7 Malayalam Movies Everyone Must Watch

Malayalam movies have always created box office records and been huge hits despite their regional language restrictions in more than half of India's demographic yet they thrive and continue to give audiences epic and intriguing pieces with more depth and meaning than other mainstream movies. With this in mind, we have curated a list of movies for you to enjoy through the week and take trips down different nuances of each genre and meet quirky, fun loving and relatable characters.

Manjummel Boys

Manjummel Boys, written and directed by Chidambaram, is running to packed houses across India. Based on a real-life incident that happened in Kodaikanal, the film is making a buzz for its unique, detailed storytelling. It follows a group of friends who venture into a daring rescue mission to save their friend from Guna Caves, a perilously deep pit from where nobody has ever been brought back. 

Varshangalkku Shesham

Vineeth Sreenivasan's movie is an exhilarating blend of humour and friendship. In this film, he takes the viewers fifty years behind to narrate the story of camaraderie between Venu (Dhyan Sreenivasan), Murali (Pranav Mohanlal). The two friends travel to Madras in the hope of fulfilling their dream of becoming a scriptwriter and a composer respectively. In the hope of discovering talents and new people, they find a place to reside at ‘Swami Lodge’ before securing small gigs and gradually building connections. 

The Great Indian Kitchen (Available on Amazon Prime)   

In this relatable saga, a woman (the protagonist) is newly wed and tries fitting into a quintessential patriarchal household. It is a journey of a housewife as she tries reinventing and finding herself amidst the shadow of her husband and a typical Indian household framework. This movie was released in 2021 as a comedy drama and has been a hit on the OTT platform since then. Its relatability and storyline has garnered support from teh audience along with the growth of the protagonist. 

Premalu (Available on Disney+ Hotstar)

A new release with humourous banter and witty lines this romantic comedy will leave you feeling fuzzy and wanting to see more of Naslen K. Gafoor and Mamitha Baiju. This movie revolves around Naslen's character who is goofy and lives every day as it goes while Mamitha's character is an organised workaholic who plans everything. It is wonderful to see their chemistry unfold when their characters meet and the heartbreak, love and laughter that follows. This light hearted and fun movie is your escape into Sachin and Reenu's world.

22 Female Kottayam (Available on Amazon Prime)

Released in 2012, this thriller romantic piece is one of most mind blowing malayalam movies with strong female lead. It lays out the story of a woman who suffers love, betrayal, pain and humiliation but stands back up and takes vengeance on everything that ensued. She goes on to right the wrongs and takes an unconventional route to deal with wrongdoings of all men in her life. This movie will keep you hooked on the edge of your seats and is a must watch.

Uyare (Available on Netflix)

This thriller drama released in 2019 will make you reflect on patriarchal society and its understanding of love. Uyare is inspired by real life incidents and cases. It revolves around the protagonist Pallavi who aspires to be a pilot some day but faces the unfortunate fate of an  acid attack by her former obsessive boyfriend. This movie navigates the journey of Pallavi, as a girl, as a human, and as a pilot. She is tormented and looked down upon for something that was committed by a psychotic man and fares her way through all barriers. This movie is a must watch and inspiring at best. 

How Old Are You? (Available on Prime Video)

A 2014 release that might be similar to English Vinglish starring Sridevi, this comedy drama stars Manju Warrier who shines bright as the protagonist and paves the way for many older married women who feel their ambitions don't matter. She embarks on a journey to discover herself after she is torn between her duties set up in a typical patriarchal society. She breaks through and finds her true identity outside of marriage. This movie will make you fawn over Manju Warrier and her bubbly character Nirupama.