The Definitive List for the Best Malayalam Movies (Last 35 years)
by deependuajish | created - 31 May 2021 | updated - 07 Dec 2021 | PublicWhile it's impossible to objectively list every movie that is worth watching, I wanted to make a list that represented widely different and influential facets of the Malayalam movie industry.
Factors I considered while rating the movies:
Characters
Story
Worldbuilding/ Consistency
The Test of Time
Enjoyment
Value/ Uniqueness
Cinematography
Sound
I used a comparative scoring system - Drishyam gets a score of 9.0, with the rest being scored relative to Drishyam. This made it easier to curate the list in an orderly manner.
*I'm aware I've missed some important additions, but I hope to keep updating the list!
- Instant Watch Options
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- Movies or TV
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1. Drishyam (2013)
Not Rated | 160 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A man goes to extreme lengths to save his family from punishment after the family commits an accidental crime.
Director: Jeethu Joseph | Stars: Mohanlal, Meena, Asha Sharath, Ansiba
Votes: 44,080
9.0
2. Manichithrathazhu (1993)
Not Rated | 169 min | Comedy, Horror, Mystery
When a forbidden room in an old bungalow is unbolted, the spirit of a vengeful dancer is unleashed.
Director: Fazil | Stars: Shobana, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Vinaya Prasad
Votes: 12,322
8.8
3. Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum (2017)
Not Rated | 135 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Prasad and Sreeja enter wedlock and move to a new place to continue the rest of their lives. Unfortunate events begin to take place after Prasad, a small-time thief, robs Sreeja's gold chain during a bus journey.
Director: Dileesh Pothan | Stars: Fahadh Faasil, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Nimisha Sajayan, Alencier Ley Lopez
Votes: 8,063
8.7
4. Thira (2013)
113 min | Thriller
Rohini Pranab, a cardiac surgeon and a social worker, sets out to find the girls kidnapped from her NGO. She is joined by Naveen, who is looking for his kidnapped sister. The duo goes deeper into the human trafficking mafia in Karnataka.
Director: Vineeth Sreenivasan | Stars: Sabitha Anand, Amritha Anil, Deepak Parambol, Shobana
Votes: 1,126
8.6
5. Kireedam (1989)
Not Rated | 124 min | Action, Drama
The life of a young man turns upside down when he intervenes in a dispute in order to rescue his father (a cop) from a ruthless local outlaw.
Director: Sibi Malayil | Stars: Mohanlal, Thilakan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Parvathi
Votes: 8,556
8.5
6. Classmates (2006)
175 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
College classmates meet for a 10-year reunion, which does not go as smoothly as planned. Love is discovered, friendships are broken and secrets about tragic events in the past are revealed.
Director: Lal Jose | Stars: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Kavya Madhavan, Narain
Votes: 4,254
8.5
7. Kaalapani (1996)
178 min | Action, Drama, History
Govardhan, a doctor by profession, is wrongly accused of bombing a train and is jailed by the British in Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He witnesses the sufferings of hundreds of Indian prisoners there.
Director: Priyadarshan | Stars: Mohanlal, Amrish Puri, Prabhu, Tabu
Votes: 4,600
8.5
8. Devasuram (1993)
Not Rated | 187 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Neelakandan squanders away the inheritance left by his father. However, his life turns upside down when his mother reveals a terrible secret on her deathbed that changes the course of his life.
Director: I.V. Sasi | Stars: Mohanlal, Napolean, Revathi, Innocent Vareed Thekkethala
Votes: 6,318
8.4
9. Action Hero Biju (2016)
144 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller
The life of an honest and determined police officer Biju and the various criminals he puts behind bars.
Director: Abrid Shine | Stars: Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel, Devi Ajith, Binoy Antony
Votes: 4,328
8.4
10. Naran (2005)
Not Rated | 150 min | Action, Thriller
Velayudhan is a good hearted drunkard local rowdy that lives in Mullankoli village. Gopinathan tries to ruin his life and does evil things to the village. Velayudhan has to get rid of him.
