Manjummel Boys
Introduction
The Mollywood Boys are alive and kicking! The year 2023 was a bit of a struggle for the Malayalam Film Industry who weren’t quite able to match up to the magic that they had created in the years 2021 and 2022. But as they say, you can’t keep a quality film industry down for long! The year 2024 has brought back the magic amidst the change in fortunes for the Malayalam Film Industry with films like Aattam, Malaikottai Vaaliban(although mixed reactions), Bramayugam and Premalu. To keep the momentum going was another Malayalam film that was out this weekend, Manjummel Boys and I happened to venture in a theatre to watch it while only knowing briefly that it was a survival drama.
There have been a lot of survival dramas that are made in the past namely Society Of The Snow, Thirteen Lives and 127 Hours to name a few. What worked in each of them was the characterization of the protagonist(s) that truly allowed the viewers to invest in them and their struggles while dicreetly rooting for them to make it alive at the end. This has generally been a template but knowing the Malayalam Film Industry in trying to be different in that space, I had sky high hopes from Manjummel Boys which is based on an incredible true incident that transpired in the Guna Caves of Kodaikanal in 2006. So then does Manjummel Boys manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Based on a true incident, Manjummel Boys follows the story of a bunch of friends whose trip to the Guna Caves turns topsy turvy after encountering a life altering event there. Will all of them return safe and sound? The story here is a survival thriller that doesn’t follow the generic beats of the genre, something that was so refreshing to witness. The ability of the writers to introduce elements of horror and traces of religion in a story that is essentially a survival thriller is truly commendable. This resulted in a screenplay standing at about 130 odd minutes which had so many different shades to it, ranging from comedy to horror to the ultimate survival drama that almost unfolds like a thriller, so much so that it resulted in one of the most unique big screen experiences for me in recent times.
I am always amazed at the world building and character development presented by the Malayalam Film Industry, something that needs to be studied by other film industries too. The setting here was of a wedding wherein you are slowly but surely introduced to a group of friends who are shown to have an absolute blast. The tone of the drama is of a comedy(yes, you read that right) mostly attributed to the crazy antics of the boys who bond over some fun banter while also challenging a group to a game of tug and war. But the entire sequence briefly accounts for the friendship and the camaraderie that the group shares with each other, something that elevates while planning for an outstation trip. The comedy kicks in as the plan starts off with Goa to a local destination before zeroing on Kodaikanal that results in some of the most hilarious banter that you could witness amongst friends. The writers here know exactly what the viewers are in for, while just continuing to delay the inevitable while placing the proceedings on a simmering flame.
While most parts of the first act is almost a nostalgic trip down memory lane(given that the antics of the group were reflective of our actions too back in the day), the setting of the Guna Caves almost spells doom with its intimidating setting, oblivious to the friends(only 10 of whom make it to the trip out of their group of 30 because the Qualis could only accomodate these many😂). There is a religious undertone provided briefly related to a character who is shown to be an atheist, elsewhere a warning sign by a shop owner to return quickly from the caves owing to the onset of rain, does fall on deaf ears. This, while the group decide to get adventurous. Yet surprisingly(in a refreshingly good way), there is no buildup towards the actual incident that is about to transpire even with respect to the BGM. So when it actually occurs, you are left shell shocked to the core!
There are traces of horror that thematically sets in immediately following the incident with the locals calling it the Satan’s Kitchen given that no one has been able to make it out of that cave(which incidently got popular after a Kamal Hassan film that was shot there). So the theme shifts from a comedy to a horror in such a seamless manner that it made me stood up and applaud the craft of the team. The screenplay was also a masterclass on the point of view. Most survival dramas focus on the person trapped and how he is makes his way out. But here, the whole drama unfolds at the top of the cave wherein the characters(along with the viewers) aren’t sure of what has transpired following the incident. And this creates an element of mystery which is reflective on the attitude of the authorities who take things lightly, precisely for the reason that no one has made it out alive from the cave, strictly based on their past records.
