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Best Malayalam Movies of 2022

Apart from the lull created by the pandemic, the Malayalam film industry is getting back to the game by offering umpteen movies with the best quality and catering to the needs of the general audience. From social drama to superhero movies, Malayalam cinema seems unstoppable and the filmmakers don't relish the idea of being pigeonholed in one genre, resulting in the arrival of several films with different genres. If you are someone who wants to watch some of the latest movies from Malayalam, that are worth your time, you search ends here!

Vichithram (2022)

Star: shine tom chacko,balu varghese,lal,jolly chirayath,kani kusruti,ketaki narayan, achu vijayan's directorial, written by nikhil raveendran and vineeth jose, is a fabulously crafted horror comedy that leaves the audience with a surrealistic experience.

Rorschach (2022)

Star: mammootty,grace antony,sharafudheen,bindu panicker,kottayam nazeer, a big kudos to sameer abdul who came up with an interesting screenplay based on a psychological test.

Oru Thekkan Thallu Case (2022)

Star: biju menon,padmapriya janakiraman,roshan mathew,nimisha sajayan, the casting must be praised, for finding perfect actors for every character from the main to the supporting ones.

Pathonpatham Noottandu (2022)

Star: siju wilson,anoop menon,chemban vinod jose,indrans,kayadu lohar,gokulam gopalan,sudev nair,sudheer karamana,deepti sati,poonam bajwa, ​siju wilson showcases an epic performance as velayudha chekavar by submerging himself in the warriors' skin.

12th Man (2022)

Star: mohanlal,unni mukundan,saiju kurup,anusree, this is not a flawless film, but it is certainly entertaining from start to finish, particularly with its identifiable characters.

Pada (2022)

Star: kunchacko boban,vinayakan,joju george,dileesh pothan,prakash raj, writer-director kamal km used a striking incident in the state’s political history and converted it into a good cinema.

Kaapa (2022)

Star: prithviraj sukumaran,aparna balamurali,asif ali,anna ben, more or less, shaji kailas has succeeded in delivering a satisfying gangster movie.

Ariyippu (2022)

Star: kunchacko boban,divya prabha,danish husain,loveleen mishra,sidharth bhardwaj, showing various shades of human nature, mahesh narayanan's 'ariyippu' is a story set in noida, a destination for people with a dream to migrate..

Padavettu (2022)

Star: nivin pauly,aditi balan,shammi thilakan,shine tom chacko,indrans, nivin pauly delivers a power-packed performance. his body language as a lazy, but frustrated young man is fitting, and then his change to demonstrating a fire in his fight against the system is beautiful.

Ini Utharam (2022)

Star: aparna balamurali,kalabhavan shajohn,harish uthaman,sidharth menon,jaffer idukki,siddique, director sudheesh ramachandran tries to reveal the nexus between the police and political leaders.

Palthu Janwar (2022)

Star: dileesh pothan,basil joseph,johny antony,indrans,shammi thilakan,vijayakumar, while each character is layered in humour, it also speaks for those who are forced to take up jobs that they are not interested in, those who are struggling with alcohol abuse and addicts of blind belief systems.

Nna Thaan Case Kodu (2022)

Star: kunchacko boban,gayathrie,unnimaya prasad,saiju kurup,vinay forrt, director ratheesh balakrishnan pothuval makes a wonderful socio-political satire that the common man can identify with.

19(1)(a) (2022)

Star: vijay sethupathi,nithya menen,indrajith sukumaran,indrans,srikant murali,bhagath manuel, the film flows along like a song with enigmatic frames, befitting music and seamless scripting.

Malayankunju (2022)

Star: fahadh faasil,rajisha vijayan,indrans,jaffer idukki,deepak parambol, fahadh faasil is superb, the two kinds of characteristics, before the landslide and post landslide is portrayed by him with ease and perfection.

