Ariku, produced by Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) as part of the Kerala State Government's project to promote films by directors from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories, will be released in theatres on February 28. The film, directed by journalist-turned-filmmaker V S Sanoj, was reportedly selected by KSFDC from the 79 entries it received as part of the initiative launched in 2020-21. It is jointly scripted by Sanoj and Joby Varghese based on the story penned by the former.

According to the makers, Ariku tells the story of "three generations. one struggle. a fight for dignity that never ends." The film features Irshad Ali, Dhanya Ananya, Senthil Krishna, Santhy Balachandran and Rony David Raj in the lead roles. On the technical front, it has State Award-winning cinematographer Manesh Madhavan, National Award-winning music director Bijibal, acclaimed production designer Gokul Das and editor Praveen Mangalath.

Even though Ariku was the first film to reportedly go on floors under the SC/ST empowerment initiative of the Government of Kerala, another film made as part of the same scheme, Arun J Mohan's Churul, was released last year. Over the past four years, KSFDC has also backed several films under the 'Films Directed by Women' project.