Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has clarified that his upcoming Mammootty-starrer Padayaatra is not conceived as a political film, even though it engages with pressing social concerns. “This is not a political film,” Adoor said in a conversation with Mathrubhumi. “Even if it does not appear overtly political, when one addresses social issues, a political dimension inevitably emerges.”
The octogenarian auteur, widely credited with elevating Malayalam cinema to international recognition, is currently filming Padayaatra, a project that is already notable for bringing him back together with Mammootty after 32 years. The film marks their fourth collaboration after Anantaram, Mathilukal and Vidheyan, all of which are regarded as milestones in Malayalam cinema.
Produced under Mammootty’s home banner Mammootty Kampany, Padayaatra reportedly features the veteran actor as Dr Devadas, a physician who abandons a thriving urban practice to serve in a tribal region. Guided by Gandhian ideals, the character dedicates himself to working among marginalised communities and gradually becomes entangled in the systemic injustices they face. Indrans plays his assistant, while Grace Antony and Sreeshma Chandran are also part of the cast.
Set in the mid-2000s, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Adivasi life and explores themes of exploitation and resistance. As Dr Devadas begins to understand the realities confronting the tribal population, he finds himself at odds with landlords, sections of the police and political figures accused of exploiting them. While these elements lend the story an unmistakable socio-political undertone, Adoor maintains that the film’s core intention is rooted in human and social inquiry rather than partisan commentary.
The principal location for the film is the FACT complex and its surrounding areas in Kochi, a sprawling 800-acre campus that includes a striking man-made lake. Portions have also been shot in tribal settlements in the Pooyamkutty forest region. Unlike many of Adoor’s earlier, more minimalist works, Padayaatra involves substantial set construction, including tribal hamlets and a forest hospital central to the story.
Adoor has co-written the screenplay with author and former IAS officer K V Mohan Kumar. The technical team includes cinematographer Shehnad Jalal, editor Praveen Prabhakar, composer Mujeeb Majeed and art director Shajie Naduvil, all of whom have previously collaborated with Mammootty.