Indrans says returning for Aadu 3 was ‘like meeting old friends again’

The third instalment of the popular Aadu franchise, Aadu 3, has been drawing audiences to theatres ever since its release, with fans once again celebrating the film’s eccentric characters and offbeat humour. Over the years, nearly every character in the franchise has developed a loyal following, and among them is Home Minister PP Sasi, played by Indrans.

Sasi aashan, a morally corrupt yet comically entertaining politician, may not belong to either the Shaji Pappan gang or the Dudu gang, but he holds his own in the narrative. His antics and sharp, witty exchanges, especially with Sarbath Shameer (Vijay Babu), have made him a fan favourite across the series.

For Indrans, however, the credit for the character’s popularity lies largely with director Midhun Manuel Thomas. The actor, who has collaborated with Midhun in multiple films, including the 2020 crime thriller Anjaam Pathira, says his approach to acting is rooted in trusting the director’s vision.

“We just have to listen to the director. Our job as actors becomes easier that way. Whatever roles I am getting, I am happy with them and I try to do them with full honesty,” Indrans told Onmanorama. “With each movie, my friends call me and appreciate the work I have done.”

In Anjaam Pathira, Indrans appeared in a brief but powerful role as Ripper Chandran, a performance that stood in stark contrast to the comedic tone of PP Sasi. The actor credits Midhun Manuel Thomas for giving him such diverse characters to portray.

“Sasi was a character that was well defined from the very beginning, and Midhun is someone who sits with everyone and makes the character and scenes clear. With a good director, there is a good movie,” he said.

Indrans also spoke about how the director creates a comfortable and enjoyable working environment on set, which, according to him, plays a major role in shaping performances.

“Midhun is someone who makes acting an enjoyable experience for actors. He is the one who gave me the comic role of Sasi aashan, and he is also the one who cast me as the Ripper in Anjaam Pathira. He knows exactly where to place things, and even producers are willing to invest in his films because they trust his vision. It is not my brilliance, but the director’s talent.”

With Aadu 3 bringing back almost the entire cast from the earlier films, the shoot became more than just another project for the team. Indrans describes the experience as one filled with warmth and familiarity.

“It was like a reunion of friends. The film was shot in parts and took over a year to complete, so we would meet at intervals and it was all fun. When we put on the characters’ costumes again, we slip back into those characters easily,” he said.

The actor also admitted that he had not anticipated the kind of success the Aadu franchise would eventually achieve. When the first film did not perform well at the box office, he did not expect it to grow into such a widely loved series. The turnaround, he says, was a pleasant surprise.

Despite the franchise’s popularity and the affection audiences have for PP Sasi, Indrans maintains that he approaches each role with the same mindset. He says he enjoys taking on whatever character comes his way, treating each one as a new challenge.
“We may be coming from different film locations to this shoot, but ultimately it falls on everyone, especially the director, to make sure they get the correct performance from us,” he added.