2024-03-06 09:13:13
Till then 13 people have died in the depths of Guna Cave in Kodaikanal. Subhash, a resident of Manjumal, was the only survivor. In the darkness of the cave, Siju pulled Subhash back to life from a hundred feet down. The moment when death ran in the depths of friendship! The story of their friendship came to the world through an article published 17 years ago in the Sunday edition of Malayalam Manorama, ‘Sree’, when the film ‘Majnummal Boys’ directed by Chidambaram became popular in Malayalam.
Every moment was a celebration for them in Manjummal village near Edappalli in Ernakulam district. There were 40 members in Yuvadarshan Club that day. All 18–22 years old. 11 of them planned a trip together. A journey from Manjumal to Kodaikanal. Today’s Manjummal Boys are traveling again to those memories.
Satan’s Kitchen
September 2, 2006. On that day, the team left for Kodaikanal. 11 people in a vehicle that can seat 10 people. Apart from Siju David and Subhash, Abhilash, Sudheesh, Siju, Sujith, Jinsen, Krishnakumar, Prasad, Sixson and Anil were in the group.
Siju David and his family, Siju was played by Soubin Shahir in the movie
The next day was the visit to Guna Cave. It got the name Guna Cave when the scenes of Kamal Haasan’s movie ‘Guna’ were shot there. Before that it was called Devil’s Kitchen – Satan’s kitchen where dangers were hidden.
Sudheesh and his family – Deepak Parambol played Sudheesh in the movie
The depth of the tragedy in Subhash’s words:
‘It was not a sudden fall. Twisting, twisting, sliding through slippery rocks and bumping into sharp rocks, it’s like a journey to the underworld. Darkness all around. The deafening sound of bats. I stopped at some rock in between. As the first numbness wore off, a mortuary chill crept into the body. The loud calls of friends are ringing in the ears as if from another world. But the sound does not rise. Because I’m dead. Who can hear the voice of the dead!
Jinsen and his family – Vishnu Raghu played Jinsen in the movie
In the words of Siju David, who caved and saved that journey to the depths of friendship:
Even though the police and fire force arrived, they were not ready to go down in the pit. Finally I came forward. There were no safeguards. He hung himself with the rope tied around his waist and the bright torch hung around his neck. Finally, at a depth of 100 feet, Subhash was found with cuts all over his body, hanging from a jagged rock with his ripped jeans pocket! As he held Subhash close, he half-consciously asked – will we survive?
Anil Joseph, Anil was portrayed in the film by Abhiram Radhakrishnan
The ascent was gradual, inch by inch, with the rope tied to the chest and the blood pouring out of the body. The rescuers pull the rope but sometimes get stuck on the rocks. Finally came to the edge of life. It had been 3 hours since the mission had started!
Krishnakumar and his family, Krishnakumar was played by Ganapathi in the film
Return with 11 people
Subhash was not present when the trip was planned. Sumesh had to withdraw due to urgent reasons. During that time, his friends were taking Subhash out of the house; To rewrite the history of Guna!
Siju John and Family, Siju was played by Jean Paul in the movie
After giving first aid to the hospital in Coimbatore, he returned home in the same vehicle. I didn’t even think that I should be taken in an ambulance. There was no money. Sumesh provided the money and treatment.
Prasad and his family, Prasad was played by Khalid Rahman in the movie
It took 6 months of treatment for Subhash’s spinal injury to heal. Friends kept watch during sleepless nights. Help was brought in person and rice. So he slowly took his hand to life.
Sixon John, Sixon was portrayed in the film by Balu Varghese
Except for Sudheesh (Poland) and Anil (Qatar), they are still on ice. The erstwhile Yuva Darshan Club is now the Yuva Self Help Group. They walked by swimming in the river and clinging to the coconut tree, but the support given by the village helped them in their crisis. And the show of friendship.
Subhash, Subhash was portrayed in the film by Sreenath Bhasi
Even when Siju received the President’s Jeevan Rakshapathak for bravery in 2008, Siju said – no award is greater than bringing Subhash back. The couplets of the song in the movie Guna are proof of that.
Abhilash and his family, Abhilash was portrayed in the film by Chanthu Salimkumar
This is not the heart of man
Punitamanat beyond that
Yes, this is not just human love, but divine friendship beyond that!
Sujith and his family, Sujith was played by Arun Kurien in the movie
Directly learned life
Many people tried to make the Manjumal incident into a movie but the problem was the huge budget. Soubin, his father Babu Shaheer and Shawn Antony took over the production and gave life to the film. It took director Chidambaram more than a year to complete the script. Every character in the film went to the houses of Manjummal Sangha and studied them. What you see in the movie is the real Manjummal Boys. Ganapathy, the film’s actor and casting director, is Chidambaram’s brother.
The biggest task of the movie was the rescue operation inside the cave. Art director Ajayan Chalishery has set it in Okal near Perumbavoor. The shoot was done in 3 caves with a depth of 30 feet.
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