Demonte Colony 3 is targeting a Pongal 2027 theatrical release following earlier postponements and the lifting of a court stay. Passion Studios announced the festive window through its official X account on 8 November 2026, sharing a promotional video for the film directed by Ajay Gnanamuthu and starring Arulnithi.
The studio’s announcement used the wording “this Pongal” and a corresponding release hashtag. Same-day media reports identified the intended window as Pongal 2027.
Published coverage names Priya Bhavani Shankar, Guru Somasundaram, Meenakshi Govindarajan and Sarjano Khalid among the cast. Sam C.S. composes the music, with Sivakumar Vijayan handling cinematography and Kumaresh D editing.
Sudhan Sundaram produces under Passion Studios. Earlier reports also identify Dangal TV, RDC Media and Gnanamuthu Pattarai among the production banners.
Release plans and legal dispute
The new window follows a dispute over the project’s rights and production arrangements. Media reports said an interim Madras High Court stay had interrupted the release and was subsequently lifted after a hearing.
Coverage attributed the petition to Vijaya Subramanian’s production company, alleging breaches of a sequel-rights agreement and exclusion from decisions concerning certification, promotion and rights licensing. These remain allegations described in the reporting; the lifting of the stay should not be presented as a finding establishing or rejecting every claim.
The published accounts differ on earlier release plans. Some identify 11 September, while July coverage recorded a change from that date to 10 September. A separate report published when the stay was lifted referred to a planned 1 October opening. Those accounts do not establish a single consistent chronology of the abandoned dates.
Earlier coverage also reported that Gnanamuthu had announced an A certificate for the film in July, distinguishing it from the U/A classifications of the first two instalments.
Background
Gnanamuthu made his feature directorial debut with Demonte Colony, which opened on 22 May 2015. Drawing on a Chennai locality associated with ghost stories, the film placed Arulnithi at the centre of its supernatural premise.
In an interview published during the original film’s theatrical run, Gnanamuthu explained that he wanted a lead without an invincible screen image, allowing the threat posed by the spirit to remain convincing.
The director and actor reunited for Demonte Colony 2, released on 15 August 2024. Its reception included appreciation for continuing the horror narrative alongside reservations about its execution.
Before that sequel’s release, Arulnithi said Gnanamuthu had already developed stories for further instalments and that the team had outlined the series through a fourth film, subject to the second film’s reception. Demonte Colony 3 continues that planned expansion, with Sam C.S. returning after composing for the second instalment.
