A survival thriller based on a real-life incident, 'Manjummel Boys' follows a group of 10 friends, who unite to rescue their friend Subhash trapped in the Guna Caves in Kodaikanal.
Published Feb 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM
A poster of the film 'Manjummel Boys'. (X)
It’s been one year since the phenomenal movie Manjummel Boys became a blockbuster in the Malayalam film industry and outside Kerala.
According to its producers, the movie grossed ₹200 crore in total revenue.
While there have been contradicting reports regarding the collections, regardless of the figures, it’s undeniable that Manjummel Boys made waves in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states with its universal theme of brotherhood.
The major highlight of Manjummel Boys, as many have noted, was the inclusion of the song “Kanmani Anbodu” from Kamal Haasan’s Guna, which played a key role in the movie’s success. The crew also visited Kamal Haasan at his office in Chennai.
The movie’s popularity boosted the visibility of Malayalam cinema across India, aided by social media.
Released on 22 February, 2024, Manjummel Boys earned over ₹3 crore on its opening day. Word-of-mouth played a crucial role in its success, leading to additional screenings across Kerala.
The movie also earned ₹10 crore from its Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada dubbed versions, making history in Tamil Nadu as the first Malayalam film to collect Rs 60 crore from the state.
A survival thriller based on a real-life incident, Manjummel Boys follows a group of 10 friends, who unite to rescue their friend Subhash trapped in the Guna Caves in Kodaikanal.
A still from the film ‘Manjummel Boys’. (X)
Writer-director Chidambaram deserves praise for adapting a real-life incident into a compelling narrative. He highlights the friends’ deep bond, with a particularly emotional connection established through flashbacks of their childhood after the interval. Subhash’s unique childhood and its link to the present tragedy are skillfully portrayed.
Art direction plays a key role, with project designer Ajayan Chalissery creating memorable props. Notable highlights include the cave scenes and a recreated tree during a photo moment with the friends.
Sushin Syam’s music enhances Manjummel Boys’ atmosphere, with a new instrument invented specifically for the movie.
‘Manjummel Boys’a is a survival thriller. (X)
Cinematographer Shyju Khalid excels in capturing both the Guna caves and Kodaikanal, with stunning aerial shots of their journey in a Toyota Qualis. The frames in Kochi, Pazhani, and Madhura add a fresh cinematic dimension.
The performances of the lead actors are outstanding. Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi shine as Kuttan and Subhash, respectively. Balu Varghese and Jean-Paul deliver solid performances as brothers Dickson and Siju. Salim Kumar’s son, Chanthu, impresses as the eccentric Abhilash.
Deepak Parambol plays a pivotal role as Sudheesh, and director Khalid Rahman’s appearance as Prasad adds a nice touch. Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Arun Kurian, and others also contribute effectively to the film.
Despite being a blockbuster, the makers of Manjummel Boys faced a money laundering case.
Soubin Shahir, one of the producers, was questioned twice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the case involving Parava Films. The court stayed his arrest but allowed the ongoing investigation to proceed. The Income Tax Department and ED have been actively monitoring tax evasion and financial misconduct in the industry.
As part of their efforts, the ED launched an investigation into the money laundering case against the producers of Manjummel Boys, registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
Before the ED probe, the producers had already faced legal issues. In April of the previous year, the Ernakulam Maradu police filed a cheating case against them following an order from the Ernakulam First Class Magistrate Court. A resident of Aroor had filed a petition, claiming that the producers had cheated him by failing to repay the money they had borrowed from him.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
