Kumbalangi Nights

The directorial debut was written by Syam Pushkaran and jointly produced by Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim under their production house Fahadh Faasil and Friends, in association with Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran under Working Class Hero. The film stars Soubin Shahir, Shane Nigam, Fahadh Faasil and Sreenath Bhasi, along with debutants Anna Ben, Grace Antony and Mathew Thomas in pivotal roles. The cinematography and editing were handled by Shyju Khalid and Saiju Sreedharan, respectively. The soundtrack and background score is composed by Sushin Shyam.

Set in the eponymous fishing village of Kumbalangi in Kochi, Kerala, the film centres on the strained relationship between four brothers living together in a dysfunctional home, and how they ultimately stand up for each other as a family. Pushkaran came up with the idea for the film based on the time he spent in the village in his twenties. In 2011, he discussed the story with then-assistant director Narayanan, who decided to make his directorial debut with it. By 2016, Faasil and Pothan, both of whom had worked closely with Narayanan and Pushkaran on previous films, had agreed to co-produce the film. Narayanan then spent a year in Kumbalangi to understand its culture better, before shooting began in September 2018.

The film was released in India and GCC territories on 7 February 2019. It received universal critical acclaim, and has been listed by several publications as one of the best Malayalam films of the decade. The film also achieved considerable commercial success at the box office, grossing ₹39 crore worldwide, against a budget of ₹6.5 crore and gained cult status. It was premiered on 24 May 2019 at the Habitat International Film Festival in Delhi, and also at the International Film Festival of Kerala where it won the NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film (Special Mention). It won several awards, including three Asianet Film Awards, six Vanitha Film Awards, four Kerala State Film Awards, seven CPC Cine Awards and two SIIMA Awards. Faasil’s character “Shammi” also developed a cult following with many of his dialogues becoming popular.

Saji’s father had married Bonny’s mother, who then gave birth to Bobby and Franky. When their father dies, the mother abandons the boys to join a religious mission, leaving Saji to be the man of the house. Saji has anger management issues, and often gets into fights with Bobby, an unemployed youngster. Franky is ashamed of Saji and Bobby but gets along well with Bonny, who is mute.

Bobby starts dating Baby, a girl who lives nearby. He eventually proposes to her, but she asks him to talk to her family first. Bobby asks Saji to accompany him, and together they go to meet Shammi, Baby’s brother-in-law. Shammi rejects the proposal and ridicules the poor reputation that Bobby’s family has among the villagers. Saji tries to console Bobby and asks him to get a job, which he does. Meanwhile, Bonny starts dating Nylah, an American tourist who lives at the homestay run by Baby and her family.

One day, a fight breaks out between Saji and Franky. Bonny, who is very protective of Franky, hits Saji. Ashamed, Saji leaves the house and takes to drinking with his friend Vijay. In his drunken stupor, Saji tries to commit suicide. Vijay loses his own life in process of saving Saji’s life.

As a result of his remorse, Saji goes to Vijay’s house to apologise to Vijay’s wife Sathi, only to find her in labour. He takes her to the hospital, where she gives birth to a baby girl. Saji takes Sathi and her daughter to his house to care for them. Meanwhile, Bonny has brought home Nylah, who has been removed from her homestay, by Shammi, for inviting Bonny there. Franky is pleased to have the two women in the house, as it gives them some semblance of being a regular family. Bobby even tries to enliven their love lives with suggestions like asking Bonny to take Nylah out to see sea sparkle’s at night.

Sometime later, Saji approaches Shammi again and asks him to reconsider the proposal, which Shammi refuses. Baby makes up her mind to elope with Bobby. However, Shammi finds out about Baby’s plans, and turns abusive and violent. He assaults Baby, her sister and their mother, holding them captive in their own home. When Baby fails to return his calls, Bobby gets anxious and decides to check up on her. Bobby’s brothers volunteer to help, and the four arrive at Baby’s house. Together, they manage to trap Shammi with a fishing net and set the women free. Bobby and Baby are finally reunited and get married.