Balan: The Boy
2026 Indian film by Chidambaram
Balan: The Boy is a 2026 Indian Malayalam-language psychological drama thriller 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.
Premise
Follows a teenage boy searching for his missing mother following a turbulent childhood and her subsequent disappearance, exploring his search for closure and the truth about his past.
Cast
Adhisheshan K. R. as Balan (Younger)
Muhammad Zinaan as Balan (Older)
Farzana Palathingal as Amma
Jean Paul Lal as CPO/SI Pavithran K. S.
Dolly June as Ammama
Girish A. D. as CI Francis
Tovino Thomas as Abbas (extended cameo)
Beena Antony as Shamnatha
Babu Annur as Tea shop owner Sudheeran
Sandra Chandran as Cicily
Archana Padmini as Sherly
Rachit Goyal as Ammama's Grandson (voiced by Jinu Joseph)
Irina as Grandson’s wife
Achuthanandan as Head Constable Soman
Anand Ekarshi as Lorry Driver
Athira Gopinath as Jail superintendent
Sathyan Kavil as Petitioner
Jolly Antony as Contractor
Thampu Wilson as School Teacher
Muhammed Maqbul Mansoor as Antique shop owner
Ivanshika Prathyush as Balan's classmate
Padmaja Ajith Kumar as Beedi factory owner
Sajin Ali as Rubber plantation owner
Akhil Raj as Police officer at grandmother's home
Parvathy Menon as Girija
Lisamma as Mother (Nun) at candle factory
Riya Alex as Sister (Nun) at candle factory
Rafeeq Parakandi as Butcher
Purushu as theatre owner
Prayan A. S. as Vasudev
Haris Mannancheril as Police officer at the Prawn factory
Praveen Pillai as School Peon
Gundukadu Sabu as George
Vinod as Office staff at mental hospital
P. Gopinathan as Prabhakaran
Ajith Gopi as Ajith Gopi
Fardhad N. V. as fancy store owner
Abhishek Nair as Iype
Rajesh K. Bandyood as Ubaid
Pinky Rani as Akka
Thimmappa Kulal as Bar Owner
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.
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.
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