Shanthnu Bhagyaraj Returns to Malayalam Cinema After 16 Years with Balti

 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-fueled 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 its 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.