Chidambaram Poduval, the filmmaker of the hit Malayalam film ‘Manjummel Boys’, spoke at ABP Network's Southern Rising Summit. The filmmaker rose to fame after the survival drama, which had a budget of Rs 20 crore, became the first Malayalam film to make over Rs 200 crore at the box office, ranking among the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.
During the chat, Chidambaram shared why he made the film, the growth of Malayalam cinema, and how stardom influences stories. He is now preparing for his Hindi directorial debut with Phantom Studios.
The Power of Storytelling in Malayalam Cinema
When asked how Malayalam cinema proves that great films can be commercially successful, Chidambaram Poduval said, “Basically, we focus on the story, and everything else follows. That's how we work in Malayalam. At least that's how it is for now.”
During the chat, he explained why big stars choose great stories, fully committing to powerful narratives over fame.
Poduval said, “I think our limitation is our superpower. Financially, we are limited to making small films throughout the history of Malayalam cinema. So we have to focus strongly on content. We write really small stories—very domestic stories, like those set in families and households. We usually didn't have the budget for huge spectacles, big fight scenes, or elaborate climax sequences and VFX.”
“But now it's changing. Our limitations have trained us to seek out good stories instead of relying on spectacle. I think that's the training, and that's how the stars are conditioned to surrender to the director and focus on the story.”
Mammootty's Bold Choices
Speaking of Mammootty's incredible body of work and how the actor is pushing boundaries with his bold choices, the filmmaker said, “He is playing the role of a homosexual man in one film, and in another, he portrays a practitioner of black magic. It’s really inspiring. They all worked with great filmmakers; in their younger days, we had great writers and directors who created very content-oriented and emotional dramas. I think they crave that, and the younger generation is just following in their footsteps.”
The Real-Life Encounter with Manjummel Boys
Chidambaram recalled the first time he met the real Manjummel Boys and how that encounter inspired him to tell their story. He said, “I know those boys personally, so I went to their house. Kerala is a small place; everyone knows everyone. Almost all the boys were there. I was chilling with them, talking, and they shared their story with me. They were all excited to tell it, to the point that they must have recounted it many times and perfected it over 15 years. There were some points that really struck me, so I decided this story had to be told.”
“It’s a story of an atheist becoming God. Subhash was an atheist, and he becomes God after being saved from a pit. I found that journey very interesting, and it’s a very real story that changed the history of a place. But nobody has come out alive or dead from it. This is the first person to come out alive from that case; it’s actually a very historical moment,” he added.
ABP Southern Rising Summit 2024
ABP Network's much-awaited 'Southern Rising Summit' has returned with its second edition. This year's Southern Rising Summit, themed 'Coming of Age: Identity, Inspiration, Impact', is being held in Hyderabad on October 25. The summit will celebrate the political, cultural, economic, and social advances of the southern states with changemakers and visionaries from the New South and explore the region’s transformative journey towards a brighter future.
The Southern Rising Summit was first held in Chennai in 2023, when several speakers celebrated ideas that define South India. This time too the summit will explore the region's cultural, economic, and political advancements that have stood out and played a critical role in the nation's overall progress.