Director: Joshiy | Stars: Mohanlal, Madhu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Bhavana
Votes: 1,605
8.3
11. Nizhal (2021)
Not Rated | 118 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
John Baby, who is recouping from a traumatic accident, meets Nitin, a young boy who interests him with murder stories. When Baby explores the possibility of Nitin's stories by mapping the events, it matches with the real-time incidents.
Director: Appu N. Bhattathiri | Stars: Nayanthara, Kunchacko Boban, Lal, Remya Suresh
Votes: 2,907
8.2
12. Vasthavam (2006)
145 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Balachandran from a poor family gets employed in Kerala Secretariat and his life changing incidents occur there.
Director: M. Padmakumar | Stars: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kavya Madhavan, Jagathy Sreekumar, V.K. Sriraman
Votes: 431
8.2
13. Thanmathra (2005)
160 min | Drama
Will an unexpected turn of events change Rameshan's life forever and prevent him from witnessing his dream where his son becomes a reputable IAS Officer?
Director: Blessy | Stars: Mohanlal, Meera Vasudevan, Arjun Lal, Nedumudi Venu
Votes: 4,803
8.2
14. Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)
Not Rated | 177 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
The story revolves around the clash between Ayyappan, a senior police officer who serves at the Attappadi Police Station and Havildar Koshi, who comes to the village with a motive.
Director: Sachy | Stars: Biju Menon, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Ranjith, Anil Nedumangad
Votes: 10,632
8.1
15. Chota Mumbai (2007)
Action, Comedy, Crime
The daily lives of Vasco Da Gama and his friends in a fraction of Cochin, called Chota Mumbai is portrayed in this comedy.
Director: Anwar Rasheed | Stars: Mohanlal, Saikumar, Kalabhavan Mani, Jagathy Sreekumar
Votes: 1,555
8.1
16. Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
Not Rated | 135 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The film revolves around four brothers who share a love-hate relationship with each other. Their relationship progresses to another level when Saji, Boney, and Franky decide to help Bobby stand by his love.
Director: Madhu C. Narayanan | Stars: Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir, Fahadh Faasil, Sreenath Bhasi
Votes: 17,765
8.0
17. Vikramadithyan (2014)
143 min | Drama
Adithyan, the son of a dishonored thief who committed suicide, must fight all the odds and compete with Vikraman for the post of a police officer.
Director: Lal Jose | Stars: Dulquer Salmaan, Unni Mukundan, Namitha Pramod, Sana Altaf
Votes: 3,590
8.0
18. Neram (2013)
Not Rated | 117 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
Can a young man escape from the clutches of a loan shark on time?
Director: Alphonse Puthren | Stars: Nivin Pauly, Nazriya Nazim, Lalu Alex, Bobby Simha
Votes: 5,329
8.0
19. Ayalum Njanum Thammil... (2012)
160 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
A story on how a brilliant and dedicated senior doctor molds an irresponsible amateur doctor into one much like him, and how a forbidden relationship comes in between.
Director: Lal Jose | Stars: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Prathap Pothen, Narain, Samvrutha Sunil
Votes: 3,104
8.0
20. Second Show (2012)
Not Rated | 126 min | Action, Crime
Lalu's life changes after gangster Vishnubuddhan makes him a part of his gang. However, when Vishnubuddhan murders his friend, Lalu sets out to seek revenge.
Director: Srinath Rajendran | Stars: Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Wayne, Gauthami Nair, Sudesh Berry
Votes: 1,855
8.0
21. Bangalore Days (2014)
Not Rated | 171 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A fun roller coaster ride about three young people, Aju, Divya and Kuttan who are cousins, reach Bangalore to dream, discover and explore.
Director: Anjali Menon | Stars: Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Nazriya Nazim, Fahadh Faasil
Votes: 22,565 | Gross: $0.13M
8.0
22. Sadayam (1992)
147 min | Drama, Thriller
Sadayam follows the final days of a condemned prisoner, for murdering two little girls.
Director: Sibi Malayil | Stars: Mohanlal, Augustine, Janardanan, Kaveri
Votes: 1,022
7.9
23. Meesha Madhavan (2002)
Not Rated | 165 min | Comedy, Drama
Although forced into a criminal life from a young age, Madhavan is good at heart. However, as his enmity with Bhageerathan Pillai exacerbates, it forces the entrance of Sub-Inspector Eapen Pappachi.
