“Balan: The Boy,” a Malayalam psychological drama thriller directed by Chidambaram and written by Jithu Madhavan, is set for an OTT release. Ahead of its theatrical run, the film is reported to have been sold in the Marché du Film section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, indicating an international buyers’ interest before wider distribution. The film releases in theatres on June 19, 2026, in Malayalam, with dubbed versions released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. After the theatrical release, multiple outlets report that it is now moving to digital streaming.
For viewers, the digital premiere is listed as beginning July 31, 2026, on ZEE5. The film is described as a mystery drama centered on a mother and her young son, who live as outlaws and repeatedly shift villages and identities to avoid people searching for them, under a perilous past. Sources also cite critical appreciation for performances from the cast, including Tovino, Adhiseshan, Farzana, and Zinaan, along with attention to the film’s emotional core and Chidambaram’s direction.
