Thiruvananthapuram: Adding another feather to the cap of Malayalam cinema, the highly anticipated period drama Padayaatra, marking the historic reunion of legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Megastar Mammootty, has been officially selected for the International Competition section at the 31st International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2026).
​Mammootty took to his official Facebook handle to announce the prestigious milestone with his fans and film lovers, writing: “Padayaatra Officially Selected for the International Competition at the 31st International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2026).”
​Padayaatra marks the fourth collaboration between the two cinematic icons—and their first in over three decades—following timeless classics like Anantaram (1987), Mathilukal (1989), and Vidheyan (1994). The film is also doubly special as it marks Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s return to direction after a decade-long hiatus following Pinneyum (2016). Bankrolled by Mammootty himself under his home banner, Mammootty Kampany, the film will be distributed by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films.
​Co-written by K.V. Mohan Kumar and Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the narrative revolves around Dr. Devadas (played by Mammootty), a doctor rooted in Gandhian principles who leaves behind an urban career to serve an underprivileged tribal community in the hilly terrains of Wayanad, only to get entangled in socio-political conflicts. Alongside Mammootty, the film features a stellar ensemble cast including Indrans, Grace Antony, Alencier Ley Lopez, Jagadish, Madhupal, and Nandu.
​The 31st edition of IFFK is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 11 to 18, 2026. Padayaatra, alongside Leo Thaddeus’s Chevittormma, will represent Malayalam cinema among 14 global contenders vying for the coveted Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant). Ahead of its festival screening, Padayaatra is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on December 4, 2026.
