Chidambaram S. Poduval, the director of the blockbuster hit Manjummel Boys, has been granted anticipatory bail by the Kerala Court. District Judge K.K. Balakrishnan of the Ernakulam Sessions Court passed the order on March 7, 2026, citing several factors in the director's favor.
The court noted three key reasons while granting bail, no necessity for custodial interrogation, significant delay in filing the complaint, and the director's clean criminal record. The Ernakulam South Police registered a case against Chidambaram on March 2, 2026, following a complaint from a woman working in the Malayalam film industry.
The alleged incident reportedly dates back to 2022 and involves claims of inappropriate behavior at an apartment in Kochi. Chidambaram's legal team presented a strong defense, arguing that the allegations were professional in nature and part of a deliberate campaign to tarnish the director's reputation.
The lawyers contended that the complaint was filed after the massive success of Manjummel Boys, which became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films. Judge K.K. Balakrishnan granted the anticipatory bail under specific conditions, requiring the director to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and appear before authorities when summoned. Manjummel Boys earned widespread acclaim for its gripping survival thriller narrative based on a true incident.