Vijay Yesudas and Shwetha Menon to team up in film helmed by Class 10 student Chinmayi

Malayalam cinema has seen an influx in young talents behind the camera. The latest in the list could also be its youngest ever. Class 10 student Chinmayi, who is the daughter of Kangaroo scriptwriter Anil Raj, is currently shooting for her debut film that has Vijay Yesudas and Shwetha Menon in the lead.

The movie, which also has Kalabhavan Shajohn playing a pivotal character, went on floors in Ponkunnam recently. Kottayam collector PK Jayasree will also be seen in a pivotal role as a collector in the film.

With the venture, Chinmayi, who has completed her Class 10 exams and had previously directed a few short films, is among the youngest filmmakers in the country. The yet-to-be-titled film, which is set against the backdrop of a school, aims to send a social message to students. Debutante Meenakshi, Sudheer and Sajimon Parayil are also part of its cast.

Vijay Yesudas, meanwhile, is awaiting the release of his multi-lingual horror film Salmon 3D, which is helmed by Shalil Kallur. The movie, which is set to be released in seven languages including Bengali and Marathi, also has Rajeev Pillai, Tanvi Kishore and Jonita Dada as part of the cast. The actor-singer is also part of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan.

Shwetha Menon, who was last seen reprising her role from Salt ‘N Pepper in Baburaj’s directorial Black Coffee, has several movies lined up including Badhal, Pallimani and Mathamgi.

Debutant director Ajayan’s Badhal, which had completed shooting prior to the pandemic, has her playing a naxalite named Kanimozhi. The movie, which also has Gayathri Suresh and Aneesh G Mohan, took three years to complete and was shot in Attapadi, Munnar and Palakkad.

Pallimani, meanwhile, is a mystery thriller that has her in two avatars. The film revolves around a family who is stranded in an old church.

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