After a long gap, Malayalam actioner ‘Balti’ is all set to entertain the OTT viewers. Starring: Shane Nigam in the lead, the Malayalam action drama combines sports, crime and emotional relationships against the backdrop of the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
Where to stream ‘Balti’
Streaming platform Sony LIV has officially announced that Balti will premiere on July 10.Sharing the update, the platform wrote, “Get ready for a complete action thriller! #Balti streaming from 10th July only on Sony LIV.” The film will stream in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. The film hits the big screens on September 25, 2025 and reports say that the makers have been trying for the OTT release for months, as it has finally set the streaming date and platform now.
A story of friendship, Kabaddi and crime
Written and directed by debutant Unni Sivalingam, ‘Balti’ follows the life of Udhayan popularly known as Balti. He is a talented kabaddi player from Velampalayam village. He has a close relationship with his mother and his friends.His life changed dramatically after his team won the local kabaddi tournament. The victory unexpectedly brought him in contact with Porthamarai Bhairavan. The rest of the story combines action, emotion and breathtaking performances. Even with a great plot, “Balti” unfortunately failed to do well at the box office.Cast and technical crewShane Nigam leads the cast alongside Shanthanu BhagyarajPreethi Asrani, Alphonse Puthren, Selvaraghavan and Poornima Indrajith.‘Balti’ marks the feature directorial debut of Unni Sivalingam, who also wrote the screenplay.The visuals of the film were captured by cinematographer Alex J. Pulickal, while Shivkumar V. Panicker handled the editing. The music is composed by Sai Abhyankkar, and his song ‘Jalakkari’ is trending.
Critical response to the film
‘Balti’ received a mixed response from critics, with many reviewers appreciating its kabaddi sequences and technical strength.ETimes gave the film three stars out of five and wrote, “The Kabaddi sequences are tightly shot and it’s a shame that the second half doesn’t continue to weave the sport into the script. Balti could have worked as a sports movie with well-shot and exciting kabaddi scenes. Also, Sai Abhayankar makes a remarkable debut as a film composer.Meanwhile, Shane Nigam’s latest film is ‘Dridam’.
