Mammootty returns as Karikkamuri Shanmukhan in Ranjith’s next

Mammootty’s iconic character Karikkamuri Shanmukhan is all set to return to the big screens after 22 years. The mega star will be seen in a cameo appearance in the movie directed by Ranjith, starring Prakash Varma in the lead role. Meanwhile, the filming of the scenes featuring Mammootty is already progressing at Kochi. CMS College in Kottayam is also a major location of the movie. Interestingly, Mammootty will be playing a cameo role in this movie after ‘Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies’.

Karikkamuri Shanmukhan, the iconic protagonist of ‘Black’ (2004) directed by Ranjith, is often regarded as one of the most stylish characters portrayed by the megastar. It was in ‘Black’ that Amal Neerad made his debut as a cinematographer, showcasing his talent behind the camera.

Ranjith's latest film shifts focus to the lives of policemen based in Kochi. The film will feature a mix of fresh talent in pivotal roles, alongside veteran actor Prakash Varma. Joining the cast are Abhirami and Sidhique. The screenplay is written by Udaykrishna, while Shankar Ramakrishnan serves as the co-director. The film's cinematography is handled by Prashant Raveendran. Produced by MG Premachandran and Maha Subair, the movie is a collaboration between Sathyam Cinemas and Varna Chitra.

This will mark Ranjith’s return to feature filmmaking after an extended break of over eight years. His last full-length feature film was ‘Drama,’ starring Mohanlal. Since then, Ranjith has directed short films, including one in an anthology based on the works of MT Vasudevan Nair, in which Mammootty played the lead. Titled ‘Kadugannava Oru Yathrakurip,’ this short movie was part of a collection based on the legendary author’s stories.

Another short film by Ranjith, ‘Aaro,’ featured Syama Prasad and Manju Warrier, and was produced by Mammootty. This short film was released on Mammootty Kampany’s YouTube channel.