Balan: The Boy, a Malayalam film by director Chidambaram and writer Jithu Madhavan, is headed to the prestigious Marché du Film at Cannes, with a market screening slated for May 14. Produced by KVN Productions and Thespian Films, it examines identity, belonging and maternal ties, and brings back the acclaimed Manjummel Boys core crew.
KVN Productions and Thespian Films’ Balan: The Boy, directed by Chidambaram, is set to be featured at the Marché du Film, the official film market held alongside the Cannes Film Festival.
The festival will take place from May 12 to 23, with the film scheduled for a market screening on May 14, as per a press statement.
Penned by Jithu Madhavan, Balan: The Boy traces a journey that delves into themes of identity, survival and the relationship between a mother and her child.
Talking about the film, 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.”
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 have yet to reveal details about the cast and release timeline. The film reunites much of the team from Manjummel Boys, with Shyju Khalid as cinematographer, Vivek Harshan as editor, Sushin Shyam as music composer, and Ajayan Chalissery as production designer.
The Marché du Film is among the largest film markets globally and is conducted alongside the Cannes Film Festival.