Chidambaram, Anna Ben to lead Vysakh Reetha's romcom

Chidambaram, who directed Manjummel Boys, is moving in front of the camera again. He will play the lead in debutant director Vysakh Reetha's untitled romantic comedy-drama, with Anna Ben opposite him, the director has said.

Vysakh describes the film as quirky, and says it deals with hunger, modern relationships, commitment, capitalism and memory. Shooting is expected to start in January 2027.

Film: Untitled romantic comedy-drama

Director: Vysakh Reetha (debut)

Lead cast: Chidambaram, Anna Ben

Also starring: Jewel Mary, Jagadish, Prasanth Alexander, Manoj Kana

Writer: Ajith (Purusha Pretham)

Music: Ajmal Hasbulla

Editor and co-director: Rakesh Cherumadom

Producers: Jomon Jacob, Reetha Films Ltd (India-UK co-production)

Executive producer: KC Pranav Raj

Shoot: From January 2027

A director's second turn as an actor

This is only Chidambaram's second acting role. He made his acting debut this year in Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval's Oru Durooha Saahacharyathil, which starred Kunchacko Boban. He played Armiyas, the film's antagonist. A lead role, in a romantic comedy, is a different kind of test.

It comes at a busy time for him as a director. He made his debut with Jan.E.Man in 2021, and Manjummel Boys, led by Soubin Shahir, followed in 2024. He is now reported to be directing two films with Kantara star Rishab Shetty, the first a Kannada sports drama produced by Shibu Thameens. So for now, he is juggling a leading man's role and two films behind the camera.

Anna Ben's next pairing

Anna Ben made her debut in Kumbalangi Nights in 2019 and led Helen the same year, a survival thriller. Since then she has picked roles beyond Malayalam, including the Tamil drama Kottukkaali and, most recently, the Tamil crime comedy Con City, released on June 26 this year.

Opposite her, the cast leans on familiar faces. Jagadish, Jewel Mary, Prasanth Alexander and Manoj Kana join the ensemble. The script is by Ajith, who wrote the 2023 police procedural Purusha Pretham.

Also read: Kunchacko Boban to lead debutant Abhijith's Panorama Studios film, Kannur shoot planned for November: report