May 03, 2026 9:59am IST
‘Manjummel Boys’ Director Chidambaram’s Next, ‘Balan – The Boy’ To Be Showcased At Cannes 2026 (EXCLUSIVE)
Following the success of Malayalam blockbuster “Manjummel Boys” (2024), director Chidambaram’s next outing, “Balan - The Boy” has everyone charged up. While the film’s theatrical release date has yet to be announced, Variety India has exclusively learned that the film is gearing up for a special showcase at Marché du Film at the 79th Festival de Cannes. The film, written by Jithu Madhavan, is scheduled to have a screening at the Olympia 9 theatre at 8 pm on May 14, 2026, with the entire cast and crew in attendance. About a teenage boy’s search for his missing mother, following a turbulent childhood and her subsequent disappearance, it explores his search for closure and the truth about his past.
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Chidambaram shares, “’Balan’ is a film about what we carry without knowing — the weight of where we come from, and the hunger to find where we belong.” About screening the film at Cannes’ Marché du Film, he says, “Cannes has always been a home for cinema that trusts its audience and ‘Balan’ trusts its audience completely. To feel before they understand. And to carry something home long after it is over."
Sushin Syam, known for his music in "Kumbalangi Nights," "Minnal Murali," "Aavesham" and "Manjummel Boys" among others, has scored the film’s music.
A KVN Productions and Thespian Films presentation, the film has been produced by Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn.
Venkat K Narayana of KVN Productions feels Malayalam cinema is “making work the world cannot afford to ignore.” He goes on to affirm that “‘Balan’ is not just a film — it is a statement. The kind that reminds you exactly why you got into this industry in the first place.”
Shailaja Desai Fenn of Thespian Films calls “Balan” a story they deeply believe in and adds that it is “a universal story that will move audiences across all ages, everywhere in the world. And that, for me, is the most beautiful thing a film can be.”
She adds, “Cannes holds a very personal place in my heart. When I visited in 2022, I made a quiet promise to myself — the next time I come here, it will be with a film. Standing here today with ‘Balan,’ I can tell you that some promises are worth every sleepless night it takes to keep them. I am grateful to our incredibly talented director Chidambaram for making this vision a reality.”
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