[4] The film stars Soubin Shahir, Shane Nigam, Fahadh Faasil and Sreenath Bhasi, along with debutants Anna Ben, Grace Antony and Mathew Thomas in pivotal roles.

Set in the eponymous fishing village of Kumbalangi in Kochi, Kerala, the film centres on the strained relationship between four brothers living together in a dysfunctional home, and how they ultimately stand up for each other as a family.

Bobby even tries to enliven their love lives with suggestions like asking Bonny to take Nylah out to see sea sparkle's at night.

Writer Syam Pushkaran conceived the idea for the film by drawing inspiration from the time he spent with his friends in his twenties in the village of Kumbalangi, which was near his hometown.

[11][12][13] In 2011, while he was co-writing Salt N' Pepper, Pushkaran discussed the idea with its assistant director Madhu C. Narayanan, who became interested in making it his directorial debut.

[14] When writer Pushkaran initially approached Faasil he had not expected that he would accept the role of the antagonist, explaining: "He was having a good run, doing successful family films.

He played Bobby, the second-youngest brother who has been described by Nigam as a "lazy bum, someone who leads a responsibility-free life, and doesn't have any serious, long-term plans.

[16] Soubin Shahir was approached to play the role of Saji even before his breakthrough performance in Sudani from Nigeria (2018) for which he earned a State Film Award.

Writer Pushkaran said that the character was loosely based on a friend from his youth in Kumbalangi named Saji Napoleon, who had had suicidal tendencies.

[17] The oldest brother after Saji, Bonny is a mute who falls in love with an American woman who comes to Kumbalangi as a tourist.

For the role of Franky, the youngest brother, he spent six months with the film crew in Kumbalangi, during which he learnt to cook, row boats, cast fishing nets and play football in the forward position.

[7] Anna Ben played Baby, a determined young woman who has nursed a crush on Bobby since her school days and later dates him.

Ben, an aspiring actress, responded to a casting call on Instagram for the movie and was subsequently selected through four rounds of auditions.

[19] She said she found it easy to identify with her character, explaining: "[Baby] is modern and traditional simultaneously, rooted, with her own point-of-view ... her clarity of thought, views on religion, and dialogues were all relatable.

Subsequently, he also decided to co-produce the film under the banner of Fahadh Faasil & Friends, the production company that he owned with his wife, actress Nazriya Nazim.

"[26] Once the script and main cast were finalised, Narayanan rented a house in Kumbalangi and stayed there over a year to learn more about the place and local culture, leaving just two days before the shooting began.

In order to give it a lived-in look, the crew collected used items and furniture from local households in exchange for fresh replacements.

[29] On the long period it took to make the film, Narayanan said: "Considering the challenge that comes with a script populated by so many characters, we knew we had to approach everything patiently.

Writing for The Hindu, Arjun Jai Singh commented that "both men have psychological issues, but when Saji comes close to the abyss, he realises he must help himself: he goes to a doctor to cry out his emotions.

"[33] Neelima Menon of Firstpost opined that the film "not only succeeds in overthrowing the celebrated alpha male but also points out that in theory he is the villain of the story.

Baby, Nylah, and the absent mother all exercise their free will and agency in their own lives – without a "knight in shining armor" – except, notably, when a man physically overpowers one of them.

"[37] The film's soundtrack album and score was composed by music director Sushin Shyam, who also contributed vocals to three of its songs.

[41] In an interview, Sudhin Shyam said that he was influenced by Italian music while making the album, owing to the similarities he found between the city of Venice, and Kumbalangi.

[53] The film received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised its script, cinematography, and acting performances, in particular that of Faasil and Shahir.

[62][63] In a review for The Indian Express, G. Pramod Kumar called it "a subtle, but lucid and vivid poem about abandonment and redemption of human lives [...] The importance of love within the family, the brutality of patriarchy that even an eccentric man can exert, and the healing power of human touch and compassion are vividly depicted by both the writer Syam Pushakaran and director Madhu C Narayanan.

"[66] The Week's Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl agreed, rating the movie 4 stars out of 5 and deeming it "a rare gem" and a "must watch".

[45] Sify also gave a positive review, highlighting the cinematography, music and editing as "top-notch" and calling Shahir's performance "one of the finest displays of acting excellence.

"[67] A negative review came from film critic C. S. Venkiteswaran, who wrote: "In its compulsion to entertain and thrill without a pause, the narrative ends up incorporating in its stride all the clichés of the oldgen films – that of saving the damsel in distress, hero winning the heroine's heart and body, the climactic trouncing of the villain, and the happy reunion of the family in the end – all churning up a syrupy narrative that leaves the viewers at peace with themselves and the world.

"[31] Joseph Antony echoed this sentiment in his review for Outlook, opining that "the artistry of the film loses out to its political ambition [with] barely any of the invigorating spirit that makes stories interesting" and citing Faasil's performance as one of the movie's few saving graces.

"[70] India Independent Films also commended the scene for being "played out subtly, and with immense respect to his state of mind ... [it] marks a watershed for depicting clinical mental health issues with the sensitivity they deserve.