Manjummel Boys

If a film can be evaluated even on one criteria, Manjummel Boys is one; and that criteria for me is the superb cinematography.

Based on a true story of a disaster that befalls a group of friends. They are mentioned as boys of the village named Manjummel though they look grown up men but act as immaturely as boys in their getting high at a marriage.

They decide to take a holiday trip to Goa but end up in Kodaikanal where they go to explore what is called Guna Cave the name having derived from the title of Kamal Hassan movie.

Here they meet a disaster.

From a boisterous rather loud childish- for-the age bunch, they grow up to the seriousness of the situation. One of the "boys" falls in a crevice and here the drama of survival and rescue and comradery begins. Really superb photography takes over and that is what makes the film immensely watchable.

Director Chidambaram deserves full praise for Manjummel Boys.

Often times turning real life incidents to movies, personally for me doesn't really hit the right spots with its over exaggeration and dramatisation. But what Chidambaram has done is quite magnificent, considering this is his second movie after his directorial debut, Jan-e-man. In a month where multiple Malayalam movies has been going at each other in the box office, especially with Bramayugam being so critically acclaimed, this movie is made so well that it makes a movie like Bramayugam fall short.

Performances from the whole cast, especially Soubin and Bhasi are next level and Sushin's music, Shyju Khalid's cinematography, editing by Vivek Harsha and costumes by Mashar Hamsa are all noteworthy. This is a kind of movie that elevates the industry to levels it's never seen before and I'm glad that the Malayalam industry are turning out to be juggernauts in movie making, not just in India but globally.

Do watch the movie as it reels you in from the moment it starts and lets you go only when it finishes. Kudos to the whole team behind the movie and can't wait for the rest of the Malayalam movies to roll out for the year.

I don't know where to start. The movie is engaging right from the start to the end. Every actor has performed like there is no tomorrow. I don't want to give anything away but please DO NOT wait for this to come out on OTT. It is a definite theater experience and if you are a malayalee, you will come out walking full of pride because of the quality and depth of this movie's overall production. These are the movies that should be showcased in Cannes and what not.

Entire Manjummel Team - you guys have delivered a masterpiece and thank you giving us the perfect survival thriller. Hollywood - take note!

Hat-trick blockbuster week for mollywood When I thought about writing a review on this movie I couldn't chose which department should I praise more.

Soubin shahir was perfect in the role of elder brother in a gang of youngsters.

Ganapathy did a great job in casting. He knows whom to be placed in a role. Even a small dialogue from taxi driver gave the whole theatre goosebumps Some shots were above brilliant. I can only imagine how they pulled out some great shots in the second half. DOP,and art director obviously needs an applause.

Second half gave some nail biting moments and also some spooky stuffs to get scared But the movie ended on a soft note they could have made more impact if they did otherwise.

I have to say, I didn't expect "Manjummel Boys" to unfold the way it did! As my first film of 2025, it completely caught me off guard. At first, I thought it would be a straightforward buddy film, but it took some surprising turns that really kept me engaged. The story beautifully explores friendship in a way that feels both heartfelt and real.

The cinematic framing is absolutely stunning! Every shot is thoughtfully composed, and the locations are just gorgeous. They really add to the overall vibe of the film and make you feel like you're right there with the characters. It's a visual treat that complements the powerful storytelling.

If you're looking for a film that celebrates friendship while also delivering an impressive cinematic experience, Manjummel Boys is definitely one to watch!