Chidambaram S Poduval, the director of the 2024 Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys, has been booked in a sexual harassment case, the Kerala Police confirmed on Monday.
According to Mathrubhumi News, the Ernakulam South Police registered the case on Sunday after a woman filed a formal complaint regarding the alleged incident which she claims occurred in 2022. Chidambaram has yet to respond to the allegations.
The authorities said that the director is accused of trespassing into the complainant’s apartment in the Elamkulam neighbourhood in Kochi and behaving in a sexually inappropriate manner.
Chidambaram is facing charges under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertain to assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty and sexual harassment.
According to police, they recorded the complainant’s statement before lodging a formal complaint against the director. “A notice will be issued to the filmmaker asking him to appear for questioning,” police officials said Monday.
Chidambaram, who made his debut with the 2021 movie Jan.E.Man, shot to nationwide fame and acclaim after the success of Manjummel Boys. The film, based on real events, revolved around a group of friends from a small town called Manjummel near Kochi whose vacation goes awry when one of them falls into an 800-foot-deep pit in the Guna Caves in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.
Manjummel Boys, mounted on a reported budget of Rs 20 crore, emerged as one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2024 earning over Rs 240 crore worldwide.
According to reports, Chidambaram is set to make his Hindi directorial debut in collaboration with Phantom Studios.
Olivia Sarkar is a Senior Content Producer on the Entertainment and Lifestyle desk with 6 years of experience. In 6 years, she worked with ANI, IANS, Zee News. Known for covering trends and engaging storytelling, she covers a wide spectrum of topics including entertainment news, fashion, fitness, health, food, travel, astrology. From major film announcements to industry controversies. Throughout her career, she has interviewed several notable personalities such as Femina Miss India World 2022 Sini Shetty, Miss World 2024 USA contestant Victoria DiSorbo, Miss France 2020 Clémence Botino.Her interview portfolio also includes celebrities like Milind Soman, Tiger Shroff, and Vikrant Massey, along with acclaimed singers Shubha Mudgal and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Jaspinder Narula. Beyond work, Olivia enjoys exploring new food joints, being wanderlust, and writing poetry. You can reach her out on X: @OliviaSarkar11
