'Whistle': Unni Mukundan Announces Upcoming Football Drama

Unni Mukundan released the title poster for a new Malayalam film titled Whistle on July 16 on Thursday. The film, which is set against the backdrop of Malappuram’s Sevens football culture, is a story about football and friendship, and is Rajeev Krishna's debut directorial. The film is produced by Shadhil Majeed under the Shadhil Neenu Production House banner and is written by Vinod Guruvayoor.

In his announcement post, Mukundan wrote, "There are journeys that inspire, and then there are journeys that make you truly proud.

For the last 19 years, I’ve had the privilege of knowing Vinod Guruvayoor—not just as a writer, but as a dear friend and a brother. Watching him evolve into one of the finest scriptwriters of our industry has been a beautiful journey to witness. His dedication, honesty towards storytelling, and relentless pursuit of excellence are finally receiving the recognition they have always deserved.

I’m truly blessed to have someone like Vinod in my professional life, and I couldn’t be happier to launch the official title poster of WHISTLE, directed by Rajeev Krishna and produced by Shadhil Majeed under the Shadhil Neenu Productions banner.

Football. Friendship. Full of Fun.
Here’s wishing WHISTLE a phenomenal journey ahead."

The title poster marks the project's first official announcement. No cast details beyond Unni Mukundan's involvement, plot specifics or release timeline have been disclosed. The technical team includes cinematographer Ashkar Ali, editor Sooraj ES, Vinod Raveendran as the art director and music director Kamal Prasanth.

The announcement arrives during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, which is being heavily celebrated across Kerala, as the state has a long and well-documented association with football.

The sport has previously served as the primary focus for several Malayalam films, including Sudani from Nigeria (2018), directed by Zakariya Mohammed, which was also based on Malappuram's Sevens football culture.

For Mukundan, Whistle adds to a slate of several announced and ongoing projects. He is set to play Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the biopic Maa Vande. He is also working on Akkil Boby Aravind's Nedulan, which is said to on floors currently.

Mukundan's recent releases include Arun Bose's Mindiyum Paranjum (2025), a Malayalam-language romance drama co-starring Aparna Balamurali and Jaffer Idukki. Some of his notable performances include Get-Set Baby! (2025), Marco (2024) and 12th Man (2022).

No further details on Whistle, including supporting cast, shooting schedule or release plans, have been announced by the production.