‘Manjummel Boys’ (2024) Movie Review - An Ode to Friendship

Manjummel Boys introduces a group of boys who've been friends for a long time. From enjoying the local festivals to being together in all adversities, they're here to teach us the meaning of life. The boys planned a trip to Kodaikanal and were very happy to go there. After deciding on the transportation, they explored all the great places there. The group carried a camera with them and took pictures to make the vacation memorable. It was not until the caves they decided to visit that made their journey truly memorable.

Unlike the other visitors, they wanted to visit a place in the caves where Kamal Hassan shot a famous song from his film. They went to a restricted area and were very happy to be there. The group even painted the name Manjummel Boys on a rock there with yellow paint. How the paint flowed down gave us an indication of what was going to happen.

While exploring the place, Subhash (part of the group) fell into a deep hole. The way he collided with the rocks in the 900-deep Devil's hole made it impossible for him to be alive. The Police were alerted and everyone started preparing for his rescue. When it became clear that no one was ready to go inside, a friend stepped forward and took the responsibility to save Subhash. The audience gets to see various flashbacks of this group who have been friends since they were kids. The visuals included in this multilingual movie are great.

In my opinion, the film is a perfect ode to friendship. The extent to which Subhash's friend went to rescue him from the depths of Earth is commendable. Seldom do we find a friend who does everything possible to save your life. I wouldn't say that it's one of the best survival stories because the part where saving the life job was being done did appear to be a little bit boring.

With all the complications in front, why did no trained Police Officers step forward to do their job? Isn't it what they're paid to do- serving the people? A huge disappointment was encountered on that front but Sijju's encouraging act made the impossible seem possible. Friends like him define friendship, unlike today's world where every relationship has a hidden motive behind it.

The plot of the film is good and so is the acting done by the cast. From Dil Chahta Hai vacation vibes it soon turned into a nightmare that no one imagined. Chandu Salimkumar as Abhilash enticed the audience will his role. With the tragedy going on and the looks he had on his face, I had the feeling that he too would jump in the hole or there could be a phenomenon of mass hysteria going on. He defies us by becoming a game changer in rescuing Subhash.

The movie is great for those who love to watch suspenseful and survival thrillers. With a duration of 134 minutes, the film is there to take you on an emotional ride. I'm very satisfied with its ending too as, unlike the other survival films it made the audience smile at last.

Final Score – [6.5/10]
Reviewed by - Riya Singh
Follow @_riyasinghhh_ on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times