Love Malayalam motion pictures? 25 movies to look at from the final 25 years

Kaazcha (2004):

Director Blessy’s masterpiece. Marked by a superlative efficiency by Mammootty, the film had an uncommon plot. Blessy, who was an assistant director for almost 20 years earlier than making Kaazcha, poured his soul into the movie. The story centred round a boy named Pavan who ended up in Kerala after the Gujarat earthquake. Mammootty’s character (Madhavan) meets him on a road. Pavan turns into part of Madhavan’s household and so they forge an in depth bond. Finally, the boy has to get again to Gujarat as a result of modified circumstances. This one breaks your coronary heart.

Thanmatra (2005):

Director Blessy’s second film, launched only a 12 months after Kaazcha, was an equally sensible movie. Mohanlal gave considered one of his best performances within the film, wherein he portrays the character of an Alzheimer affected person. It particulars the emotional trauma such an ailment can carry right into a household. High notch in all departments.

Classmates (2006):

Director Lal Jose’s Classmates was a homicide thriller however that wasn’t the rationale why it was standard. It was a few bunch of school mates who meet for a reunion after a few years. Prithviraj, Indrajith, Naren and Kavya Madhavan had been within the solid. After the film bought launched, a whole lot of reunions occurred throughout Kerala. It was a real development setter in that regard.

Huge B (2007):

Amal Neerad’s directorial debut. A stylised motion flick, it rewrote the grammar of Malayalam cinema. Mammootty and all different actors had been introduced in a fashion harking back to a few of the Hollywood motion pictures, with a lilting background rating. It grew to become a reference level for all Malayalam motion motion pictures within the subsequent years and Amal Neerad grew to become a family identify for bringing the swagger again in Malayalam motion pictures.

Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2010):

Director Ranjith got here up with this gem, with Mammootty offering the required performing substance. Pranchi (Mammootty) performs the character of a businessman who has conversations with the St Francis of Assisi. It’s left to the viewers to determine whether or not it’s imaginary or not. Pranchi later grew to become synonymous in Kerala with any wealthy individual making an attempt to ‘purchase’ the respect of the society.

Site visitors (2011):

Many cinephiles regard Site visitors as the beginning of latest age cinema in Malayalam. The Rajesh Pillai directorial rewrote story-telling in Malayalam cinema. A lady is in pressing want of a coronary heart transplant with the one donor many miles away. How a big group combines to beat the site visitors to assist the guts transplant is the central theme. The story was distinctive and the presentation even higher.

Salt n Pepper (2011):

Director Aashiq Abu exhibits the world how a small movie could make waves, with the appropriate content material and expression. Meals performs a central theme within the flick. How relationships bond over meals kinds the core of the film, with actors like Lal, Shweta Menon and Asif Ali placing up an endearing present.

Ustad Lodge (2012):

Director Anwar Rashid took a seat within the entrance row of Malayalam film makers with this film. Ustad Lodge received the Nationwide Movie Award for Finest Standard Movie. Ustad Lodge is marked by legendary actor Thilakan’s sensible efficiency because the grandfather who runs a seashore facet restaurant in Kozhikode. Dulquer matches in neatly because the grandson who harbours ambitions of working overseas as a chef however finally ends up aiding his grand dad. Nice music, artful story-telling and a few ‘Sulaimani’.

Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012):

A vastly under-rated Lal Jose particular. Most likely considered one of Prithviraj’s best portrayals. The story talks about how an newbie physician finds his goal. See it for the prevalence of the content material and performances. It’s deep, touching and memorable.

Amen (2013):

Enter Lijo Jose Pellissery. No quantity of explaining can do full justice to the plot, setting and performances on this film. Amen tells the story of a gaggle of individuals round an historical Nasrani Church in Kerala, set in a village referred to as Kumarankary, the place everyone seems to be wearing white. The film falls into the ambit of magical realism, enjoying conceal and search between fantasy and spirituality. The film has an array of apparently framed characters and so they don’t have any resemblance to something that you will have seen up to now. A visible deal with with some nice music.

Annayum Rasoolum (2013):

A textual content ebook for administrators. Mastery by director Rajeev Ravi. The romantic plot absorbs every part that falls round it together with the Fort Kochi flavour, social themes, native tradition and the strain between numerous communities. Once I met Fahad Faazil in Bangalore in the course of the shoot of twenty-two Feminine Kottayam, he mentioned he needed Rajeev Ravi (who had made an enormous identify for himself as a cinematographer in Bollywood) to enter Malayalam motion pictures as a director. Rajeev stepped in to make this film and Fahad’s measured efficiency as a taxi driver leaves an eternal impression on this romantic drama.

Drishyam (2013):

Director Jeethu Joseph broke into the highest league with Drishyam. The primary half flows like a ordinary household drama however takes a sudden flip half approach by. The homicide thriller is billed as the most effective ever in Malayalam cinema and bought remade in a number of languages. Mohanlal excels in his function as the person who hides a household secret proper to the very finish regardless of investigative strain from the police equipment.

Premam (2015):

Alphonse Puthran seems together with his spellbinding craft. The OG of recent romantic motion pictures in Malayalam, Premam will all the time be remembered for a way Alphonse wove magic across the character of George David performed by Nivin Pauly, bringing collectively delicate nuances of romance, witty dialogue exchanges, crisp modifying and a memorable music rating. A complete package deal.

