names Gunda, keeps finding its way back, and slowly man and dog become inseparable. Shankar's marriage, his struggles to make ends meet and the ups and downs of town life are all seen through his bond with the animal. Naanu Matthu Gunda ("Me and Gunda") gave comedian Shivaraj K. R. Pete his first major lead role, and the dog's performance was much praised. It is a gentle, emotional film about loyalty and companionship that won warm reviews for its simplicity when it released in early 2020.