Balan: Why Chidambaram chose to do a small film after a blockbuster hit

Malayalam director Chidambaram opens up on why he chose to do Balan, a relatively small film with mainly a fresh cast, after the blockbuster success of Manjummel Boys

Chidambaram, Manjummel Boys

Director Chidambaram’s 2024 film Manjummel Boys was a blockbuster hit, going on to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time. The Malayalam survival thriller film found resonance in other parts of the country, putting the spotlight on the young filmmaker. However, Chidambaram’s upcoming film is Balan, a relatively small film. In the recent roundtable of Cineulagam, Chidambaram opened up on why he chose Balan, which mainly has a fresh cast, after the blockbuster success of Manjummel Boys.

Why Chidambaram chose to do Balan after Manjummel Boys

Balan is an upcoming Malayalam film, directed by Chidambaram with a script by Aavesham director Jithu Madhavan. Despite the backing of two heavyweight directors, Balan does not feature any stars and is not mounted on a big scale. Speaking about the film, Chidambaram said that he had been tensed about his next project after the euphoria around the Manjummel Boys success died down.

“I had to do something as the celebration ended. Finally, I had to start something. I had a lot of options but it was kind of overwhelming and I was not prepared for it,” he sai during the roundtable.

And it was Aavesham actor Sajin Gopu who told him that Jithu has a story. "It is a small, cute film. Within one month, we started shooting. It is a small story. It is a movie you would love watching and you would love to do. Now I have the resources and the bankability to make a small movie with new people,” explained the Manjummel Boys director.

Manjummel Boys was the highest-grossing Malayalam film, before Empuraan surpassed it in 2025 but that record was also broken by Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra which went on to become the first Rs 300 crore film in Malayalam.

When will Balan release?

The movie, Balan, will release in 2026, though a release date is yet to be announced. The Chidambaram directorial went on floors in August and wrapped up shooting in December 2025. More details about the film is not known, thought actor Tovino Thomas is expected to appear in a cameo role.

Also read: 7 Most-awaited Malayalam star cameos of 2026: Mohanlal in Khalifa, Mammootty in Chatha Pacha and more

Balan movie FAQs

Q. What is the new Malayalam movie Balan?

A. The new Malayalam movie Balan is directed by Chidambaram with a script by Aavesham director Jithu Madhavan. The film is said to revolve around a young schoolboy.

Q. Which is the next movie of Manjummel Boys' director?

A. The next movie of Manjummel Boys' director Chidambaram is Balan.

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