Rishab Shetty is adding a fresh director to his slate. The Kantara star has signed on for two films with Chidambaram, the filmmaker behind Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys. The first project will be a Kannada sports drama.
As reported by Pinkvilla, the film is in pre-production and expected to go on floors next year. Shibu Thameens is attached as producer. The team has not yet revealed the storyline, supporting cast or technical crew.
A meeting of two rooted storytellers
The pairing brings together two names known for culturally rooted, emotionally layered cinema. Rishab Shetty found a wide audience with Kantara, while Chidambaram earned acclaim for Manjummel Boys, which featured Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Deepak Parambol, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Lal Jr. and Abhiram.
That shared instinct is what makes the announcement feel bigger than a routine casting note. Both have built their recent work on specific places, communities and emotional stakes, so a Kannada sports drama gives them a natural space to push those strengths.
The collaboration also shows how fluid South Indian film industries have become. A Kannada leading man, a Malayalam director and producer Shibu Thameens can now assemble around one project without the old language-market boundaries feeling like a barrier.
Rishab’s growing slate
For Rishab, the sports genre is a departure. He already has Jai Hanuman and Kantara 2 and 3 in the pipeline, and this new project joins that list rather than replacing it.
The volume suggests a careful balancing act. He is protecting the Kantara universe while testing himself in a new genre. A sports drama asks for physical discipline and a different kind of screen energy, which could widen his range at a time when his name travels well beyond Karnataka.
What Chidambaram brings
Chidambaram has built his reputation on unconventional stories and deep narrative work. Manjummel Boys is the clearest proof, and his move into Kannada cinema gives the project a cross-industry texture. A sports film lives or dies on local detail, training rhythms and emotional payoff, and that is exactly the material he has handled well.
- The deal covers two films; the first is the Kannada sports drama.
- The film is in pre-production and is expected to begin shooting next year.
- Shibu Thameens is producing, with no story or casting details announced yet.
What to watch next
For fans, the next milestones are simple: casting announcements, a title reveal and the first set images. Because the shoot is still some time away, early glimpses may be scarce, but any movement on the technical crew will hint at the film’s scale.
If the first collaboration lands, the second film becomes an even bigger talking point. For now, the stake is clear: a leading Kannada star, a breakout Malayalam director and a sports story with room to travel.
Source: PINKVILLA
Comments