Seasoned producer Venu Kunnappilly of the Kavya Film Company banner has joined Aadu 3 as a co-producer alongside Friday Film House, the banner headed by actor-producer Vijay Babu. The third instalment in the Aadu franchise was formally launched in Kochi in May with a traditional pooja and switch-on ceremony attended by the cast and crew. Directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, it is being billed as an “epic fantasy”, a notable departure from the tone of its predecessors. The director had earlier indicated that the film is being planned for a Christmas 2025 release.

First released in 2015, Aadu followed a group of eccentric characters from the Idukki high ranges and their chaotic adventures involving a female goat. Despite poor box office returns, the film developed a cult following post its home video release, prompting the makers to greenlight Aadu 2 in 2017. The sequel found greater theatrical success and reaffirmed the franchise’s popularity. Jayasurya will reprise his role as Shaji Paappan in Aadu 3, with franchise regulars Vinayakan, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Sunny Wayne, Saiju Kurup, Aju Varghese, Vijay Babu, Bhagath Manuel, and Indrans returning. More updates on the project are awaited as production progresses.

Venu is known for backing films such as Mamangam, Malikappuram and 2018: Everyone is a Hero, which was India’s official entry to the Oscars and one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films to date. The company’s most recent release was Rekhachithram, a box-office success headlined by Asif Ali. Last year, it was also announced that veteran filmmaker Hariharan would return to direction after more than a decade, with a film backed by Kavya Film Company. However, no updates have followed since, and the status of that project remains unknown.