Chennai: The makers of director Ajay Gnanamuthu’s upcoming horror thriller Demonte Colony 3, featuring Arulnithi and Priya Bhavani Shankar in the lead roles, have announced that the film will now hit screens worldwide during Pongal next year.
The makers had initially announced September 11 as the film’s release date. They later advanced it by a day to September 10. However, they have now postponed the release to Pongal next year.
Actor Arulnithi took to his social media accounts to share the release date announcement poster. He wrote, “Mark your calendars! The countdown to hell has begun. Your nightmare awaits this Pongal. #DemonteColony3
#DemonteColony3fromPongal.”
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has already cleared the film for release with an ‘A’ certificate.
Director Ajay Gnanamuthu had earlier shared the certification update on social media, writing, “The darkness is back. #DemonteColony3 Officially Censored ‘A’. Not for the faint-hearted. Brace yourself. The darkness returns on September 10.”
The makers had announced in April that shooting for the film had been completed.
Producer Sudhan Sundaram of Passion Studios had then praised the director’s discipline and commitment to completing the project within the stipulated timeframe.
“A director’s craftsmanship is not merely defined by narrative finesse or technical prowess, but equally by the discipline and commitment to deliver a project within its stipulated timeframe. ‘Demonte Colony 3’ has been mounted on an expansive scale,” he said.
“The film has been shot across diverse international and domestic locations, including Portugal, Malta, Leh-Ladakh and Chennai. Given the magnitude of its star cast and technical ensemble, completing the production within schedule could have proven exceedingly arduous for any filmmaker. I was, in fact, prepared to extend both the shooting timeline and the budget, having been thoroughly captivated by the manner in which the film was taking shape. Nevertheless, director Ajay Gnanamuthu demonstrated exemplary discipline and punctuality, ensuring that the entire shoot was wrapped as planned within 80 days,” he added.
At the time of completing the shoot, Gnanamuthu said it was a privilege to have the support of a producer who understood the demands of the franchise.
“The journey of creating ‘Demonte Colony 3’ has been immensely fulfilling. Even the most demanding challenges appeared seamless, owing to the consistent and magnanimous support of the production team. Arulnithi’s conviction and dedication to the process were particularly inspiring. The technical crew and the entire cast stood as steadfast pillars, enabling us to complete the shoot within the planned 80-day schedule,” he said.
The director added that the franchise had transcended linguistic and regional boundaries, earning appreciation from audiences across different regions.
“With the third instalment, we have endeavoured to cater to a global viewership, ensuring that the film resonates beyond conventional limits,” he said.
Apart from Arulnithi and Priya Bhavani Shankar, the film also features Antti Jaaskelainen, Guru Somasundaram, GM Kumar, Muthukumar, SreeKumar, Meenakshi Govindarajan, Kathir, Ashiq Hussain, Sarjano Khalid and Archana Ravichandran, among others.
Sam CS has composed the music, while Sivakumar Vijayan has handled the cinematography. Kumaresh D is in charge of editing.
