Watched the Malayalam movie മഞ്ഞുമ്മൽ (Manjummal) Boys in Canada.  It was released world over on 22 Feb 2024.  The movie was received well all over Kerala, but everyone was surprised by the response from the viewers in Tamizh Nadu. 

The release of the movie coincided with the release of a Thamizh movie with a superstar. Still, the movie did very well.  It was because the movie is based on a cave in Kodaikkanal in Thamizh Nadu, known until the release of Kamal Haasan’s 1991 film குணா (Gunaa) as Devil’s Kitchen.  Post Gunaa’s release, the cave became known as Gunaa Caves and it attracted many adventurists.  Today, the Forest Department has fenced the area off.

The movie is about a real cave rescue when one of the 11 in the group accidentally fell into the cave.  It is reported that over 15 people have fallen through this cave and only one was rescued.  The movie is about that rescue.

A group of 11 young men, belonging to a sports club in a sleepy hamlet of Manjummal in Kerala set out on a trip to Kodaikkanal.  En-route, they buy a CD containing the theme song of Gunaa and plays it in their van.  This song becomes the backdrop of the movie.

The Arts & Sports Clubs in Kerala is an association of the youth of Kerala and every village in Kerala has two or more such clubs.  They survive on contributions from the locals and there is no government funding.  The Clubs promote games ranging from Cricket, Soccer, Volleyball, Native Ball (A game limited to only Kerala,) to Boat Race teams.  These clubs stand as an icon of communal harmony of Kerala with members who are Hindus, Christians and Muslims.

Tug-of-War teams are the pride of these Clubs and there are many competitions held all over Kerala and these Clubs fight it out there.  The competitions are sponsored by local businesses and people.  Here too, there is no government funding. Keralites in USA and Canada too have raised such Arts & Sports clubs.

Theses Arts & Sports Clubs are mostly subscribed by men, but generally have a female name.  In this movie it is ദർശന (Darshana.)  The club members are generally around 25 years of age, but there will be a patron who is the leader and mentor and he is generally around 35.  It will also have a set or two of siblings or cousins.

As per the season or when an event where they are to participate approaches, they conduct daily practices.  The patron is the coach and at times call in for an experienced old-time player from the village as a coach.  The uniform and expenses for training again comes in as voluntary contributions.

The movie begins with a Tug-of-War between two teams.  It is between the Reel Manjummal Boys and the Real Manjummal boys. The Reel Manjummel boys now set out on their adventure trip to Kodaikkanal with the Gunaa Song in the background.

On their journey to Kodaikkanal, the opening stanza of the song plays.  I wondered as to how the director will connect it with this movie. The original song in the movie Gunaa is between a man madly in love with a woman, but in this movie, the director has successfully integrated the song to depict love between friends – which mortals cannot understand, which is much beyond that – both pure and holy.

கண்மணி அன்போட காதலன், நான் எழுதும் கடிதமே,
Kanmani anboada kaadhalan,Naan ezhuthum kadithame,
Apple of my eye, with great affection and love, I write this love letter.

பொன்மணி  உண் வீட்டில் சௌக்கியமா? நான் இங்கு  சௌக்கியமே.
Ponmani un veetil sowkiyamaa? Naan ingu sowkiyamae.
Oh love, are you fine in your house? Don’t worry, I am fine here.

உன்னை எண்ணி பார்க்கையில் கவிதை கொட்டுது,
Unnai enni paarkkaiyil kavithai kottuthu,
The anticipation of seeing you, pours poetry,

அதை எழுத நினைக்கையில் வார்த்தை முட்டுது,
Adhai ezhutha ninaikkaiyil vaarthai mouttuthu,
When I think of writing it, words are stuck.     

The next stanza is played after the victim is saved from the cave.

உன்தான காயம் யாவும், தன்னாலே ஆறி போகும்,
Unthaana kaayam yaavum, Thannaalae aari poagum,
My wounds heal themselves,

மாயம் என்ன பொன்மானே பொன்மானே,
Maayam enna ponmaanae ponmaanae,
What magic is this, my love my love,

என்ன காயம் ஆன போதும், என் மேனி தாங்கி கொள்ளும்,
Enna kaayam aana podhum, en maeni thanki kollum,
My body can bear all wounds,

உந்தன் மேனி தாங்காது செந்தேனே,
Unthan meni thaankaadhu senthene,
Honey, you can’t bear them,

எந்தன் காதல் என்னவென்று சொல்லாமல், ஏங்க ஏங்க அழுகை  வந்தது,
Enthan kaathal ennavendru sollaamal, enka enka azhugai vanthathu,
I cry because I didn’t express my love to you,

எந்தன் சோகம் உன்னை தாக்கும்,
Enthan sokam unnai thaakkum,
I do not want my sorrow to hurt you,

எண்றேனும்போது வந்த அழுகை நின்றது,
Endrenumbothu vandha alugai nindrathu,
My tears stop at that moment,

மனிதர் உணர்ந்து கொள்ள, இது மனித காதல் அல்ல,
Manithar unarndhu kolla, Idhu manitha kaathal alla,
Humans will not understand this mortal love,

அதையும் தாண்டி புனிதமானது.
Athaiyum thaandi punithamaanathu,
This is beyond that, pure and holy.

Gunaa was released in 1991 and like most Kamal Hasan movies, it was much ahead of its time. Manjummal Boys has prompted the trade for a re-release of Gunaa – after 33 years of its making. Manjummal Boys’ is a tribute to Gunaa.