Balan: The Boy

Balan: The Boy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChidambaram
Written byJithu Madhavan
Produced byVenkat K. Narayana
Shailaja Desai Fenn
StarringAdhisheshan K. R.
Farzana Palathingal
Muhammad Zinaan
Tovino Thomas
Girish A. D.
Jean Paul Lal
CinematographyShyju Khalid
Edited byVivek Harshan
Music bySushin Shyam
Production
companies
KVN Productions
Thespian Films
Distributed bysee below
Release date
  • 19 June 2026 (2026-06-19) (India)
Running time
150 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Box office₹33.54 crore

Balan: The Boy is a 2026 Indian Malayalam-language mystery drama film directed by Chidambaram and written by Chidambaram and Jithu Madhavan. The film stars Farzana Palathingal, Adhisheshan K. R. and Muhammed Zinaan in the lead roles, alongside Jean Paul Lal and Tovino Thomas. Produced under the KVN Productions banner, the film features music by Sushin Shyam, cinematography by Shyju Khalid and editing by Vivek Harshan, and was shot predominantly in Wayanad, Kerala.

Plot summary

After leaving prison, a mother and her young son move from place to place, using different names to hide their past. She works several jobs, but they move whenever someone becomes too curious about her life. While working as a home care worker, she is found by a woman who had protected her in prison. When the woman begins threatening her, the mother kills her and switches herself with a mentally unstable woman whose identity she took.

That evening, the mother fails to pick up her son from school. Sensing something is wrong, the boy throws away his school uniform and stops speaking. The police take him into custody, but he escapes and reaches a coastal village in Karnataka. A thief takes him in, includes him in his craft, and hopes to reunite him with his mother, believing she is back in prison.

Years later, the boy returns to the area and recognizes places from his childhood. While searching for his mother, he discovers that the woman everyone believed to be his mother was actually someone else. His real mother had been living nearby as a ragpicker, hoping to see him again. After years apart, they finally reunite.

Cast

Music

The background score and songs were composed by Sushin Shyam, except "Makane Makane", which was composed by Shanka Tribe and Neha Nair. All songs were written by Anwar Ali.

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Thaakkol"Nila Raj02:07
2."Engotta"Sushin Shyam03:23
3."Makane Makane"Shanka Tribe & Neha Nair03:46
Total length:09:17

Production

Development

After the success of Manjummel Boys (2024), director Chidambaram would collaborate with Jithu Madhavan, who is writer of the film, announced the new project on 2 January 2025, in his third directorial venture after Jan.E.Man (2021) and Manjummel Boys. The film is produced by Venkat K. Narayana under KVN Productions and Shailaja Desai Fenn under Thespian Films, marketing their first production in Malayalam cinema. The film's title was announced on 19 August 2025.

Pre-production

The film reunited Chidambaram with several members of the Manjummel Boys technical crew, including cinematographer Shyju Khalid, music composer Sushin Shyam, editor Vivek Harshan and production designer Ajayan Chalissery. Ganapathi S. Poduval served as executive producer and casting director.

Filming

Principal photography began with a pooja ceremony at Kovalam on 20 August 2025. The filming wrapped on 6 December 2025. The film is shot in various location Kunduvadi near Pulpalli–Chekadi Road at Wayanad, Mangaluru.

Release

Theatrical

Balan: The Boy was released on 19 June 2026 in theatres worldwide. Apart from Malayalam, it was dubbed and released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada languages.

Distribution

Pen Marudhar acquired the theatrical distribution rights for North India. Annapurna Studios acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Phars Film acquired the worldwide theatrical distribution rights.

Home media

The post-theatrical were reportedly acquired by ZEE5. The film started streaming from 31 July, 2026.

Reception

Critical response

Balan - The Boy received critical acclaim from critics. Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express rated the film 3 out of 5 and wrote that the survival drama "impresses in first half, but stumbles in second", while adding that the film belonged "entirely to Farzana Palathingal".

Anna Mathews of The Times of India gave the film 3 out of 5, praising its "captivating" first half, layered storytelling and Adhisheshan K. R.'s performance, but criticised the muted emotional build up and called the ending "somewhat underwhelming".

Latha Srinivasan of NDTV also rated the film 3 out of 5, describing it as "a survival drama that impresses for the most part". She praised the mother son characterisation and performances, while noting that the film's slow and unconventional style could disappoint viewers expecting a commercial entertainer.

Vignesh Madhu of The New Indian Express rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and called it "an unusually haunting ode to motherhood". He praised Farzana Palathingal's performance and wrote that the film was smaller in scale than Chidambaram's previous film Manjummel Boys, but had "a far bigger heart".

Early audience response was reported as generally favourable. The Times of India stated that the film received "encouraging responses on social media after the first shows", with viewers praising its measured pacing, emotional intensity, performances and technical aspects.

References

  1. ↑ "Balan: The Boy Worldwide Box Office Day 31: Successfully Completes A Month, To End Its Theatrical Run Below 35 Crore". Koimoi. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "'Balan: The Boy' trailer: Chidambaram's emotional thriller shows a mother and son fleeing a dark past". The Times of India. 6 June 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram Poduval and Aavesham director Jithu Madhavan collaborate on new project". The Indian Express. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram and Aavesham filmmaker Jithu Madhavan team up with Thalapathy 69 producers". Cinema Express. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "'Balan': Director Chidambaram's Next, Written By Jithu Madhavan, Gets A Title". The Hollywood Reporter India. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "KVN Productions and Thespian Films' Balan The Boy joins hands with Zee Music Company for its music rights ahead of June 19 release". Bollywood Hungama. 4 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Balan The Boy Trailer Out: Chidambaram Promises An Emotionally Charged Story". Outlook India. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "It's a wrap for Balan: The Boy, Chidambaram-Jithu Madhavan's film". Cinema Express. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "'Balan The Boy' to be released on June 19". ANI News. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Yadav, Monica (11 May 2026). "Manjummel Boys director Chidambaram's Balan The Boy sets release date ahead of Cannes Film Festival 2026 showcase". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "'Balan: The Boy' OTT release: Where to stream Chidambaram's thriller after the theatrical run". The Times of India. 21 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Suresh, Anandu (19 June 2026). "Balan movie review: A 'survival' drama that impresses in first half, but stumbles in second". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Mathews, Anna (20 June 2026). "Balan: The Boy Movie Review: A novel survival story that fails to create an emotional connection". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Srinivasan, Latha (20 June 2026). "Balan The Boy Review: A Survival Drama That Impresses For The Most Part". NDTV. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Madhu, Vignesh (20 June 2026). "Balan Movie Review: An unusually haunting ode to motherhood". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "'Balan – The Boy' Twitter review: Director Chidambaram wins praise for 'intense and gripping' psychological thriller". The Times of India. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.