The Mayan Chapter 1 teaser is out today, and it wastes no time in telling you what kind of film this is going to be. Dark church corridors, a broken cross, a police officer who looks like he has already seen too much — Jayasurya’s new Malayalam mystery thriller arrives in theatres on 3 December 2026, and its first teaser, released on 5 November 2026, sets a chilling tone from the very first frame.
The film, whose full title is Mayan: Chapter 1 — Beyond the Shadows, comes from director Jithin K Jose, the filmmaker behind the Mammootty-starrer Kalamkaval. Produced by Rajeev Govindan under the banner of Magic Moon Productions, it places Jayasurya in the khaki uniform of a police officer at the centre of a story steeped in darkness and the supernatural. If the teaser poster is anything to go by, this is not a routine cop drama. It is a mystery that reaches into faith, fear and the shadows in between.
Here are five thrilling details about the Mayan Chapter 1 teaser and the film it introduces.
1. The Mayan Chapter 1 teaser arrives with a striking, shadow-filled poster
The first thing the Mayan Chapter 1 teaser gives audiences is its look. The official teaser poster is dominated by the word “TEASER” in deep red, with Jayasurya staring straight at the camera in the foreground. Around him stand the film’s ensemble cast, while a church, an ornate cross and faint occult symbols fill the background. The Malayalam title sits below, with the English tagline “Beyond the Shadows” printed underneath it.
It is a poster that promises atmosphere over exposition. Nothing is explained, and that is clearly the point. The makers want the mood to do the talking — candlelight, old stone, religious imagery and a set of faces that all seem to be hiding something. For a mystery thriller, it is exactly the right first impression, and it matches the tone of the first-look poster unveiled on 16 October 2026, which showed Jayasurya as a police officer standing alone on a deserted road at night, holding a broken cross.
2. Jayasurya plays a police officer caught in a dark mystery
At the heart of Mayan: Chapter 1 is Jayasurya’s police officer. The first look made it clear that this is no ordinary lawman. Dressed in khaki and holding a broken cross on a lonely road at night, his character looks like a man investigating something that does not fit inside a normal case file.
Jayasurya has built his career on variety, moving easily between intense dramas, thrillers and crowd-pleasing entertainers. A cop role in a dark mystery thriller plays directly to his strengths, and the teaser leans into that — his face, front and centre on the poster, carries the entire promise of the film. The broken cross is the detail that stays with you. It hints at a story where faith itself becomes part of the mystery, and where the officer’s job may be less about catching a criminal and more about understanding something far stranger.
3. Jithin K Jose directs after the success of Kalamkaval
Mayan: Chapter 1 is only the second directorial feature of Jithin K Jose, but it arrives with serious expectations. His debut, Kalamkaval, starring Mammootty, was one of the talked-about Malayalam hits of recent times, and it established him as a director who can handle dark, tense material with confidence.
For Mayan, Jithin has written the film along with Raffi, the veteran writer-director known for his sharp screenplays. The combination matters: Raffi brings years of storytelling craft, while Jithin brings the brooding visual style that made Kalamkaval stand out. The film’s crew underlines the ambition — Faisal Ali handles cinematography, Praveen Prabhakar is the editor, Mujeeb Majeed composes the music, and Sunil Das is the production designer. Magic Moon Productions, which is backing the film, has clearly assembled a team built for a big-screen mystery.
4. A Russia schedule and a story that crosses borders
One of the more interesting facts about Mayan: Chapter 1 is where it was filmed. The film’s first schedule was shot in Russia, an unusual choice for a Malayalam mystery thriller, and one that suggests the story reaches beyond Kerala. The makers have not revealed how the Russian locations fit into the plot, which only adds to the curiosity around the teaser.
The supporting cast adds further weight. Nyla Usha, Vijay Babu, Aiswarya Raj, Jibin Gopinath and Niranjana Anoop all feature in prominent roles, and several of them appear alongside Jayasurya on the teaser poster. The ensemble look of the poster suggests a story with many moving parts — different characters, different secrets — rather than a single-hero showcase. Century Films will distribute the film in theatres, with Home Screen Entertainments handling the overseas release.
5. Mayan Chapter 1 releases in theatres on 3 December 2026
The Mayan Chapter 1 teaser confirms what the makers announced when filming wrapped up: the film will release worldwide in theatres on 3 December 2026. That puts it among the notable December releases, arriving just as the year-end movie season gathers pace.
What is still to come is the full trailer, which the makers have not yet dated. The teaser is the first moving glimpse of the film, and if the response to the first-look poster is anything to go by, the trailer will be keenly awaited. The film’s OTT streaming partner and digital premiere date have not been announced yet, so for now the big screen on 3 December is the date to mark.
For Malayalam cinema fans, Mayan: Chapter 1 is shaping up as one of the most intriguing thrillers of the year — a proven star, a director with a strong debut behind him, a mystery wrapped in religious imagery, and a teaser that refuses to give its secrets away cheaply. Watch the official teaser above, and keep an eye out for the trailer as December approaches.
You can also read our latest trailer story here: The Gallerist trailer brings Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega together in a dark comedy.
Image Credit: Magic Moon Productions — Official Trailer/Poster via YouTube
FAQ
When is Mayan: Chapter 1 releasing? Mayan: Chapter 1 will release worldwide in theatres on 3 December 2026.
Who stars in Mayan: Chapter 1? Jayasurya plays the lead role of a police officer. Nyla Usha, Vijay Babu, Aiswarya Raj, Jibin Gopinath and Niranjana Anoop play prominent roles.
Who directed Mayan: Chapter 1? Jithin K Jose, who made his directorial debut with the Mammootty-starrer Kalamkaval, directs the film. It is written by Raffi and Jithin K Jose and produced by Rajeev Govindan under Magic Moon Productions.
Is the Mayan Chapter 1 teaser out? Yes, the official teaser of Mayan: Chapter 1 — Beyond the Shadows was released on 5 November 2026.
Where can I watch the Mayan Chapter 1 teaser? The official teaser is available on YouTube, and it is embedded in this article above.
