Balan: The Boy, the next film from Chidambaram after the success of Manjummel Boys, is headed to Marché du Film, which runs alongside the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival from May 12 to 23. The makers announced that the film will have a special market screening there on May 14. Produced by KVN Productions in association with Thespian Films, the project has drawn attention for bringing together Chidambaram and Aavesham filmmaker Jithu Madhavan, who has written the screenplay.
Sharing his thoughts on the Cannes showcase, Chidambaram said, “Balan: The Boy is a film about what we carry without knowing… the weight of where we come from, and the hunger to find where we belong. I made this film for the person who has felt both of those things deeply and never found the words for them. Cannes has always been a home for cinema that trusts its audience with exactly that kind of truth.” He added that the film trusts viewers “to feel before they understand, and to carry something home long after it is over.”
Venkat K Narayana of KVN Productions said, “Balan: The Boy is not just a film, it is a statement. Malayalam cinema is making work the world cannot afford to ignore, and we are at Cannes because we believe the film belongs at the centre of that conversation.” Shailaja Desai Fenn of Thespian Films said Cannes held special meaning for her. “When I visited in 2022, I made a quiet promise to myself that the next time I came here, it would be with a film. Standing here today with Balan: The Boy, I can tell you that some promises are worth every sleepless night it takes to keep them.”
The makers describe Balan as a story that explores identity, survival, and the bond between a mother and child. More details about the cast and release date are awaited, with unconfirmed reports claiming that Tovino Thomas has a pivotal cameo in the film. On the technical side, the film brings back much of Chidambaram’s Manjummel Boys crew, with Shyju Khalid handling cinematography, Vivek Harshan on the editing table, Sushin Shyam composing the music and Ajayan Chalissery serving as production designer.
Marché du Film, established in 1959 and held alongside the Cannes Film Festival, is regarded as one of the world’s largest film marketplaces.