‘Joseph’ director M Padmakumar returns to crime genre with ‘Uyir’, starring Roshan Mathew as a determined young officer

Director M Padmakumar, the filmmaker behind acclaimed Malayalam titles such as 'Joseph', 'Shikkar', 'Vargam', and 'Vasthavam', is gearing up for the release of another investigative crime drama.

The makers have now unveiled the second-look poster of his upcoming film 'Uyir', carrying the intriguing tagline, "When everyone looks away, one man digs deeper."According to Onmanorama, in 'Uyir', Roshan Mathew essays the role of Sub-Inspector Ajeeb, a young police officer serving his probation at the Dharmadam Police Station in Kannur. Rooted in real-life events, the thriller promises to follow Ajeeb's pursuit of truth as he navigates a complex investigation.

The project is backed by producer Santhosh Trivikraman under the WOW Cinemas banner, while Century Films will handle its theatrical distribution.

Script draws from real police experiences

The screenplay and dialogues have been jointly crafted by Nikhil K. Menon and Shaji Marad. While Menon is widely recognised among television audiences as a singer and actor, Marad brings firsthand law-enforcement experience to the table. Notably, he also co-wrote the internationally celebrated film 'Ela Veezha Poonchira'.

Their collaboration is expected to merge authentic police insights with cinematic storytelling, lending the narrative a grounded and realistic tone.

Ensemble cast of ‘Uyir’

Apart from Roshan Mathew, veteran actor Baiju Santhosh appears in a significant full-length police role. The supporting cast features Vineeth Thattil, Divya M. Nair, Santhosh Trivikraman, Shaju Sreedhar, Sreekanth Murali, Vinod Sagar, Athulya Chandra, and Shruthy Menon.

Expanding its appeal beyond Malayalam cinema, the film also includes notable Bollywood actors Saiyami Kher and Mahesh Shetty in pivotal cameo appearances.The makers have mounted the project on a broad canvas, shooting across five major locations, namely Coorg, Thalassery, Palakkad, Kochi, and Mumbai. The varied settings are expected to play a key role in shaping the film's investigative atmosphere and visual texture.The technical department is headed by cinematographer Ajay David Kachappilly, known for his work in films such as 'Porinju Mariam Jose' and 'Garudan'. Music and background score duties have been entrusted to Manikandan Ayyappa, while acclaimed editor Ranjan Abraham oversees the film's post-production process.

Music carries a multilingual touch in ‘Uyir’

The lyrical department reflects a diverse creative approach. Malayalam songs have been penned by Shibu Chakravarthy and Santhosh Varma.

Adding a unique dimension, Niranjan Bharathi, a fourth-generation descendant of legendary poet Subramania Bharati, has written the Tamil lyrics, while Umesh Pilikkudelu contributes the Kannada verses. Celebrated playback singer K. S. Chithra has also recorded three songs for the soundtrack, adding further anticipation to the film's musical offerings.The larger creative team includes production designer Saburam, promo song composer Charles Nazareth, makeup artist P. V. Shankar, costume designer Aysha Shafeer Sait, stunt choreographer Thavasi Raj, creative head Nikhil K. Menon, sound designer Arun Verma, VFX supervisor Sharath Vinu, visual promotions partner Snakeplant LLP, and public relations officer Aparna Girish. Together, they form the backbone of 'Uyir', a film that aims to deliver a gripping and authentic investigative thriller experience.