India, April 22, 2026: ZEE5 Malayalam is set to premiere Aadu 3 on May 1, marking the return of one of Malayalam cinema’s most popular cult franchises. Written and directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, the film is the third instalment in the Aadu series and the first part of a planned two-film epic.
Produced by Friday Film House (Vijay Babu) and Kavya Film Company (Venu Kunnappilly), the film reunites its iconic ensemble cast led by Jayasurya as Shaji Pappan. The cast also includes Saiju Kurup, Vinayakan, Renji Panicker, Sunny Wayne, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indrans, and others reprising their roles, alongside new additions Alleya Bourne and Krishna Jeev.
Expanding beyond the anarchic humour of its predecessors, Aadu 3 ventures into a time-bending narrative that blends satire, science fiction, and historical drama. The story unfolds across three timelines—a dystopian future in 2370 ruled by an authoritarian regime, colonial-era Kerala in 1790, and the present day—intertwining events that reshape reality across centuries.
Speaking about the film’s premiere, director Midhun Manuel Thomas said, “The Aadu films have always found a strong second life beyond theatres, and Aadu 3 was conceived with that long-form engagement in mind. Bringing this film to Malayalam Zee5 allows audiences to experience the scale, the layered timelines, and the humour in a more immersive way. It’s still the same irreverent Aadu world but told with much more narrative space.”
Sharing his experience, Jayasurya added, “Shaji Pappan belongs to the present, while Maharaja Padmanabhan Thampuran carries the burden of history. Playing both roles within the same film was challenging but also rewarding because their choices echo into one another. I’m glad audiences will be able to discover those layers when the film premieres on ZEE5.”
