Manjummel Boys became one of my favourite movies as soon as I watched it! It also made me realise that I have been criminally sleeping on Malayalam films. All prepared to change that, I did my research, and after a fair share of relentless screening, here's a list of the best Malayalam movies that should be on everyone's radar. Here's my list of Malayalam movies to watch!
11 Malayalam Movies That Should Be On Every Movie Buff's Radar
Overview
Hridyam
Still obsessing over one of the tracks from the film—Onakka Munthiri—Hridyam is a fun coming-of-age movie. Tackling career challenges, falling in love, heartbreak, finding a new path, friendships, and moving on, this two-hour piece will quickly become your comfort movie, with some great tracks and stellar cinematography. If you are an engineer, you will reminisce about your college days more than ever.
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Genre: Romance, Coming of Age
Kumbalangi Nights
Fahadh Faasil is a genius with many of his films. Kubalangi Nights came out in 2019 and is another comforting watch. It captures the story of four brothers from a dysfunctional family who are trying to forge connections among themselves and eventually standing up for each other; the simple, rustic aesthetic of the movie is what sticks with you. The film is based in a village on the outskirts of Kochi, so you know the visuals will be out of this world. The more times you watch it, the more you love it.
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Joji
Inspired by Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and starring my favourite Fahadh Faasil, Joji is a thrilling crime drama that hooks you all the way till the end. Blinded by his greed and ambition, Joji dreams of getting filthy rich. Things start getting interesting when an unexpected event occurs in the family, and Joji, along with Bincy, leaves no stone unturned to overthrow the head of the family to gain power. It's dark, heavy, captivating, and it's shot beautifully.
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Annayum Rasoolum
Annayum Rasslum will give you all the butterflies if you love romantic movies. It is a soulful and profound movie about the love of a Muslim boy and a Christian girl, with all its repercussions. It goes beyond the crises and trials of love and unfolds as an ode to the city, its people, and its institutions. You will feel your heart and soul ripped into a few pieces, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a must-Faahadh Faasil watch!
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Genre: Romance
Mukundan Unni Associates
Directed by Abhinav Sunder Nayak, Mukundan Unni Associates is a crime drama with some hilarious quips. It stellarly entertains its audience and follows the character of Advocate Mukundan Unni, who resorts to unlawful ways to procure money. Soon, greed takes over, and he finds himself getting involved in a messier situation than he anticipated. It's a fun watch for days when you cannot decide on anything.
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Kooman
If you like reaching for unconventional works of art that dismantle mainstream tropes and attempt to carve a new niche, then Kooman is a hidden gem. Breaking away from all archetypes of thrillers, the story revolves around a police officer who takes on an immersive journey to find the identity of a psychotic serial killer. The twists, turns, and crises in the movie are breathtakingly refreshing, and it is one of the more elusive movies I have watched.
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum
Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum was released last year, and it's already on my top five Fahadh Faasil movie list. Perfectly balanced between comedy and drama, this movie takes you on a journey of self-discovery with some of the most wholesome quips and great adventures. It is lighthearted and fun and leaves you with the most hopeful feeling, which I always appreciate about movies.
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Perumani
Perumani is a dramedy that does not take itself too seriously right from the start. With a village of characters, Perumnai has a folk tale at its centre, with speculation on a village's notice board regarding the wedding of central characters —Nazr and Fathima. The movie is fun and wacky, with some cool characters that shift from the conventional perspective in the most hilarious way. I recommend watching this one with your family in theatres, as it's fresh off the boat and not available on any OTT platforms yet.
IMDB Rating: 6/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Bangalore Days
Directed by Anjali Menon, Bangalore Days is the ultimate comfort movie. It has the most iconic actor line-up and beautifully explores themes of love, friendship, relationship, grief, dreams, career, disability, and a zillion other things. It is an ode to hope and dreams and an easy pick if you're confused about what to watch next.
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Genre: Romance, Drama
Manjummel Boys
The one that nudged me toward this beautiful experience, my absolute favourite, Manjummel Boys, had to be a part of this list. Unfolding an adventure of a group of friends to Guna Caves, Manjummel Boys is a survival thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat during the whole watch party. What makes this an even more chilling watch is that a true incident inspires the narrative.
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Survival
Aattam
A film that will literally have you feeling good about yourself that 'you' decided to watch it. Aattam is a poignant critique of male allyship, victim blaming, and the frail moralities of humans. Based on a fantabulous play, this movie unfolds like a slow burn, with the last twenty minutes packed with high-intensity emotions, revelation, and heartbreaks. Most of the movie is based on one location, plus they also bagged a National Award last year!
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Genre: Drama
