Kumbalangi Nights

Kumbalangi Nights is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Madhu C. Narayanan (in his directorial debut) and written by Syam Pushkaran. It is jointly produced by Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Dileesh Pothan, and Shyam Pushkaran under their production houses Fahadh Faasil and Friends and Working Class Hero. The film stars Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir, Fahadh Faasil, Sreenath Bhasi, Anna Ben, and Mathew Thomas in the lead roles.

The film was released in India and Gulf Cooperation Council territories on 7 February 2019. It met with widely positive response from critics. The film was a commercial success and grossed ₹39 crore worldwide.

Plot
Saji, Bony, Bobby, and Frankie are four brothers living in a small, cramped house in the wasteland area of Kumbalangi. Saji has anger issues, and often gets into fights with Bobby. Frankie is ashamed of Saji and Bobby but he gets along well with his second brother, Bony, who is mute.

Bobby is a lazy wastrel but he tries to improve his job prospects to win over the family of his girlfriend Baby who belongs to a reasonably well-to-do family. Meanwhile, Bony meets an American tourist Nyla, and the two of them end up spending a night together in the homestay owned by Baby's family. Shammi, Baby's brother-in-law discovers them and kicks them out. Bony invites Nyla to his house.

Saji has a quarrel with his brothers, and ends up arguing with his business partner-friend Vijay. The argument ends up with an upset Saji trying to commit suicide and being saved by Vijay. Unfortunately, Vijay loses his life in the process. Saji is stricken with remorse, and he brings Vijay's pregnant wife Sathi over to their home. Sathi gives birth to a baby girl. Frankie is very happy to have women in the house, as it gives them some semblance of being a regular family.

It is revealed that Saji's father married Bony's mother, and then gave birth to Bobby and Frankie. Their father died, and the mother left her children to join a religious mission, leaving Saji to be their father figure.

Shammi declines Bobby's proposal for Baby stating that the family has a bad reputation. Baby makes up her mind to elope with Bobby. When her sister Simi confides in her husband Shammi, he turns abusive. It becomes clear from his behaviour that he suffers from mental illness and behavioural issues, which make him manipulative and controlling. Shammi assaults Baby, Simi and their mother, ultimately keeping them captive in their own home. Bobby and his brothers arrive on the scene and free the women. Bobby and Baby are finally reunited.

Cast

 * Soubin Shahir as Saji Napoleon
 * Shane Nigam as Bobby
 * Sreenath Bhasi as Bonny
 * Mathew Thomas as Franky
 * Fahadh Faasil as Shammi
 * Anna Ben as Baby Mol
 * Grace Antony as Simmy
 * Sooraj Pops as Prasanth, Bobby's friend
 * Ramesh Thilak as Murugan aka Vijay
 * Jasmine Mètivier as Nylah
 * Riya Saira as Sumeesha
 * Baiju Johnson as Baby and Simmy's Uncle
 * Sheela Rajkumar as Sathi
 * Ambika Rao as Baby and Simmy's Mother
 * Ajith Moorkooth as Psychiatrist
 * Ansal Palluruthy as Shyju
 * Dileesh Pothan as Police Inspector Raju Unni (Cameo)

Production
Kumbalangi Nights is the debut production of Syam Pushkaran's and Dileesh Pothan's newly formed production house Working Class Hero. Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim co-produced the film under their company Fahadh Faasil and Friends. The screenplay was written by Syam Pushkaran, inspired from his memoirs during a visit to Kumbalangi, a fishing village in Kochi. Kumbalangi Nights marks the directorial debut of Madhu C. Narayanan. Syam got the story idea four year ago and told Madhu while he was working as an assistant director to Aashiq Abu. He was developing the story since then. He wrote the final draft of screenplay in six months. The film is a family drama.

Music
The film's music is composed by Sushin Shyam.

Release
The film was released in India and Gulf Cooperation Council territories on 7 February 2019. It received positive response from critics.

Box office
The film performed well at the box office. It grossed ₹4.8 crore from Kerala box office in the opening weekend and ₹3.95 crore from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) territories. In 11 days, the film grossed ₹20 crore worldwide, of which nearly 50 percent ticket sales came from home state Kerala and nearly 45 percent sales from GCC territories. The film grossed a lifetime total of ₹39 crore worldwide.