Shane Nigam's 25th film titled Balti, first look and teaser out
Actor Shane Nigam's 25th film has been titled Balti, a sports action drama set against the backdrop of kabaddi. The makers unveiled the film's first-look poster and teaser, offering a glimpse of Shane as Udhayan, a kabaddi player. The teaser depicts the character being pursued by police through crowded streets, culminating in a transition to a kabaddi court scene with his teammates. Written and directed by debutant Unni Sivalingam, it was shot in both Malayalam and Tamil, with primary locations including Coimbatore, Palakkad and Pollachi.
Balti features Preethi Asrani and Shanthnu Bhagyaraj in key roles, with several national and state-level kabaddi players also part of the cast. According to the makers, the film's soundtrack will mark the Malayalam debut of a well-known music composer, though details remain undisclosed. Its technical crew includes cinematographer Alex J Pulickal and editor Shivkumar V Panicker, known for his work in Bollywood films such as Kill, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Tumhari Sulu and Kapoor & Sons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Drishyam actor Roshan Basheer: Till the release, I didn't know what really happened to Varun Prabhakar
Drishyam 3 announcement sparks fan interest in Varun Prabhakar's return. Roshan Basheer reveals he hasn't been approached for the sequel. He recalls his unexpected casting in the first film and working in Tamil and Telugu remakes. Basheer expresses gratitude for the recognition he gained from the franchise. He looks forward to his upcoming roles in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. With the much-anticipated announcement of Drishyam 3, one question immediately popped into the minds of every Malayali: Will Varun Prabhakar return, perhaps even as a ghost? Only writer-director Jeethu Joseph holds the answer to that. But ever since the sequel was confirmed, social media has been abuzz with memes linking Drishyam to Mohanlal 's recent blockbuster Thudarum, and one name keeps resurfacing—Varun Prabhakar, and the actor behind the character, Roshan Basheer . We spoke to him exclusively to find out if there's any chance of Varun making a comeback in Drishyam 3. 'Honestly, ever since the announcement, I've been getting DMs every single day asking if I'll be part of Drishyam 3. Fans keep tagging me in scripts they've written, imagining Varun returning with major twists. But as of now, I don't think I'll be in the sequel—I haven't been approached. And knowing the makers, I doubt they'd add any gimmicks to the story,' Roshan shared. While speaking about Drishyam, Roshan was swept back into nostalgia as he recounted how he was cast in the film almost overnight. 'It was all such a surprise. Through my father, I got to know about the casting and met Jeethu Joseph. His first reaction was, 'Oh, you're a bit overweight.' I told him I could lose weight for the role, but he surprised me by saying the shoot was starting the very next day. By the time I reached home, I got a call from the production controller saying, 'The cab will come in the morning, be ready to leave for the location in Thodupuzha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walgreens Hides This Cheap 87¢ Generic Viagra from Seniors – Here's Why fridayplans Learn More Undo ' The rest, as they say, is history,' he gushed. Although he played one of the lead roles in the film, Roshan admitted that he had no idea about the twists in the story. 'I didn't know anything about the full story,' Roshan said with a laugh. 'All I knew was that my character appears, speaks a bit, and then gets killed. I honestly thought it was just another supporting role. I didn't even know why I was killed! Not just me—even most of the crew weren't aware of the complete plot. The makers were extremely careful about preserving the suspense. They took a lot of risks to keep the story under wraps, and I think it was the first time a Malayalam film had done something like that. ' Sharing some fond memories from the set, Roshan Basheer fondly recalled the unforgettable moment he met Mohanlal. 'Though I didn't have any scenes with Lal sir, he was on set when I arrived. I went up to him, and to my surprise, he told me he remembered me. Even though he had attended the pooja of my debut film Plus Two, and we had shared the screen briefly in Red Wine, I never expected him to actually recall me. It was such a priceless moment,' the actor said with a smile. When asked if he misses being part of the sequel, especially since the story revolves around his character, Roshan responded with grace, saying the film had already given him more than he ever expected. 'There are many actors who, despite doing numerous films, never truly get recognized. I consider myself fortunate to have gained such widespread recognition from just one movie—it's a pure blessing. Not only in Malayalam, but I was also able to establish myself in Tamil and Telugu industries through the same character. Interestingly, before Drishyam 2 released, my Instagram followers were around 100k; shortly after, that number doubled to 200k. Who gets that kind of attention without even appearing in the film? I don't think there's a single Malayali who hasn't watched Drishyam, so they know me too. Everything the movie and the character have given me is truly a bonus,' the actor added. When asked about portraying the same character in both the Tamil and Telugu versions of the film, Roshan revealed that it was much easier to perform in the remakes. 