Manjummel Boys 2024

In 2006, ten friends from an arts club in Kochi set out on an impulsive trip to Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu during the Onam vacation. They wander through the misty hills and chase tales of the Guna Caves, a filming spot made famous by Gunaa, despite a clear warning from tour guide [Dominic]. Buoyed by drink and a sense of adventure, they press into restricted areas and even carve their group name, “Manjummel Boys,” on a wall as a bragging keepsake.

Tragedy strikes when Subhash falls into a deep hole while moving toward the rest of the group. At first, the others assume it’s a prank, but Subhash does not respond after repeated calls. Some friends hurry off to seek help, while locals direct them toward the police and forest guards. The locals caution that this area is off-limits for a reason: thirteen people have vanished there, and the 900‑foot abyss has earned the moniker The Devil’s Kitchen.

Back at the police station, the mood shifts from concern to trouble as an FIR is filed against the group for entering a restricted area, with accusations of murder and no immediate assistance offered. Rain begins to flood the mouth of the hole, raising the stakes of any rescue attempt. A police officer joins the effort and reveals a sobering detail: the last person who fell in was the nephew of a former Central Minister, nearly ten years earlier, and a full rescue operation at that time had failed. The officer suggests leaving Subhash, but the friends refuse to abandon him. When Subhash’s cries reach a heartened but cautious ear, Sixon urges the authorities to pull together a real rescue.

Fire crews and additional police arrive, and Subhash’s depth is estimated at about 120 feet. A rope is lowered, and the team hesitates as the possibility of low oxygen looms. Yet Kuttan, Kuttan, insists that he can hear Subhash and cannot leave him behind. More rope is fetched, and Kuttan is lowered further. At the 120‑foot mark, he discovers Subhash on a bloodied, muddy ledge and safely brings him up alongside him.

Back on solid ground, Subhash receives first aid at a nearby clinic before being transported to a hospital. The rescue leaves a lasting imprint: Subhash battles nightmares and participates in trauma therapy, while the broader community grapples with what happened and why they were drawn into the danger in the first place. The news eventually confirms that Kuttan was the one who saved Subhash, bringing him public recognition. Two years later, Kuttan is awarded the Jeevan Raksha Padak for his brave actions.