Months after its theatrical release, Shane Nigam’s Balti is finally set for its digital debut. Sony LIV has announced that the sports action drama will start streaming on the platform from July 10, giving audiences another chance to catch the film from the comfort of their homes.
Balti heads to Sony LIV
The announcement comes shortly after the platform confirmed the streaming premiere of Sreenath Bhasi’s horror comedy Karakkam, continuing its Malayalam Movie Fiesta, a special slate of Malayalam film premieres throughout July.
Written and directed by debutant Unni Sivalingam, Balti blends sports, action and coming-of-age drama against the backdrop of Kerala’s border region with Tamil Nadu. While kabaddi forms the spine of the narrative, the film explores themes of friendship, ambition and survival as a group of youngsters find themselves caught in circumstances far bigger than themselves.
Shane Nigam leads the cast as Udhayan, alongside Preethi Asrani. The film also features Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, filmmaker Alphonse Puthren, Poornima Indrajith, and director Selvaraghavan in key roles. Sai Abhyankkar, one of Tamil music’s fastest-rising young composers, made his Malayalam debut with Balti, composing the soundtrack for the bilingual release.
Speaking about his character, Shane said, “Udhayan is one of the most emotionally layered characters I’ve played. His journey is driven by dreams, friendship, and the choices he is forced to make when life takes an unexpected turn. Balti is an intense story with heart, and I’m excited that audiences across the country will now get to experience it on Sony LIV as part of the Malayalam Movie Fiesta.”
A second innings on OTT
Although Balti generated curiosity ahead of its theatrical release, thanks to its unusual kabaddi backdrop and ensemble cast, the film struggled to translate that buzz into box office success. Its arrival on OTT now offers the makers an opportunity to reach a much wider audience, particularly viewers who may have missed it during its theatrical run.
Producer Santhosh T Kuruvilla believes the film’s emotional core will resonate with audiences discovering it on streaming. “At its heart, Balti is a story about ordinary young men whose dreams and circumstances pull them in directions they never imagined. While Kabaddi forms the backdrop, the film is about friendship, loyalty, and the difficult choices people make when survival is at stake. I’m delighted that the film is reaching a wider audience through Sony LIV’s Malayalam Movie Fiesta, and I hope viewers connect with its emotions and the journey of these characters.”
Meanwhile, Shane Nigam continues to stay busy with an interesting lineup. The actor was last seen in the investigative thriller Dridam and is currently working on an upcoming multilingual film directed by Praveen Nath. Planned for release in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada, the project marks another ambitious step in the actor’s career as he expands his footprint across industries.
With its mix of sports, action and emotional drama, Balti will be hoping for a stronger reception on streaming than it enjoyed in theatres when it lands on Sony LIV later this month.
Also Read: Shane Nigam’s Dridam OTT Premiere Date Announced
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
