Praise continues to pour in for filmmaker Chidambaram's latest outing Balan: The Boy, with Bollywood actor Ali Fazal becoming the latest celebrity to applaud the film. The Mirzapur star took to social media on Sunday to express his admiration for the critically acclaimed Malayalam film, describing it as one of the finest works to emerge from Indian cinema in recent years.
Sharing his thoughts after watching the film at a theatre in Puducherry, Ali wrote that he was still processing the experience. "Today I might have just witnessed one of the best films to have churned out of Indian cinema in a long time. Or is it something that's just tapped into the little lost boy in me... I don't know," he wrote.
The actor said he would remember the evening spent watching Balan: The Boy with friends, praising its screenplay, performances and technical craftsmanship. He described the film as a "pitch-perfect screenplay" and lauded writer Jithu Madhavan and director Chidambaram for bringing the story to life with precision and sensitivity.
Ali reserved special praise for the lead actors, Farzana Palathingal, Adhisheshan, and Muhammed Zinaan. Calling Farzana "the heart" of the film, he also referred to the two young actors as "prodigies". He further commended Tovino Thomas for yet another memorable performance, saying the actor continues to inspire by constantly reinventing his craft.
The Fukrey actor also acknowledged the contributions of filmmakers Jean Paul Lal and Girish AD as actors, while praising Chidambaram's direction as "precise" and "mindful". He shared that he even found himself cheering for editor Vivek Harshan during the screening. Ali also highlighted Ajayan Chalissery's production design and Sushin Shyam's music, saying the latter "holds this entire piece like a game of chess".
In a particularly glowing endorsement, Ali suggested that Balan: The Boy could be India's entry to the Academy Awards. "I think [it is] easily India's entry to the Oscars and more if it can be. Hell, why not," he wrote.
Ali joins a growing list of film personalities who have praised Balan: The Boy since its release. Earlier, actors Radikaa Sarathkumar, Suriya and Jyotika, along with veteran filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, had shared enthusiastic reviews of the film on social media.
Written by Jithu Madhavan and directed by Chidambaram, Balan: The Boy follows a mother and son as they confront long-buried secrets while embarking on a journey of truth and redemption. The film marks Chidambaram's third directorial venture after Jan.E.Man and the blockbuster Manjummel Boys.
