Release date: 22 February 2024

The opening scene of Jan.E.Man director Chidambaram's second film, "Manjummel Boys," pays homage to Kamal Haasan's highly regarded film "Gunaa." People's interest with the captivating cave on the manner in which to Kodaikanal began with the 1992 film. The same attraction and restlessness propel a bunch of gregarious men to explore the cave in "Manjummel Boys" as well. For the group, what begins as a joyful journey quickly takes a sinister turn and becomes a struggle for survival.

If the protagonist's lone struggle for survival was the main focus of James Franco's 2010 survival thriller "127 Hours," then friendship wins out in "Manjummel Boys." Chidambaram uses his magic touch in "Manjummel Boys," too. He gave us a lovely film on human emotions and a distinct side of love in "Jan.E.Man.

He tugs at our emotions at the strangest times. His greatest strength lies in establishing an emotional bond with the main characters. Despite the gang's generally carefree attitude towards life, you want them to succeed because of the clever screenplay and moving narration.

In contrast to popular films like "2018" and "Take Off," "Manjummel Boys" is not a suspenseful thriller. Despite Subhash's (Sreenath Bhasi) imprisonment in a 900-foot-deep cave, lensman Shyju Khalid skillfully avoids conveying a sense of terrifying depths. The whole thing is handled realistically and subtly, which causes the second part of the film to drag. But the finale sequence is truly amazing, reinforcing your belief in friendship, miracles, and the capacity to overcome adversity.

As Kuttan, Soubin Shahir does a great job playing the older guy in the group. The actor does an excellent job of portraying the helplessness and misery he experiences at a pivotal point in the film. While Sreenath Bhasi's physical makeover for the movie is impressive, there were several details about his character that the filmmakers could have done a better job with. Balu Varghese and Ganapathi, two members of the "Jan.E.Man" cast, make a cameo in "Manjummel Boys," albeit in tiny parts. Chanthu, the son of veteran actor Salim Kumar, makes a strong film debut. Despite being a real eccentric, his character Abhilash is really important to the film.

The songs and background score by Sushin Shyam work nicely with the movie, yet nothing stands out. However, it's impossible to ignore the way he uses subdued music to heighten the suspense during the rescue effort. One of the film's greatest features is how well and sweetly Kamal Hassan's lines and the beloved 1992 song "Kanmani Anbodu" are woven into the story. The cinematography by Shyju Khalid and the production design by Ajayan Challissery are excellent. All in all, the film is a skillfully written story of camaraderie that prevails over the suspenseful survival plot.

    Thank you for reading this                  blog.