But at its core, the drama is about an undying friendship and team work that should be symbolic of humanity today, something that is the core contributor of the final act. Which brought me to my first point – how important that opening act was in establishing the friendship and the camaraderie of the group without which there would have only been ‘Heropanti’ without any soul. I remember criticizing the Akshay Kumar starrer Mission Raniganj for exactly this aspect that there was no world building and hence the emotional connect to the victims was just not there. This was in contrast to Society Of The Snow where you are heavily connected to the characters stuck in wilderness. Manjummel Boys falls in the second category despite briefly shifting the POV to the victim who soaked in blood imagines his escape, another aspect that was crucial for the events following the actual rescue. I was mighty impressed with the writing that tied all loose ends while only briefly ending on a bit of a whimper wherein I was expecting a little more on the psychological angle of the victim following the incident(which was only briefly touched upon while adding a little religious touch to it). But nevertheless, the screenplay here is brilliant and makes for a wonderful watch.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues range from being frivolous owing to the friendly banter in the group early on to something more profound by the end of it, and this was exactly in sync with the range of emotions that the drama had to offer. The music is good as is the BGM but I expected a little better particularly in the second half of the drama. But kudos to the utilization of the BGM that didn’t quite allow the viewers to anticipate the incident. This, while the melodies by Ilaiyaraja were a joy to witness on the big screen. The cinematography is excellent here represents the different moods of the drama with frames featuring different colour grading. So you have frames with bright colours to support your opening act before transitioning to something dull and greyish following the incident which was accompanied by rain too. The stoppage of rain coupled marked the turn in fortunes which was also accompanied by a light at the end of the tunnel(in this case the cave) while leading up to the final act with bouts of claustrophobia attributed to the ultimate rescue. The editing was crisp and sharp while keeping the intensity of the drama intact throughout. Director Chidambaram(previously directed the brilliant Jan-e-man) does a magnificent job here in building a fascinating world before catching the viewers unaware despite them knowing what they were getting into. To top it, such beautifully heartfelt characters were introduced in the fray while dabbling with multiple themes and complex tonal shifts, all of which made me believe that Chidambaram will go on to become one of the finest directors of our times. His skill and craft coupled with control was outstanding to witness especially when the route chosen was a tough one.
Performances
The performances are outstanding by the ensemble cast, particular the ‘Manjummel Boys’ who have such infectious camaraderie beyween them. George Marian is wonderfully understated here. Vishnu Reghu and Chandu Salimkumar as Abhilash have their moments to shine. Khalidh Rahman as Prasad and Abhiram Radhakrishnan as Anil are sincere and earnest. Ganapathi Poduval as Krishnakumar and Balu Varghese as Sixen bring a lot of emotions to the table in beautifully heartfelt performances. Lal Jr as Siju was a towering personality and he made his presence felt. Arun Kurian as Sujith is outstanding to witness. Deepak Parambol as Sudheesh delivers a heartfelt performance by beautifully playing with his expressions(I can never forget the expression of numbness before waking up to help). Sreenath Bhasi as Subhash is an immaculate performer who gives it his all. And here while being wonderfully restrained, he showcases his pain and vulnerability in the most aching manner so much so that you feel his suffering. This was a brilliant act by a wonderful performer. Soubin Shahir as Kuttan is the glue of the group here. He is sincere and earnest while emoting beautifully, something that deftly tugs the strings of your heart. His performance is moving as you see him yelping for help while also not willing to give up. These were complex emotions that were brilliantly performed by an actor who has a wide range of his craft to dabble with.
Conclusion
Manjummel Boys is an absorbing survival thriller with heavy undertones of friendship and teamwork that makes for a memorable big screen experience primarily because of the seamless tonal shifts that it undergoes through its genres. The Mollywood Boys are alive and kicking in 2024! Available in a theatre near you and Highly Recommended.