Manjummel Boys is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language survival thriller written and directed by Chidambaram. The film is inspired by the real-life 2006 Guna Caves rescue and produced by Soubin Shahir, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony under Parava Films. It stars an ensemble cast, including Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Lal Jr., and Deepak Parambol. The movie blends thrilling storytelling with grounded emotions, showcasing the bond between friends in a life-threatening situation.

The story begins in 2006, when ten friends from an arts club in Manjummel, Kochi, decide to go on a vacation to Kodaikanal during the Onam holidays. While exploring, one of the friends, Sudhi, suggests visiting the infamous Guna Caves, a site known for its mystique and danger. Despite warnings from a local guide, the group ventures into restricted areas of the caves.

While taking a group photo, Subhash, one of the friends, falls into a deep, narrow hole. Initially, the group believes he is joking, but panic sets in when he does not respond. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they rush to seek help from locals and authorities. However, the police and forest officials are reluctant to act, citing the cave’s dangerous history and previous failed rescue attempts. They mention that the British had once dubbed the area "The Devil’s Kitchen," a name reflecting its peril.

Undeterred, the group convinces the police to assist them. With the help of ropes and other equipment, the friends attempt a daring rescue. Kuttan (Soubin Shahir) volunteers to descend into the dark and dangerous hole. He discovers Subhash injured but alive, lying on a muddy ledge 120 feet down. Against all odds, Kuttan manages to bring Subhash back to safety. Subhash receives immediate medical attention and eventually recovers from the trauma. The group decides to keep the incident private, but Kuttan’s heroics later come to light, earning him national recognition and the Jeevan Raksha Padak Award for bravery.

The project was announced in early 2023, with principal photography commencing on 26 January 2023 and concluding on 17 July 2023. Filming took place in Kodaikanal, Kochi, and Perumbavoor, with parts shot on location at the actual Guna Caves. The technical team included Sushin Shyam for music, Shyju Khalid for cinematography, and Vivek Harshan for editing.

The film released theatrically on 22 February 2024 across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was lauded for its intense screenplay, compelling performances, and technical finesse. Critics praised the direction, realistic portrayal of events, and emotional depth of the characters. Despite lukewarm reviews during its OTT release, the film became a massive box-office success, earning over ₹200 crore, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever. It even surpassed the records set by previous blockbusters like 2018 and became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.

Key Cast:

• Soubin Shahir as Siju David (Kuttan)
• Sreenath Bhasi as Subhash Chandran
• Balu Varghese as Sixon John
• Ganapathi as Kannan
• Lal Jr. as Siju John, Sixon’s brother
• Deepak Parambol as Sudhi
• Abhiram Radhakrishnan as Anil
• Arun Kurian as Sujith

Manjummel Boys explores themes of friendship, bravery, and human resilience. The gripping survival narrative keeps viewers on edge, while the camaraderie among the characters adds emotional weight to the story. The film's success has set a new benchmark for Malayalam cinema, proving its potential to tell impactful stories rooted in real-life incidents.