Anoop Menon's Checkmate is up for release on August 8. Meanwhile, the makers shared a new song from the film titled 'Neela Nila'. Penned by lyricist BK Harinarayanan, the song has been sung by Nithya Mammen and Ratish Sekhar, who also composed the romantic melody and helmed the upcoming film. Besides directing and serving as its music director, debutant Ratish has written the screenplay and wielded the camera.

Checkmate, billed as a suspense thriller shot completely in the United States of America, also stars Lal and Rekha Harindran in the lead roles. Raji Arun, Sowmya Rajan, Shyam Krishna, and Viswam Nair are also part of the film's supporting cast. It has Prejish Prakash on the editing table and Ruslan Perezhilo handling its background score.

Anoop was last seen in the Tovino Thomas-starrer Nadikar. He has Ideem Minnalum and Chiram in the pipeline. Earlier, the actor had announced his third outing as a director, titled Nalpathukarante Irupathonnukaari. Despite the announcement in 2023, the current status of the project remains unknown.