Director: Lal Jose | Stars: Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Indrajith Sukumaran, Jagathy Sreekumar
Votes: 1,922
7.9
24. Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016)
Not Rated | 120 min | Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Mahesh, a studio photographer and studio owner gets into a fight and loses. He ends up taking revenge which leads to certain realizations in his life.
Director: Dileesh Pothan | Stars: Fahadh Faasil, Aparna Balamurali, Soubin Shahir, Alencier Ley Lopez
Votes: 10,340
7.9
25. Ustad Hotel (2012)
151 min | Comedy, Drama
Faisi wants to go to UK to become a professional chef but circumstances force him to assist his grandfather in a small restaurant in Kozhikode city, changing his outlook on life forever.
Director: Anwar Rasheed | Stars: Dulquer Salmaan, Thilakan, Siddique, Nithya Menen
Votes: 16,561
7.8
26. Mumbai Police (2013)
145 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
ACP Antony is the only one who knows the truth behind ACP Aaryan's murder. Antony meets with an accident, losing his memory and is unable to reveal the killer. He is forced to investigate the murder again hoping that he remembers something.
Director: Rosshan Andrrews | Stars: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jayasurya, Rahman, Riyaz Khan
Votes: 7,844
7.8
27. Notebook (2006)
148 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
Three teenage girls in boarding school invite serious trouble when one of them gets pregnant.
Director: Rosshan Andrrews | Stars: Roma Asrani, Mariya Roy, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Skanda Ashok
Votes: 788
7.8
28. Traffic (2011)
Not Rated | 122 min | Action, Adventure, Mystery
The lives of some different people get intertwined when a girl is in urgent need of a heart transplant with the only heart donor being many miles of traffic away.
Director: Rajesh Pillai | Stars: Sreenivasan, Kunchacko Boban, Sudip Joshy, Rahman
Votes: 5,185
7.8
29. Pingami (1994)
Not Rated | 138 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
Captain Vijay forms a bond with Kumaran, a severely injured man. However, when he dies, Vijay decides to investigate and ends up finding answers related to his life.
Director: Sathyan Anthikad | Stars: Mohanlal, Thilakan, Sukumaran, Janardanan
Votes: 658
7.7
30. Madambi (2008)
145 min | Drama
A loan shark in rural Kerala must face hurdles from corporate, enemies and his own family to keep his enterprise going.
Director: B. Unnikrishnan | Stars: Mohanlal, Ajmal Ameer, Mallika Kapoor, K.P.A.C. Lalitha
Votes: 671
7.7
31. Indian Rupee (2011)
155 min | Drama
An unemployed youth Jayaprakash, dreams big fortunes in the field of real estate business, and therefore, faces a lot of obstacles in the path towards his goal.
Director: Ranjith | Stars: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Thilakan, Rima Kallingal, Tini Tom
Votes: 1,940
7.6
32. Keerthi Chakra (2006)
Not Rated | 130 min | Action, Drama, War
Based on a real life incident that happened during the Kargil War.
Director: Major Ravi | Stars: Mohanlal, Jiiva, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Gopika
Votes: 1,104
7.6
33. Godha (2017)
120 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
Captain, a former wrestler, sends his son Das to Punjab for higher studies. Once there, Das falls in love with Aditi, a champion wrestler, who inspires him to pursue the sport.
Director: Basil Joseph | Stars: Tovino Thomas, Renji Panicker, Wamiqa Gabbi, Aju Varghese
Votes: 2,607
7.6
34. Take Off (2017)
Not Rated | 139 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
In 2014, a group of Malayali nurses was captured when terrorists took over the city of Tikrit in Iraq. This movie recounts the ordeal suffered by the nurses following their capture.
Director: Mahesh Narayanan | Stars: Parvathy Thiruvothu, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Prakash Belawadi
Votes: 7,308
7.6
35. Kadhavaseshan (2004)
Drama
Renuka trying to find the reason for Gopi's suicude by going through his past.
Director: T.V. Chandran | Stars: Dileep, Jyothirmayi, Vijayaraghavan, Jagathy Sreekumar
Votes: 284
7.5
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