Mammootty's Padayatra, helmed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, has released a new poster. The poster, shared by the production house Mammootty Kampany, features the actor sitting on a chair in a dark room, in front of a table lamp, holding a book in his hand. The makers had earlier proudly announced that the film had been selected for the International Competition at the 31st International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2026).

Padayatra brings the veteran filmmaker and Mammootty together once again, over three decades after their celebrated collaborations Mathilukal and Vidheyan. Produced by the actor himself under his banner, Mammootty Kampany, the film is set against the backdrop of Kerala in the 1970s and 1980s, with Mammootty portraying a Gandhian doctor who relocates to the forests of Wayanad to serve marginalised communities.

The film is special because Adoor Gopalakrishnan is a director who has won five National Film Awards for Best Director, and Mammootty recently won his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor. Padayatra marks Adoor's return to direction after a decade, following his last film, Pinneyum, which was released in 2016.

In an earlier interview with India Today, the filmmaker spoke about how the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to reconsider his future in cinema. With theatres shut and audiences unable to watch films on the big screen, Adoor began questioning the purpose of making films. He also added that he even thought about giving up filmmaking. But as theatres began reopening and people started watching films again, he felt encouraged to make another film.

Produced by Mammootty Kampany and distributed by Wayfarer Films, the film is scheduled to release in cinemas on December 4, 2026, and will compete in the International Competition category at IFFK 2026, which will run from December 11 to 18 in Thiruvananthapuram.