'This should be India’s official entry to Oscars; Top-notch cinema'

‘Balan: The Boy’, the new Malayalam movie that falls in the psychological survival-drama genre, is here in theatres. What makes the expectation high is the collaboration between hit-maker director Chidambaram with another prodigy, Jithu Madhavan.

The movie has Farzana Palathingal, Adhisheshan and Jean Paul Lal in lead roles. At the preview held in New Delhi, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan rated the work as one of the best he has seen in recent times.

Jithu Madhavan is the writer, while Sushin Shyam helmed the music, and cinematography by Shyju Khalid.

Let us know more about the movie through the response of the audience on the first day of release.

Here we go!

• Peak cinematic experience. The poster haunted me and made me watch the movie on day one. Fresh subject and a haunting watch. The work is eerily similar to Insidious. I don’t know how the movie will fare commercially.

• Jithu Madahavan and Chidambaram. Top work and great making. Every department blended well.

• Emotional touch is high. Both Jithu and Chidambaram have done superb work.

• The movie lagged in the second half. Not sure about how it will work commercially.

• Felt like another Eco. The movie is haunting. Experimental work that excels in writing. This is pure international stuff.

• The story was very predictable. The trailer gave it all away.

• Mother-son bond narrated cinematically at its very best. Not sure how the movie will survive the commercial audience.

• Top-notch work

• Survival drama at its finest. This should be selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars.

• Most of the audience will be left in tears in the final few minutes.