Nivin Pauly, Gautham Menon in Vineeth's Jacobinte Swargarajyam

A lowdown on what's happening in the Malayalam film industry.

Director Vineeth Sreenivasan (left) had launched actor Nivin Pauly in his debut venture Malarvady Arts Club.

Later, Nivin shot to fame with a makeover in Vineeth's next, Thattathin Marayathu.

The young hero was not part of the director's third film, Thira.

Now Nivin returns as hero in Vineeth's forthcoming film, Jacobinte Swargarajyam.

Ace filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon will be a part of the film's main cast. The cast includes Renji Panicker, Sreenath Bhasi, Sai Kumar, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, T G Ravi and Dinesh Prabhakar.

Jomon T John is the cinematographer, Shaan Rahman is the music director. 

Jacobinte Swargarajyam is being produced by Noble Babu Thomas and will release next summer.

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Manju Warrier as an IPS officer in Vettah

In Traffic director Rajesh Pillai's Vettah, Manju Warrier will play an IPS officer named Sreebala. The film also stars Kunchacko Boban and Indrajit.

The second schedule of Vettah will start next month. According to Pillai, Vettah is an intriguing mind game.

Pillai had directed Mili, starring Amala Paul and Nivin Pauly, early this year. The Hindi version of Traffic is expected to hit the screens in December.

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Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame Urmila Mahanta in Pradeep Nair's Udal

Actor Urmila Mahanta, an FTII alumnus who was seen in the Tamil hit Vazhakku Enn 18/9 and in the Hindi film Manjhi: The Mountain Man, will play the female lead in filmmaker Pradeep Nair's Udal. She has done a few films in Assamese and is active in the theatre circuit.

Vijay Babu and Sanal Aman, who was part of Sajin Babu's Asthamayam Vare (Unto the Dusk), include the main cast.

Manoj Mundayat is the cinematographer.

Pradeep Nair's Oridam, with Geetu Mohandas in the lead, had won the special jury award in direction at the 52nd National film awards and featured in several prestigious film festivals.

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'Nobody believes that I am a Malayali'

Shafiqu Rahiman is thrilled by the fact that his Bengali character in the hit film Amar Akbar Anthony has been noted.

"I play a Bengali worker, who has come to Kerala and is a menacing child molester. The funny thing is that many refuse to believe that actually I am a Malayali," he says.

Shafiqu was working in the Gulf and has acted in a few films before but he believes that his fortunes will change from now on.