National award-winning filmmaker Jayaraj has begun filming his eighth film in the 'navarasa' series titled Hasyam. The film is a follow-up to his recently completed Kalidas Jayaram-starrer, Backpackers. 

Hasyam has Harishree Asokhan playing the main lead. Jayaraj is shooting the film in Kottayam with cinematographer Vinod Illampally, who has previously cranked the camera for films such as Ohm Shanti Oshana and Thaneer Mathan Dinangal.

Meanwhile, the other Jayaraj film, Roudram 2018, is yet to get a wide theatrical release in Kerala.

Backpackers, on the other hand, is expected to be released in December or early next year.