In a shocking development today, the Kerala Police have registered a sexual harassment case against Chidambaram, the director of the 2024 Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys. The case was filed by the Ernakulam Town South Police following a formal complaint by a female actor. According to police reports, the complainant has accused the filmmaker of sexually misbehaving with her at an apartment in Kochi back in 2022.

The director has been booked under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and sexual harassment. Authorities confirmed that a detailed investigation is currently underway, and Chidambaram is expected to be summoned for questioning soon. This news comes as a major blow to the filmmaker, who recently rose to national prominence after Manjummel Boys became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.

The incident has once again sparked intense discussions within the South Indian film industry regarding safety and conduct on and off sets. While Chidambaram had recently been in the news for dismissing rumors about a project with actor Dileep, this legal hurdle now puts his upcoming third feature film, titled Balan, under significant public and media scrutiny.