Basil Joseph introduced as Samkutty in Athiradi; Onam 2026 release confirmed

The makers of Athiradi on Sunday unveiled Basil Joseph’s character poster, officially introducing him as Samkutty, also known as SamBoy. Along with the reveal, the team confirmed that the film will hit theatres during Onam 2026, though the exact release date is yet to be announced. The film brings together Tovino Thomas and Vineeth Sreenivasan in lead roles, marking an exciting collaboration.

Set largely on a college campus, Athiradi also stars Riya Shibu, best known for Sarvam Maya, as one of the female leads. The film marks the directorial debut of Arun Anirudhan, who earlier co-wrote Minnal Murali and Padayottam. He has penned the script along with Paulson Skaria, whose previous writing credits include Neymar and Kaathal – The Core.

Athiradi is the maiden production venture of Basil Joseph Entertainment, in association with Dr Ananthu Entertainment, headed by Dr Ananthu, founder and CEO of Xylem Learning. Actors Tovino Thomas and cinematographer-filmmaker Sameer Thahir are also on board as co-producers.

On the technical front, the film features music composed by Vishnu Vijay, cinematography by Samuel Henry, and editing by Chaman Chakko.

The previously released title teaser offered a glimpse into the film’s dynamics, portraying Tovino Thomas and Basil Joseph as apparent rivals, with Vineeth Sreenivasan’s character acting as the catalyst between them. The teaser cleverly juxtaposed Basil in a pub setting with a mundu-clad Tovino at a temple festival, before ending on a nostalgic note with Vineeth mimicking Kamal Haasan’s iconic line, “Arambikkalangala.”

With its youthful setting, strong creative team, and a festive Onam release window, Athiradi is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Malayalam films of 2026.