Soubin Shahir of 'Manjummel Boys' Denies Arrest in Film Finance Dispute, Cites Arbitration Attempt

Soubin Shahir, the actor and producer of the hit Malayalam film "Manjummel Boys," has refuted reports of his arrest in connection with a financial fraud case. After being questioned by the Maradu police for two days, Shahir addressed the media, stating that claims of his arrest were inaccurate.

Shahir emphasized, "We have the documents and figures that are still pending. Payments are still being processed, and all relevant documents have been submitted." He expressed confidence in both the police and the court.

Arbitration Attempted

Shahir, known for his role in "Maheshinte Prathikaaram," who also served as a co-producer for "Manjummel Boys," claims the complaint stems from incorrect financial assertions. He stated, "The figures they are quoting are wrong. All the accurate figures have been submitted. We have already made payments. They initiated the case, and we even pursued arbitration, but they didn't participate."

He also clarified that he has not received any further summons and was told that he would be contacted if needed.

Father and Co-producer Questioned

The investigation follows a complaint filed by Siraj Valiyathura, who alleges that the producers promised him 40% of the film's profits in exchange for his Rs 7 crore investment.

Siraj claims he received neither the promised profit share nor a refund of his investment.

Maradu police also questioned Shahir's father, Babu Shahir, and co-producer Shawn Antony in connection with the case.

While Shahir denies being arrested, some reports indicated that he and his co-producers were briefly detained and released on bail due to a previously granted anticipatory bail by the High Court. The court stipulated that the accused should not be questioned in custody and must be released immediately if arrested.

The High Court also denied a request to dismiss the case and rejected the police's request for custodial interrogation.

According to the police investigation report, the complainant was allegedly misled into believing that the film's initial schedule was completed before filming actually commenced. Authorities are now pushing for a comprehensive audit of the film's revenue, considering its substantial commercial success.

"Manjummel Boys" Success

Directed by Chidambaram, "Manjummel Boys" features Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Deepak Parambol, and others. The film is a survival drama based on a real event that occurred at the Guna Caves in 2006.

According to Sacnilk, the film has grossed Rs 240.5 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2024 and the second-highest of all time, surpassed only by "L2: Empuraan."

Earlier this year, composer Ilaiyaraaja also filed a lawsuit against the producers for unauthorized use of his song "Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan" from the 1991 Tamil film "Gunaa."