Bangalore Days (2014):

Director Anjali Menon rises to color the Bangalore dream of Malayalis. A enjoyable journey, the film is about three cousins who come to Bangalore to find themselves. Dulquer Salman lived his character as Aju, with Fahad Faazil, Nivin Pauly, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Nazriya Nazim forming an ensemble solid. The film took Malayalam cinema viewership to different southern Indian states in an enormous approach.

Maheshinte Prathikaram (2016):

‘Pothettan brilliance’ makes its debut. Director Dileesh Pothan lifts Malayalam cinema to a complete new degree with a film which may very well be positioned among the many best ever. Fahad Faazil breathes hearth as Mahesh within the film, bringing to life a singular character. A photographer (Mahesh) finds his life turning for the more severe after a gaggle of strangers beats him up in public view. Humiliated, he vows by no means to put on footwear till he will get his revenge. The detailing within the film is astonishing and the scenes healthful and entertaining, culminating in a nationwide award win for Finest Characteristic Movie in Malayalam. Syam Pushkaran’s writing talents appeared to raise not simply this film, however a complete trade, successful nationwide and state awards for his scintillating screenplay.

Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017):

Dileesh Pothan made 2011-20 his decade by developing with one other native topic with common enchantment, only a 12 months after Maheshinte Prathikaram, firmly establishing him as one of many best administrators within the nation. Syam Pushkaran helps him right here too with this flaming screenplay once more, making a film with so many layers socially and psychologically. A small-time thief snatches the gold chain of a lady in a bus journey and the incident modifications the lifetime of the lady, her husband and the thief performed by who else however the supremely gifted Fahad Faazil.

Sudani from Nigeria (2018):

A novel story line concerning the bond between an African soccer participant who involves play sevens soccer in Kerala and an area soccer membership supervisor in Malappuram. An excellent instance of a hyperlocal theme garnering international enchantment, Sudani from Nigeria is a heart-warming rendition of human relationships reducing throughout geographies. Director Zakariya and lead actor Soubin Shahir may be happy with this one.

Kumbalangi Nights (2019):

A Malayalam film that was watched pan-India. For individuals who by no means watched a Malayalam movie earlier than, Kumbalangi Nights was the ticket to a brand new cinematic world. Director Madhu C Narayanan is but to make one other film six years after Kumbalangi launched and the market is eagerly awaiting his subsequent effort. Fahadh Faazil (as Shammi the entire man!) made his function legendary. The film activates its head the idea of what constitutes a very good or damaged residence.

The Nice Indian Kitchen (2021):

A film of excessive social relevance, the film directed by Jeo Child is a few girl who’s chained by her kitchen duties post-marriage. The movie created a deep influence and Jeo Child acquired rave opinions for his directorial craft. Each Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramoodu delivered profession defining performances.

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2022):

Lijo Jose Pellissery groups up with Mammootty. James (Mammootty) wakes up on a bus, believing he’s Sundaram, a person who disappeared from his village years in the past. The film isn’t run of the mill and challenges you to look at the main points. Pellissery is in his parts and Mammootty produces one other memorable efficiency.

Aattam (2023):

Anand Ekarshi’s movie is a traditional in its personal proper. Mounted on a shoe string funds, this lesser-known film is about how human behaviour varies conveniently relying on the circumstances. The film, with sexual harassment because the central theme, exposes how folks change in a personal setting versus a gaggle surroundings. Aattam deservingly received the prize for Finest Characteristic Movie on the Nationwide Movie Awards.

Manjummel Boys (2024):

Written and directed by Chidambaram, the movie relies on a real-life incident that occurred in Guna Caves in 2006. The director is in prime type on this thriller and so is Sushin Shyam, the music director. It emerged as the primary movie in Malayalam cinema to earn greater than ₹200 crore within the field workplace.

Kishkinda Kandam (2024):

Director Dinjith Ayyathan and display author Bahul Ramesh gentle up the silver display. The plot is a few collection of unusual occasions that unfold in a monkey-inhabited village. A newly wedded couple and a group of forest officers got down to unravel the thriller. The climax is among the greatest ever sequences in Malayalam cinema.

Ponman (2025):

A stellar efficiency by Basil Joseph is the spotlight of this directorial debut by Jyothish Shankar. Dowry is the central theme of the film, shot extensively across the scenic spots in Kollam. Ajesh (Basil Joseph), is a jewelry lender and a reduce throat character, however because the film strikes ahead his function turns into endearing to the viewers. The film doesn’t appear to guage any of the characters, all of whom have shades of gray.

Eko (2025):

Dinjith and Bahul mix once more to create some extra cinematic magic. The search is on for an enigmatic canine breeder, revealing a darkish spell of secrets and techniques. Written and brilliantly cinematographed by Bahul, the film has the mettle to win hearts globally. Dinjith extracts excellent performances from nearly all of the actors. The film is mysterious, splendidly clever and the director-writer duo makes no try to spoon feed the viewers at any stage. The Sandeep Pradeep starrer is out on Netflix beginning December 31.