Balan : The Boy - A masterpiece in storytelling

The film stars Adhiseshan K.R. , Farzana Palathingal , Jean Paul Lal , Dolly June , Tovino Thomas and more. It is directed by Chidambaram. Adhiseshan K.R. has done a fabulous job as Balan. Farzana Palathingal is superb as Balan's mother , her character arc is interesting and the reasoning to why she and Balan mask their identities from the world is brilliantly done. Jean Paul Lal is great as Pavithran K.S. Dolly June has done a excellent job as Ammamma , her comic timing and the writing of her role is perfect. Tovino Thomas delivers one of the best performances in his career as Abbas , his role is meaningful. The plot follows a teenage boy who is searching for his mother following a turbulent childhood and his mother's subsequent disappearance , exploring his search for closure and his past. The story is simple but the way they make each sequence so intense and emotional is astonishing. The writing by Jithu Madhavan is intelligently done. The music by Sushin Shyam sets the mood of the film wonderfully. The cinematography by Shyju Khalid captures the scenic and atmospheric landscapes of Kerala while also setting the right color palette to make the audience engrossed in the film. Overall - A poignant look at the loss of childhood innocence.