With the World Cup fever sweeping across Kerala, a new Malayalam film set against the backdrop of Malappuram's legendary Sevens football culture was announced on Thursday. Titled Whistle, the film marks the directorial debut of Rajeev Krishna and is scripted by Vinod Guruvayoor. The latter has directed films like Shikhamani, Sakala Kalasala, and Mission C. He also scripted the Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer Hero.

Actor Unni Mukundan, who shares a close rapport with Vinod, took to social media to officially announce Whistle and share his wishes for the team.

“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,” he said.

According to the makers, Whistle will feature a host of prominent actors alongside real-life footballers. The technical crew includes cinematographer Ashkar Ali, editor Sooraj ES, and music composer Kamal Prasanth. It is produced by Shadhil Jaleel under the banner Shadhil Neenu Production House.