Within days of its OTT debut, ‘Balan: The Boy’ has clocked 100 million viewing minutes on Zee5. The film, which premiered on July 31, 2026, has gone on to become one of the platform's biggest Malayalam successes this year. 
The emotional coming-of-age drama has found viewers beyond Kerala as well, thanks to its availability in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

Directed by Chidambaram, who is best known for ‘Manjummel Boys’, the film is written by Jithu Madhavan, the filmmaker behind ‘Aavesham’. Together, they bring a heartfelt story centred on the relationship between a mother and her son.

‘Balan: The Boy’ explores themes of love, grief, resilience, identity and self-discovery while following an emotional journey that has connected with audiences across age groups.

The film stars Adhisheshan K. R., Muhammad Zinaan, Farzana Palathingal, Jean Paul Lal, Dolly June, Girish A. D. and Beena Antony, with Tovino Thomas making an extended cameo appearance.

Zee5 celebrates the milestone

Reacting to the film's performance on the platform, Lloyd Xavier, Business Head, Tamil & Malayalam, Zee5, said the response reflects the growing popularity of meaningful regional cinema.

"We are delighted to see ‘Balan: The Boy’ receive such an overwhelming response from audiences across the country. Crossing 100 million viewing minutes within days of its premiere is a testament to the film's emotionally resonant storytelling and the growing appetite for meaningful regional cinema. At Zee5, we remain committed to bringing powerful stories from every corner of India to audiences everywhere, and ‘Balan: The Boy’ is a shining example of that vision."

Director Chidambaram also expressed his happiness over the film's digital success and thanked viewers for embracing the story.

"It is incredibly heartening to see audiences embracing ‘Balan: The Boy’ with so much love on Zee5. This film was made with honesty and compassion, and knowing that Balan's journey has connected with millions of viewers is truly special. I am grateful to everyone who has watched, supported and shared the film, helping it reach this remarkable milestone."

With its strong OTT performance, ‘Balan: The Boy’ continues to attract viewers across different regions. The film is currently streaming on Zee5 in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.