Manjummel Boys OTT Release: The Malayalam cinema is finally getting the recognition and love it has long deserved from audiences across the country, thanks to its compelling narratives and powerful stories. The emergence of OTT platforms opened up the world of Malayalam cinema to audiences beyond its native region. As a result, more people started appreciating Malayalam films. This love has translated into box office success for several films, including '2018,' 'Goat Life,' 'Aavesham,' and the current highest-grossing Malayalam film, 'Manjummel Boys.'
This year’s most-loved Malayalam film ‘Manjummel Boys’ is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. The film directed by Chidambaram is a survival thriller blended beautifully with male friendship. The film, based on a 2006 real incident, is about a group of childhood friends from Kochi who go on a trip to Kodaikanal. As one of the friends slips into a hole at Guna cave, his friends don’t leave the area, despite locals and authorities trying to convince them that their friend is dead. What follows is a rescue operation that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
After its OTT release, the chatter about the film has again started with netizens praising the Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi starrer. Here’s why the film deserves all the praise it is getting.
Gripping survival thriller
Chidambaram’s direction and camerawork by Shyju Khalid keep you on the edge of the seat from the moment Subhash (Sreenath Bhasi) slips into the pit at Guna Caves. Chidambaram has masterfully handled the narrative. Special mention to the transition that netizens are raving about where the scene shows all the friends as children taking a dip in the river. Subhash at first hesitates and then jumps into the river, the scene then cuts to showing him falling into the pit.
A user commented, “This is the best transition ever in cinema. Starts pleasant, turns curious, and ends shockingly. Also the brilliance of the makers to blend the transition with a match cut. A truly mind-blowing shot. For the archives.”
Story of friendship
‘Manjummel Boys’ is not just a survival thriller, it is more than that. It is a story of true friendship that becomes the anchor that helps them navigate the ordeal. The selfless sacrifice for a friend, that unwavering belief of bringing their friend back from the dead. This pure, unadulterated friendship is one of the main reasons for the audience to feel connected to the story.
Technical Aspects
From Shyju Khalid's camerawork to the meticulously crafted Guna caves by Ajayan Chalissery, and Sushin Shyam's captivating background score, every aspect elevates the narrative, creating a visually stunning and emotionally charged experience.
Kanmani Anbodu song
The song from Kamal Haasan’s 1991 Tamil film 'Guna', plays an important part in the film’s narrative. In the film, the Manjummel boys decide to go to Guna Caves after listening to this song and the song emerges again in the climax taking it to a different level.
In the climax, as the Manjummel boys strive to take their friend out of the pit in one final attempt, the song (Kamal Haasan’s voice) starts in the background with the lyrics, “manithar unarnthu kolla ithu manitha kaadhal alla athaiyum thandi punithamanathu” (This is not human love for mere mortals to understand. It’s much beyond real. Divine). And as he comes out of the pit the song continues. An unexpected choice for the climax of a survivor thriller like this but at that moment while watching as an audience, it all fits in.
“I had this song in mind when I was writing the film. It is the soul of the film, and the real-life Manjummel boys are also big fans of Kamal Haasan and Gunaa,” Chidambaram told Film Companion.
“When making the film, I felt like the song had been written just for me to place it in this climax,” Chidambaram added.
'Manjummel Boys' is about a group of childhood friends, their love for each other, and their triumph against the odds – a universal emotion that resonates with audiences of all ages and cultures.