After 16 years, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj returns to Malayalam cinema with the film “Balti” !!
After 16 years, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj is making a comeback in Malayalam cinema. He will be seen alongside actor Shane Nigam in the action-packed thriller “Balti”. Written and directed by debutant director Unni Sivalingam, the film is a terrifying thriller that showcases team unity, resilience, and the personal struggles faced by the characters, with action-packed sports sequences and emotional storytelling.
Adding to the film’s unique appeal, renowned film director Alphonse Puthren plays the lead role as Soda Babu. Leading music composer Sai Abhyankkar is composing the music. With the participation of young and energetic talents, “Balti” 2025 is shaping up to be a cinematic treat for Malayalam cinema fans.
In 2007, Shanthanu entered the hearts of Malayalam fans with the film Angel John, which starred actor Mohanlal. The film received a great response during its telecast. Later, he focused fully on the Tamil film industry and continued his successful journey. Fans have been eagerly awaiting his Malayalam film for a long time.
Shanthanu said about his Malayalam comeback:
“It gives me immense joy to return to Malayalam cinema after many years. This film is a new experience and a great role to make a comeback in Malayalam.”
Written and directed by debutant director Unni Sivalingam, “Balti”, an action thriller film with a sports theme, has created a lot of buzz in the film industry. The film is being co-produced by Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and Binu George Alexander under STK Frames and Binu George Alexander Productions.
The film’s impressive technical and production team has caught the attention of many. Young music composer Sai Abhyankkar, known for his viral hits, is composing the music for the film. This is Abhyankkar’s debut in Malayalam cinema, and his collaboration with lyricist Vinayak Sasikumar is highly anticipated.
Experienced cinematographer Alex J. Pulikkal, widely acclaimed for his work on “RDX: Robert Tony Xavier”, joins the star cast. The film is being edited by Sivakumar V. Panicker. Sherin Rachel Santhosh is the co-producer and Sandeep Narayan is the executive producer.
The film has a strong team with Kishore Purakattiri as the production controller and Sreelal M as the chief associate director. The associate directors include Sabarinath, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Samson Sebastian and Melbin Mathew (post production).
Vava Nujumudeen is the creative director of the film, while T.D. Ramakrishnan has written additional dialogues. The art direction by Aashiq S further enhances the visual appeal of the film. Costumes: Melvi J, Stunts: Action Santosh & Vicky Master, Makeup: Jitesh Bhoia, Sound Design & Mixing: Vishnu Govind, DI: Color Planet, Stills: Sajith R M, Colorist: Shrik Warrier, VFX: Accel Media, Fox Dot Media, Project Coordinator: Penny Kattappanna, Choreography: Anusha, Production Controller: Kishore Purakattiri, Chief Associate Director: Sreelal M, Associate Directors: Sabari Nath, Melbin, Samson Sebastian, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Production: Moonshot Entertainments and STK Frames CFO: Jobeesh Antony, COO: Arun C Thambi, Distribution: Moonshot Entertainments PVT LTD, Audio Label: Think Music, Title Design: Rocket Science, Ad Designs: Vyaki and Antony Stephen, Marketing and Promotions: Snakeplant LLP, Public Relations: Yuvraj
Shanthnu Bhagyaraj Returns to Malayalam Cinema After 16 Years with Balti
After a 16-year hiatus, Malayalam cinema is set to witness the much-anticipated return of Shanthnu Bhagyaraj in Balti, an action-packed sports thriller that pairs him alongside the talented Shane Nigam. Directed and written by Unni Sivalingam, the film promises a compelling blend of adrenaline-fuelled sports sequences and emotionally rich storytelling. More than just a high-octane sports drama, the film explores themes of teamwork, resilience, and the personal battles faced by its characters—offering viewers both thrilling action and heartfelt moments.
Adding to the film’s unique appeal is an impressive ensemble cast, including celebrated filmmaker Alphonse Puthren in a pivotal role as Soda Babu, along with a powerful musical score composed by Sai Abhyankkar. With such a dynamic lineup, Balti 2025 is shaping up to be a cinematic treat for fans of Malayalam cinema.
Shanthnu’s return has been eagerly awaited since his last Malayalam appearance in the 2007 fantasy drama Angel John, where he starred alongside Mohanlal. Though widely appreciated, especially during his television run, Angel John marked the beginning of Shanthnu’s focus on Tamil cinema, where he went on to build a successful career. Speaking about his comeback, Shanthnu shared, “It’s truly special to return to Malayalam cinema after so many years. This film is a fresh experience for me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better role to step back into the industry.”
The film industry is abuzz with the details of an exciting new project, a high-octane sports action thriller written and directed by debutant Unni Sivalingam. The movie, which is being produced by Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and Binu George Alexander under the banners of STK Frames and Binu George Alexander Productions, is generating significant anticipation.
The film’s impressive technical crew and production team have caught the attention of many. Young music sensation Sai Abhyankkar, known for his viral hits, is composing the music and original score. This marks Abhyankkar’s debut in Malayalam cinema, and his collaboration with lyricist Vinayak Sasikumar is highly awaited.
Adding to the stellar team is veteran cinematographer Alex J. Pulickal, whose recent work on “RDX: Robert Dony Xavier” was widely acclaimed. The film will be edited by Shivkumar V. Panicker. Sherin Rachel Santhosh is the co-producer, with Sandeep Narayan as the executive producer. The production boasts a strong team with Kishor Purakkattiri as the production controller and Sreelaal M, as the chief associate director. The associate directors include Sabarinath, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Samson Sebastian, and Melbin Mathew (post-production). The project is creatively led by Vava Nujumudeen as the creative director, with additional dialogue from T. D. Ramakrishnan. The film’s visual appeal is further enhanced by Ashik S’s art direction. Costumes: Melwy J, Action Choreography: Action Sandhosh & Vicky Master, Makeup: Jithesh Poyya, Sound Design and Mix by Vishnu Govind, DI: Color Planet, Stills: Sajith R M, Colourist: Srik Varier, VFX: Accel Media, Foxdot Media, Project Coordinator: Benny Kattapanna, Choreography: Anusha, Production controller: Kishor Purakkattiri, Chief associate director: Sreelal M, Associate director: Sabari Nath, Melbin, Samson Sebastian, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Moonshot Entertainments and STK Frames CFO : Jobeesh Antony, COO : Arun C Thampi, Distribution: Moonshot Entertainments Pvt. Ltd, Audio Label: Think Music, Title Designs: Rocket Science, Publicity Designs: Viyaaki and Antony Stephen, Marketing & Visual Promotions: Snakeplant LLP, PRO: Yuvraaj.