How Chidambaram Directorial Manjummel Boys Resurrects Interest In Mysterious Guna Caves Of Kodaikanal

The Malayalam film Manjummel Boys has flared renewed interest in the famous Guna caves of Kodaikanal, renowned for their appearance in the 1991 Tamil film Guna starring Kamal Haasan. A song from the Kamal Haasan movie was shot in these caves, which have garnered notoriety for the mysterious disappearances of numerous individuals over the years, with no bodies ever being recovered.

Originally dubbed The Devil’s Kitchen during British colonial rule, the caves remained obscure until the release of the film Guna, prompting people to delve into their sinister history. The caves gained their chilling moniker following an eerie encounter in 1821 when British officer BS Ward heard sounds of cooking emanating from within the cavernous depths during an exploration. Despite investigating, Ward found no one inside, leading him to christen the cave The Devil’s Kitchen. Subsequent disappearances only fueled the caves’ ominous reputation.

In a recent conversation with the cast and crew of Manjummel Boys, Kamal Haasan shared his experience from the filming of Guna, recalling the discovery of a nest of baby monkey skeletons within the caves. He speculated that these monkeys had fallen into the cave and perished. Following this incident, the Forest Department took action, banning public access to the Guna Caves in 1993.

Despite the ban, the release of Manjummel Boys has reignited tourist interest, particularly among visitors from Kerala, prompting unauthorised entry into the cave area. Concerns have been raised regarding visitor safety, with calls for measures to be implemented to ensure the well-being of those exploring the caves. However, Forest Department officials maintain that reopening the caves to the public is not feasible due to visitors’ disregard for warning signs, driven by excitement.

Manjummel Boys, written and directed by Chidambaram, recounts a real-life incident involving a tourist becoming trapped inside the Guna caves among a group visiting Kodaikanal.

As fascination with the Guna caves persists, authorities face the challenge of balancing public curiosity with the need for the safety and preservation of this enigmatic natural wonder.