(L to R) Vijay Babu, Jayasurya, Midhun Manuel Thomas 
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Midhun Manuel Thomas hints Aadu 3 will be the final film in the franchise

The writer-director also confirmed that, alongside lead actor Jayasurya, the other franchise regulars will reprise their roles in the third instalment

Vivek Santhosh

Earlier, we reported the announcement of the third instalment of the popular Aadu franchise. Writer-director Midhun Manuel Thomas, who is returning to helm the sequel, hinted on Tuesday that this upcoming part will mark the final film in the series. In a social media post, he remarked, "Been away for a while – to the remote past, to the distant future, surfing through the turbulent present...! And finally, they are gearing up for one ambitious 'Last Ride'!"

The Anjaam Pathiraa director also confirmed that, alongside lead actor Jayasurya, the other franchise regulars will reprise their roles in Aadu 3. This includes Vinayakan, Sunny Wayne, Saiju Govinda Kurup, Aju Varghese, Indrans, and Vijay Babu, who is also producing the film under his banner, Friday Film House. In a recent conversation with CE, Saiju said, "I’ve been informed that we will start shooting Aadu 3 either this December or January next year, with a planned release in mid-2025." Additionally, Shaan Rahman, the music director for the first two films, will return to compose the third instalment.

The franchise is a slapstick comedy centred around Shaji Paappan (Jayasurya) and his tug-of-war team members. Although the first film, released in 2015, was a box office failure, it gained popularity through its home video release and eventually attained cult status. This success inspired the makers to release a sequel in 2017, which became a massive theatrical hit.

In the meantime, Midhun recently completed filming for his upcoming Disney+ Hotstar series Anali. Reportedly based on the Koodathayi killings, the series stars Leona Lishoy and Nikhila Vimal in the lead roles.

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