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.