Manjummel Boys is an exceptional film that deserves to be watched. The movie falls into the category of a survival thriller. It is written and directed by one of the most renowned directors of Malayalam cinema, Shri. Chidambaram. The running time of the film is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. The movie was released on February 22, 2024, with the original language being Malayalam.
The film was released on OTT dated May 05,2024 and is now also available in Hindi-dubbed form at Disney Plus Hotstar. Manjummel Boys has been a blockbuster at the global box office, which in itself confirms its quality. As a North Indian viewer, I can clearly say that it’s a hell of a movie. I’ve listed the following additional statistics for the film below:
| Field | Details |
| Movie Title | Manjummel Boys |
| Starring | Soubin Shahir, Balu Varghese, Arun Kurian, Shreenath Bhasi, Deepak Parambol, Shebin Benson |
| Written by | Chidambaram |
| Directed by | Chidambaram |
| Produced by | Shawn Antony, Soubin Shahir, Babu Shahir |
| Cinematography | Shyju Khalid |
| Music | Sushin Shyam |
| Edited by | Vivek Harshan |
| Production Company | Parava Films |
| Distributed by | Sree Gokulam Movies |
| Country of Origin | India |
| Original Language | Malayalam |
| Dubbed Language | Hindi, Tamil, Telegu and Kannada |
| Release Date | 22-Feb-24 |
| Running Time | 2 Hours 15 Minutes |
| OTT Platform | Disney Hotstar Plus |
| Verdict | Blockbuster |
| IMDb Rating | 8.3/10 |
Manjummel Boys Synopsis
The story of the movie revolves around a group of friends residing in a small town in Kochi named Manjummel. Like their rival group, they decide to embark on a memorable vacation. They wanted to capture their journey in a photo album, the same way as the opposite group has done.
After brainstorming for prospective holiday destinations, they finally zeroed in on Kodaikanal as their best location for vacationing. They planned to book a traveller but had to settle for a Toyota Qualis. Fortunately, the car’s driver happened to be a close friend of one of the Manjummel boys.
The date is set, and the boys begin their tour. Throughout the journey, they partied as would a group of bachelors. They laughed and sang in their happy, drunken state. Upon reaching Kodaikanal, they visited the popular tourist attractions, capturing the events on camera. They were all happy-go-lucky boys, living life to the fullest.
On the day of their return, one of the friends said that they had missed an important site, which happens to be known by the name Guna Caves, and the place is very popular since their favourite actor, Kamal Hassan, once shot a movie scene there. Knowing this, they finally decided to finish their journey by visiting this last location.
When they arrived at the location, a local guide approached them with his services, but the Manjummel boys insisted on exploring on their own. However, the guide warned them against going to certain restricted areas. But the group, who were in full party mode and unaware of the lurking danger, decided to have a closer look at the beauty of the caves, which led them to enter the wrong zone. They were thrilled upon arriving, and a few of them thought of engraving their club name, “Manjummel Boys,” on the rocks.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, one of their friends, Subash, slips into a small, deep pit. The boys were taken aback by the incident. Upon accessing the grim situation, a few of them ran to get some help. Others stood there, shedding tears over what they just witnessed. Help came in the form of the forest guard and the local vendor, who, on reaching the spot, scolded the boys.
They said this pit is demonic, and the boys have committed a blunder by visiting the restricted area. To date, 13 people have been flushed inside, and nobody has survived to see the next day’s sunlight. Therefore, this cave is now more popularly known as the Devil’s Kitchen. They suggested Manjummel boys to immediately vacate the site, as it’s no longer safe in there.
By then, a few of them had already reached the local police station to report the matter and get some help. Later in the day, higher-ranking police officials and firefighter personnel arrived at the location. Now, a fundamental issue arises regarding the conduct of the rescue operation, as no one was prepared to enter the pit due to the superstitions associated with the site. Even the firefighter personnel feared for their lives.
Finally, one of the Manjummel boys named ‘Siju aka Kuttan’ moved forward and suggested to the rescue team that he would do the impossible. After a lot of hullabaloo and discussions, kuttan finally gets down into the pit and saves their loving friend Subhash. Their friendship, love, and respect increased after the incident, but it left a permanent traumatic scar on each one of them. However, Subhash is now safe.
Just to clarify for the readers, the movie’s storyline is based on a true incident that occurred in 2006, the reference to which you will find at the end of the movie. So please do watch the movie till the very end.
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Manjummel Boys Movie Review
Malayalam cinema, as always, excels in the art of story-telling. They are well known for their authentic content-driven storyline, and Manjummel Boys is a perfect example to prove the point. This movie is exceptionally well made. The movie opens with a theme in which the Manjummel boys and the rival group attend the same wedding ceremony.
Partly inebriated, a fight broke out between the groups, resulting in settling the issue through the game of rope pulling, which is a celebrated sport in Kerala. Even though the Manjummel boys lost the game, it served as a perfect reference towards the end of the movie, when they successfully won the game of life by rescuing their friend, “Subhash,” from Guna cave.
The cinematography, the background score, and the overall visuals of the film will give you a Hollywood-like experience. Each and every character in the movie is well chosen, and all of them did justice to their roles. As the movie progresses, it sends chills down your spine and makes you stick to your seats. It’s a perfect mix of thrills and horror, though it’s not a horror movie. The film is a complete family entertainer and can be watched in any age group. However, it is recommended for people over the age of 15.
Manjummel Boys Closing Words
In conclusion, it can be asserted that, Manjummel Boys is worth viewing. Just go and watch the film, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
For more audience reviews on the film, you can click on below listed links:
IMDb- CLICK HERE
Reddit- CLICK HERE
The official trailer for the movie Manjummel Boys is attached herewith.