Ram Gopal Varma on Chidambaram's next film Balan: 'It will shake the film industry'
Chidambaram's Balan update - Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has offered his thoughts on the movie and praised the Manjummel Boys' maker after watching a clip of it.
Feb 12, 2026
RGV with Chidambaram
Balan, the next film directed by Malayalam director Chidambaram, will shortly be released in theatres. Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, meantime, has offered his thoughts on the movie and praised the Manjummel Boys' maker.
Watch Chidambaram's Manjummel Boys, Jan E Man and other Malayalam movies with OTTplay Premium
What Ram Gopal Varma said about Balan?
When the two recently met, the filmmaker said he saw a small clip of Chidambaram's film. "Whatever I have seen of #Balan, I think it will SHAKE the FILM INDUSTRY," he wrote on X.
Chidambaram shared a picture on social media to show that post-production work will shortly start after the film's production was finished in December 2025. Since its release, a lot of aficionados have been excited about the film because the screenplay for Balan was written by Aavesham's filmmaker Jithu Madhavan. It is logical to believe that Balan will hit the big screen in the first half of 2026 in light of all of these details. There is a lot of excitement for this film following the success of Manjummel Boys in 2024. An update on Balan's release is expected in the coming days.
Who are in the crew of Balan?
Rumours stated that actor Tovino Thomas may appear in Balan for a cameo appearance. However, these claims have been refuted by Chidambaram's brother and actor Ganapathi during the press meet of his recent film, Prakambanam. The remaining cast members have not yet been revealed by the producers. Chidambaram has once again collaborated with the crew behind Manjummel Boys on Balan, with Ajayan Chalissery serving as the production designer, Sushin Shyam as the composer, and Shyju Khalid as the cinematographer.
Where to watch Chidambaram's prior films on OTT?
The young director received fame for his earlier hits, Manjummel Boys and Jan-E-Man. With Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi playing important roles, Manjummel Boys was the highest grossing of 2024 and is accessible for streaming on JioHotstar and OTTplay Premium. Jan-E-Man, starring Balu Varghese, Arjun Ashokan, Basil Joseph and Ganapathi, is available on Sun NXT and OTTplay Premium.
Balan Film FAQs
Q. Is Tovino Thomas acting in Chidambaram's Balan?
A. Rumours stated that actor Tovino Thomas may appear in Balan for a cameo appearance. However, these claims have been refuted by Chidambaram's brother and actor Ganapathi during the press meet of his recent film, Prakambanam.
Q. Which is the best film in Kerala in 2024?
A. Manjummel Boys won the Best Film in the 55th Kerala State Awards. Chidambaram's survival thriller is streaming on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium.
Q. Where to watch Aavesham on OTT?
A. Aavesham starring Fahadh Faasil, is streaming on JioHotstar and Prime Video, available on OTTplay Premium under various subscription plans.
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