‘Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Spider-Man’: Meet Adhisheshan, the boy wonder from ‘Balan: The Boy’

The wide-eyed boy born in a prison, raised by criminals and a gritty mother under different identities, has left a lasting impression on Malayali film buffs. Seven-year-old Adhisheshan has impressed everyone with his screen presence and precision of expression in the recent Malayalam film Balan: The Boy , directed by Manjummel Boys maker Chidambaram . When we get on a call with the child actor, endearingly called Pikku, he has just finished his tuition to make up for the missed classes. With all the promotions and post-release celebrations underway, he has not been able to attend his classes, says his mother.

A smile flashed across the boy’s face when he spotted Ajithlal Sivalal, his acting trainer, on the call. The trainer and his student are meeting after almost a year. “Adhisheshan had a delightful energy and presence about him,” recalls Ajithlal.