Aashirvad Cinemas

Name

Aashirvad Cinemas

Legal name

Aashirvad Cinemas

Website

https://aashirvadcinemas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Cinema Chains & Multiplex Operators (MPADAKAA)

Keywords

• Film production
• Theatrical exhibition
• Cinema distribution
• Movie production house
• Multiplex operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Kochi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Film Production: Aashirvad Cinemas produces Malayalam films, primarily starring Mohanlal, generating revenue through theatrical box office collections, satellite/TV rights, OTT streaming rights, and music rights. Major productions include the Drishyam franchise (Drishyam, Drishyam 2, Drishyam 3), Lucifer, Marakkar, and others. The company operates as both producer and presenter, often co-presenting with partners like Pen Studios and Panorama Studios.
2. Theater Exhibition: Aashirvad Cinemas operates 27 cinema screens across Kerala, including theaters in Kozhikode, Shornur, Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Haripad, Kadapra, and Kottiyam. Revenue is generated from ticket sales and ancillary services (food and beverages). The company has expanded into theater operations as part of vertical integration.
3. Exhibition Expansion and Vertical Integration: Aashirvad Cinemas is increasing its cinema screen count and expanding its presence in film exhibition. The company is part of a broader trend of Kerala film producers taking over, leasing, and operating cinemas to control the entire value chain from production to exhibition.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aashirvad Cinemas produces Malayalam-language films starring primarily actor Mohanlal, operating as one of the most prominent film production houses in Indian cinema since 1999. The company has produced over 38 films across multiple genres including thrillers (Drishyam franchise), political dramas (Lucifer/Empuraan), and historical epics (Marakkar). Additionally, the company operates 27 cinema screens across Kerala under the Aashirvad Cineplexx brand, providing direct theatrical exhibition with Dolby Atmos, 3D, and 4K/2K Laser projection technology.

Product overview

Aashirvad Cinemas is a Malayalam film production house founded in 1999 by Antony Perumbavoor, deeply associated with actor Mohanlal. The company operates as a film production studio and theater exhibition business with 27 screens across Kerala. Its product portfolio includes produced films spanning multiple decades (2000-present), with major franchises like Drishyam, Lucifer/Empuraan, and Marakkar. The company operates 8 theater locations in Kerala featuring Dolby Atmos, 3D, and 4K/2K LASER projection technology. Films are distributed through theatrical release, streaming platforms (Amazon Prime Video), and third-party ticketing platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aashirvad Cineplex: The company's theater/cinema chain brand operating multiple screens across Kerala including Kozhikode, Shornur, Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Haripad, Kadapra, and Kottiyam

Products and services

• Film Production Services Production of Malayalam-language films starring primarily Mohanlal, producing commercial and critically acclaimed titles including the Drishyam franchise, Lucifer/Empuraan franchise, and Marakkar. Films are released theatrically followed by OTT and satellite windows.
• Theater Exhibition (Aashirvad Cineplexx)

Quantifiable outcome

• Drishyam 3 crossed Rs 330 crore worldwide within 30 days of its May 21, 2026 theatrical release
• +4 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• PriyadarshancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Priyadarshan's 100th film is being produced by Antony Perumbavoor under Aashirvad Cinemas, starring Mohanlal. This marks a landmark reunion between the director and actor, who first worked together in 1984. The untitled musical project (12 songs, father-son theme) breaks from their comedic formula. The project is Aashirvad Cinemas' 38th venture. Priyadarshan is one of the most prolific directors in Indian cinema.
• Panorama StudiosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2025Panorama Studios, in partnership with Pen Studios, acquired worldwide theatrical and digital rights to Drishyam 3 — one of the biggest pan-India film acquisition deals of the year. For Panorama Studios, the acquisition marks a strategic expansion into Malayalam cinema, building on its previous success producing Hindi adaptations of the Drishyam franchise. Panorama Studios holds the Hindi version remake rights for the Drishyam franchise and separately acquired worldwide rights for Drishyam 3.
• Amazon Prime VideoflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Prime Video holds exclusive global streaming rights for Drishyam 3 under a valid agreement with Aashirvad Cinemas. The film premiered on June 18, 2026, across India and more than 200 countries and territories worldwide in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Amazon Prime Video also issued a legal notice warning against unauthorized digital deals when a rights dispute arose, demonstrating the platform's commitment to the exclusive partnership.
• Rajkumar Theatres Pvt LtdminorOthersRajkumar Theatres Pvt Ltd filed a petition in the Madras High Court claiming exclusive Telugu remake rights for Drishyam 3 based on its involvement as co-producer of earlier Telugu remakes. The court issued notices to Aashirvad Cinemas, Jeethu Joseph, Panorama Studios, and Pen Studios. This is a legal dispute, not a formal partnership.
• Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)minorOthersCBFC granted Drishyam 3 a U/A 16+ rating with only minor changes required, including muting one expletive in the Telugu version and adding warning cards about smoking and alcohol. The film's theatrical release proceeded on May 21, 2026, after the initial April 2 schedule was postponed.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Panorama Studios: Indian film production and distribution company that acquired worldwide rights for Drishyam 3 and previously produced Hindi remakes of the Drishyam franchise. Comparable as a regional-to-pan-Indian film acquirer and distributor working with Malayalam content.
• Red Giant Movies: South Indian film distribution and production company that distributed Tamil versions of Aashirvad films. Directly comparable as a regional South Indian distributor/producer operating in similar language territories (Tamil, Malayalam).
• Pen Studios: Indian film production and distribution company that co-invested Rs 100 crore in Aashirvad's Drishyam 3 and acquired worldwide theatrical and digital rights. Operates a similar pan-Indian film financing and distribution model, making it a directly comparable Indian studio peer.

Broad incumbents

• Eros International (Eros STX): Global Indian film production, distribution, and OTT company with a content library spanning multiple languages. Comparable in international distribution and OTT monetization of Indian film content, similar to Aashirvad's Amazon Prime Video global window.
• T-Series: Indian music and film production giant that has produced and distributed dozens of Hindi films. Comparable as a large Indian content production and monetization enterprise, though its music catalog and YouTube presence differentiate it from a theater-focused studio.
• PVR INOX: India's largest multiplex chain operating hundreds of cinema screens nationwide. Comparable as a theater exhibition peer to Aashirvad's owned 27-screen Aashirvad Cineplexx network, though at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Yash Raj Films: India's oldest and largest film production and distribution company with integrated studio, distribution, and international marketing operations. Comparable as an incumbent studio that controls production-through-distribution similarly to Aashirvad's vertical model.
• Dharma Productions: One of India's leading Hindi film production houses with a strong franchise and star-driven slate (e.g., Brahmastra, K3G, YJHD). Comparable in the production-and-distribution value chain model, though operating at pan-Indian scale rather than regional Malayalam.

Emerging players

• Vijay Babu's Friday Film House: Malayalam film production house founded by actor-producer Vijay Babu, producing and distributing Malayalam cinema. Comparable as a Malayalam-language film production and distribution peer, though smaller in scale and lacking Aashirvad's theater exhibition footprint.

Regional players

• Carnival Films (MovieTime Cinemas): Indian theater chain operating cinema screens across multiple Indian states. Comparable in the cinema exhibition business model, though Carnival operates primarily in non-Kerala geographies and does not produce content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aashirvadcine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AashirvadCinemasOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/AashirvadCinemasOfficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/aashirvadcine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aashirvad-cinemas---india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aashirvad Cinemas