'When I did Drishyam, I didn't know much about the movie or even my character. But when it came to Papanasam and Drushyam, I pretty much understood the story and my role, so it was much easier. Papanasam was directed by Jeethu sir himself, and luckily, he also directed my parts in the Telugu remake, which made things smoother for me. The biggest blessing was getting to witness the three legends of their respective industries working their magic during the shoots. Although I didn't have any scenes alongside Mohanlal sir, Kamal Haasan sir, or Venkatesh sir, I was fortunate to spend quality time with each of them. The most interesting part was that all three of them complimented my eyes, saying they were unique. These memories are something I will cherish forever,' he shared. On the work front, Roshan is eagerly awaiting the release of his Malayalam film Rachel, co-starring Honey Rose . He's also excited about his upcoming Telugu movie, where he'll be stepping into the role of a comedian for the first time. Additionally, audiences can catch him as a college student in the Tamil film All Pass, which features a love triangle storyline.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Nani Felicitates Tourist Family Filmmaker Abishan Jeevinth, Latter Expresses Gratitude
Last Updated: Telugu actor-producer Nani praised Tamil cinema's blockbuster Tourist Family and met with debutant director Abishan Jeevinth to congratulate him on the film's success. Actor-producer Nani recently met Tourist Family director Abishan Jeevinth to personally congratulate him on the film's success. The Tamil movie has been getting a lot of love lately, and Nani was one of the first from the Telugu industry to praise it. He had earlier shared his appreciation for the film on social media, calling out the strong storytelling and performances. Now, he has taken that support a step further by meeting Abishan in person. The director was touched by the gesture and shared a heartfelt post on social media after the meeting. 'What a day! Truly honoured to have met you, @NameisNani sir. You're such a humble and grounded person. The way you spoke about the film in such detail made it more special for me. Thank you," Abishan wrote. Take a look: Nani had earlier shared his review about the film on his X (formerly Twitter) profile saying, 'Simple, heart warming films with lot of goodness is what we deserve and #TouristFamily delivers just that. (heart emoji). Thanking the whole cast and crew who made this gem of a film. Much needed." 25-year-old Abishan Jeevith had responded with, 'Sir, this was totally unexpected! Thank you so much for the encouragement – your tweet truly made out day! We're feeling extra grateful and super motivated!" Filmmaker SS Rajamouli also praised the film, saying, 'Saw a wonderful, wonderful film Tourist Family. Heartwarming and packed with rib-tickling humor. And kept me intrigued from beginning till end. Great writing and direction by Abishan Jeevinth. Thank you for the best cinematic experience in recent years. Don't miss it…" Tourist Family, made on a modest budget of ₹16 crore, has managed to recover its entire cost within just three weeks of release. Featuring Simran and Sasikumar in the lead, the film hit theatres on May 1, going head-to-head with two major releases — Suriya's Retro and Nani's HIT 3. First Published:
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kollangudi Karuppayi passes away at 99: All you need to know about the veteran folk artist and actress as Kollywood mourns
Renowned folk singer and actress Kollangudi Karuppayi passed away at the age of 99. According to Cinema Vikatan, the veteran actress was ill over the years, and she passed away due to age reasons. Hailing from Kollangudi village on the Madurai, Thoondi road, Karuppayi rose to fame with her appearance in the 1985 Tamil film 'Aan Paavam,' directed by Pandiarajan . In the film, she portrayed the role of a grandmother, and her performance with her powerful folk singing, won the hearts of the audience in Tamil Nadu. Her rustic voice and traditional folk songs became popular beyond the silver screen. Folk singer turned actress with a lasting impact After her debut, Karuppayi acted in several notable films including 'Kaabbadi Kabbadi,' 'Gopala Gopala,' and others. Her on-screen appearance brought rural authenticity to mainstream cinema. In 1993, the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa honored her with the Kalamamani Award in recognition of her contribution to art. Reflecting on her career, Karuppayi once said, 'Aan Paavam was my first film, and I acted in many after that—but those who cheated me outnumbered those who paid me. They'd give me ₹1000 and say they'd send the rest. I'd wait, but nothing would come. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo The only thing I got from the cinema was being sent home with a shaved head.' An unbreakable bond with Pandiarajan Karuppayi often credited actor-director Pandiarajan as a son figure in her life. "I had no children of my own, but Pandiarajan is my son in every way," she once said in an interview. She also revealed that whenever she visited Chennai, Pandiarajan made it a point to visit her, reinforcing their lasting bond that went beyond cinema. Later life and respect for Vishal Karuppayi faced many struggles in the film industry, including being denied membership in the Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Artistes Association). It was only after actor Vishal became its president that she was granted a membership card and monthly financial support. 'Today, I eat because of the money my grandson Vishal gives me,' she shared emotionally in a 2018 Vikatan interview. 'I want to attend Vishal's wedding. Until then, I pray to live.'
