Alphonse Puthren reinvents himself in 'Balti' as a violent anti-hero
The character reveal video featuring Puthren has gone viral on social media, with many surprised by his transformation.
The character reveal video featuring Puthren has gone viral on social media, with many surprised by his transformation.
The character reveal video featuring Puthren has gone viral on social media, with many surprised by his transformation.
Director Alphonse Puthren, known for his cult favourites 'Premam' and 'Neram', is stepping in front of the camera in a bold new role in 'Balti', an upcoming Malayalam film starring Shane Nigam. In a surprising casting move, Puthren takes on the role of Soda Babu, an unhinged and violent character nicknamed the “psycho butterfly”.
The character reveal video featuring Puthren has gone viral on social media, with many surprised by his transformation. Dressed in flashy silk shirts, formal trousers, and sporting a salt-and-pepper look, he appears in the teaser with the tagline “Alphonse Puthren Reloaded.”
Directed by debutant Unni Shivalingam, 'Balti' is expected to be an action-packed film with a strong musical core. It is produced by Santosh T. Kuruvilla and Binu George Alexander under the banners STK Frames and Binu George Alexander Productions. With 'Balti', Shane Nigam takes on what is reported to be one of the biggest projects of his career.
Alphonse Puthren rose to fame with 'Neram' (2013) and cemented his place in Malayalam cinema with 'Premam' (2015), both featuring Nivin Pauly in the lead. 'Premam' was not just a box office success but also became the highest-grossing Malayalam film in Tamil Nadu at the time, gaining cult status among a generation of viewers.
In 2022, Puthren returned to direction with 'Gold', starring Prithviraj Sukumaran. Over the years, he has also worked as a film editor, producer, and occasional actor. His return to acting in 'Balti' signals a new creative chapter, one that moves away from nostalgia and youthful romance into darker, more unpredictable territory.