It is rare to see an actor as passionate as Shanthanu – Actor Shane Nigam
Balti is a film jointly produced by producer Santhosh T. Guruvilla and producer Binu George Alexander. Unni Sivalingam has made his directorial debut by directing the film. Shanthanu has played the lead role. Shanthanu has played the lead role and Preethi has played the female lead. Sai Abhayankar has made his debut as a music composer. The film will be released in Malayalam and Tamil on September 26. The press conference for the same was held in Chennai on 19.09.2025. The artists of the film who attended the meeting spoke as follows
Producer Santhosh T. Guruvilla said,
Hello everyone. All the artists acting in the film are young talents. Shane Nigam, Shanthanu, Sai Abhayankar, Unni are very talented. I hope everyone will make this film a success.
Producer Binu George Alexander said,
Thank you to everyone who gave me this opportunity. This film has made my dream come true. No one could have played this character better than Sai Abhayanka. Shane Nigam has played the role of Udhayan. Shanthanu suits his character very well. Selvaraghavan’s character will be awesome. I am a fan of Selvaraghavan sir. He is the best person on this planet. I hope you all like this film. I need your blessings, he said.
Music composer Sai Abhayankar said,
This is my first time seeing you all. I have seen the film. It has been good. I am happy to have composed music for this film. I hope many more good opportunities will come. When I see everyone, they seem like characters, he said.
Director Unni Sivalingam said,
This is my first press conference. Even though it is being shot in Malayalam, we are holding a press conference in Tamil Nadu. I am a Malayali, and the film will be 60 percent Malayalam and 40 percent Tamil. It will be converted into Tamil. I wanted to make an action-packed film. I have directed it with a sports theme, thinking that it would be interesting if it was a sports-based film.
I decided on Sai after watching the album Kachishera. Sai has been with me and supported me till date. Shane has acted very well.
I told the story to Shanthanu brother. He liked the story. We shot with him for 25 days. But despite many differences of opinion with him, we have worked well for the film.
I told Preethi not to keep crying in the film like in Ayodhya, but to speak the dialogues. She said I don’t know Malayalam. I told her that many people here don’t know Malayalam. Even though the dialogues were changed in between, she took training and worked well.
All my technicians have worked hard, thank you to all of them.
The producer has introduced me as the 6th new director. If I have any idea, I will consult him.
We have come up with many new action trick scenes in Baldi. We have thought about how to use it in Kabaddi and did it. Alphonse Anna is also in the film. Since many Tamil artists are in the film, we have paid special attention to the dubbing. I request everyone to take the film to everyone, he said.
Actress Preethi spoke,
I have received your support since my first film Ayodhya. Today my film Kiss has released. This is my first film in Malayalam. But, Tamil films and Chennai feel like my motherland. The producer was not strict and supported everyone. Unni Chetta has become an elder brother through the film rather than a director. This film will be very fresh and different from the films I have acted in before. Selvaraghavan sir and Poornima madam were supportive of me. The first film will always be special. Similarly, for me, the film Baldi will be. Likewise, thank you very much for giving me the song Jalakari. Wherever I go, people call me Jalakari.
The story takes place on the border. But it will be a film that will appeal to everyone. I request everyone to support the film, he said.
Actor Shanthanu spoke,
I am meeting all of you now after the Blue Star meeting. You have all been supporting me since the start of my first film till now. You have supported the actors and technicians no matter how hard they work.
I was introduced as Shanthanu Bhagyaraj. But today, after 15 years, I am back in Malayalam cinema. Unni’s friend Dev recommended me for the film. Unni and the producers immediately called me and told me the story and gave me a chance.
After many years, I got Sin Stories and Gold. Blue Star became a successful film in the cinema.
Baldi is a story with 4 passions. They could have chosen others in Malayalam or Tamil as equals to Shane. But, thank you for giving me such a wonderful character in such a story. This film will be a re-entry in Malayalam. When asked if I knew Malayalam, I said that I knew that I should not miss the opportunity. Then I said that I would act but that the dialogues were a little difficult. They trained me for 1 month with an online teacher.
In this film, they have told what happens if a person in a kabaddi team goes missing. We trained for 3 months in kabaddi and acted.
No one can be without being a fan of Selvaraghavan sir. I got the opportunity to talk to him about his films. I talked to Alphonse sir about Premam. Preethi has changed beyond recognition. Dad always says that you can learn a lot from others. I learned a lot from Shane. He looks different when he appears in a festival scene. I learned why we shouldn’t be like this too.
Sai’s first Malayalam film is a joy. They have come here trusting us. If you like this film, everyone should support it.
I was the one who dubbed in Malayalam. I finished it in 3 days. But I was surprised that we finished it in 3 days. But, he called me back to Kerala and made me speak the entire dialogues saying that this is just one scene. In a Tamil film, the dubbing should be done according to the lip movements. Bala sir has worked to the point that it has not changed at all.
While speaking, actor Shane Nigam said,
A sports action drama. 4 Pasanga, their kabaddi team. The story of the film is about how much of a struggle it will be if a villain comes in this. Thanks to Binu Chetta and Santosh Chetta. I am a big fan of Selvaraghavan sir and have seen his film Puduppettai many times.
It is rare to see actors acting with passion like Shanthanu. Sai has composed the music well. Thank you to the director for giving me a chance in this film. Thank you to Preethi and thank you to the entire team of this film.
If you like this film, please support it.