The first look poster of the Malayalam movie Vadakkan is out

First-look of supernatural thriller Vadakkan starring Kishore promises a chilling experience, set for release in March.

The first look of Vadakkan, produced by Studio Beet is out. Vadakkan marks the first chapter in a trilogy, starring Kishore, Shruthy Menon and Merin Philip as the lead protagonists. The first-look poster offers a glimpse of a mystical character, of which the director, Sajeed A, “Look closely at the first-look poster, and you’ll feel it—it doesn’t just sit there; it speaks. It whispers its secrets, pulling you in, daring you to look deeper.” 

Vadakkan promises to deliver a never-before-seen supernatural experience on the big screen. Kannada actor Kishore, known for his stellar performances across languages, is a paranormal investigator in the film. Approached to unravel a series of brutal murders on a reality TV show, he uncovers dark secrets tied to an ancient cult ritual that dates back to the Indus valley civilization of more than 4000 years ago. As he delves deeper, he comes face-to-face with a deadly spirit from Dravidian folklore, which plunges him into a world filled with terrifying revelations.

Apart from Unni R, the scenarist, the crew includes Oscar and BAFTA-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, music director Bijibal, and Japanese DOP Keiko Nakahara. The movie has clinched accolades at various film festivals, including the Gala Screening Selection at Fantastic Pavilion at Cannes, Best Supernatural Thriller award at the Fright Night Film Festival in the US and Best Feature Film at the RED Movie Awards, Autumn Edition, REIMS, France. 

The film has been showcased at multiple film festivals. It was an official selection at Germany’s Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) as well as America’s Echelon Studios International Film Festival in Los Angeles in 2024. It was also screened at the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the Gala screenings at the Fantastic Pavilion. It was again an official selection at the Abruzzo Horror Film Festival in L’Aquila, Italy, and at the 78th Festival Internazionale del Cinema di Salerno.

Vadakkan will be dubbed in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.

The film is due for release in March.