Chidambaram's next film gets titled 'Balan', production begins

Balan film announced

A highly anticipated new Malayalam project has officially been unveiled. KVN Productions, in association with Thespian Films, has announced that their next venture with Manjummel Boys filmmaker Chidambaram will be titled Balan.

The script has been penned by Jithu Madhavan, the writer behind the blockbuster Aavesham. Filming commenced today, setting the stage for a collaboration between two of Malayalam cinema’s most talked-about talents of 2024.

Confirming the launch, the production house shared a poster and update on its official X handle on Sunday. “Lights, camera… ’BALAN’! KVN Productions & Thespian Films proudly present #Balan — that’s officially gone on floors! Directed by Chidambaram, Written by Jithu Madhavan,” the announcement read.

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The poster depicts a young boy photographed from behind, walking with a stick in hand, surrounded by a floral backdrop, suggesting a tone of innocence and mystery.

While the makers are yet to reveal the genre or plot details, Balan has already drawn curiosity for bringing together two creative forces whose previous works—Chidambaram’s Manjummel Boys and Madhavan’s Aavesham—dominated the box office last year.

Adding to the excitement, the film will introduce an entirely fresh set of faces, selected through auditions, instead of relying on established stars.

The technical crew reunites many of Chidambaram’s trusted collaborators. Cinematographer Shyju Khalid, editor Vivek Harshan, composer Sushin Shyam, and production designer Ajayan Chalissery—all of whom were integral to Manjummel Boys—will once again be part of the team. Chidambaram’s brother, actor-writer Ganapathi, takes on dual responsibilities as both executive producer and casting director.

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KVN Productions has a slate of high-profile projects lined up in addition to Balan. These include Geetu Mohandas’ Toxic starring Yash, the 69th feature of Tamil superstar Vijay, and a suspense thriller directed by Priyadarshan.

Meanwhile, Chidambaram is also preparing for his Hindi debut, a gangster drama produced by Phantom Films, which was announced last year though its progress remains undisclosed. On his part, Jithu Madhavan is reportedly in discussions to direct Suriya’s 47th film, marking his entry into Tamil cinema, after a planned collaboration with Mohanlal fell through.

(With Inputs: PTI)