Mahaveeryar (2022)

Star: nivin pauly,shanvi srivastava,asif ali,lal,siddique,lalu alex,sudheer karamana, it takes a brave, intelligent imagination to intermingle modern-day grievances and judgments, with the same in an ancient kingdom.

Pyali (2022)

Star: barbiee sharma,sreenivasan,raffi,althaf salim,aadukalam murgadoss,sujith shankar, the debut writer-director duo has done a commendable job, creating many incidents that make you laugh and think about the society we live in.

Ullasam (2022)

Star: shane nigam,pavithra lakshmi,aju varghese,basil joseph,deepak parambol, new director jeevan jojo manages to provide pleasant relief from the thrillers abounding in malayalam cinema nowadays.

Dear Friend (2022)

Star: tovino thomas,basil joseph,darshana rajendran,arjun radhakrishnan,sanchana natarajan, sharfu, suhas and arjun lal has penned a soothing friendship story filled with nostalgia, idiosyncrasies and laughter.

Udal (2022)

Star: indrans,dhyan sreenivasan,durga krishna, debut writer-director ratheesh raghunandan sets the benchmark high with a brilliantly directed, well-paced movie.

Puzhu (2022)

Star: mammootty,parvathy thiruvothu,nedumudi venu,nayan rosh t m,athmeeya rajan, it is the tension that keeps the story moving.

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• ENGLISH HINDI MALAYALAM TAMIL TELUGU KANNADA BENGALI  

Top Malayalam Movies of 2021

25 Greatest Malayalam Movies of All Time

Ever since Malayalam cinema underwent a renaissance in the past decade- with the influx of new-age filmmakers creating some groundbreaking work, it has been unarguably the foremost film industry in India when measured by the quality of films produced. If the 2000s were the worst years for Malayalam movies, then the best era was definitely the 70s and 80s, which witnessed the rise of the New Wave and Middle cinema respectively.

To handpick 25 great Malayalam movies from an industry whose veteran filmmakers like Priyadarshan alone have made more than 60 Malayalam movies (many of which are classics), can create a conundrum for many Malayali cinephiles.

This list is an attempt to compile the best of mainstream and independent films that I’ve watched over the years. It is not ranked in any particular order; instead, I’ve clubbed the work of filmmakers who have more than one film featured here. Please note that many filmmakers have created several masterpieces but I’ve capped them to two per director. The idea is to include as many great filmmakers in this list and evoke interest in the readers to explore more of their work.

25. Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

Director: Madhu C. Narayanan

One of the finest mainstream films of the previous decade , Madhu Narayanan’s directorial debut ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ takes on social taboos along with challenging several stereotypes but never lets loose its grip on the entertainment quotient. So-called alpha males crying their heart out, bringing home the widow and baby of a deceased best friend, a mute brother falling in love with an American black woman  – are all progressive themes for the middle-class milieu.

The stand-out scene that was widely appreciated in which Soubin Shahir’s character Saji seeks psychological help from a doctor, breaks the stigma associated with counseling. The highlight package of the film is Fahadh Faasil who delivers a terrific performance as the antagonist Shammi. Through this character, the writer Syam Pushkaran sketches a typical portrait of a patriarchal man who passes off his misogynist attitude and toxic masculinity under the pretext of family honor.

Related to Best Malayalam Movies – 10 Great Malayalam Movies to Stream on Prime Video

Watch/stream kumbalangi nights full movie on amazon prime, 24. sudani from nigeria (2018), director: zakariya mohammad.

Another directorial debut, this National Award winner for Best Feature Film in Malayalam is one of the best feel-good movies of our time. It has a big heart and is bound to well up the eyes of even the most stoic personalities. The title refers to a star foreign player Samuel “Sudu” of Majeed’s (Soubin Shahir) football club, who meets with an accident and is made to rest at Majeed’s house while he recovers. Over time, Majeed and his mother develop a strong bond with Samuel as they share their personal life stories with each other. Even the neighbors and townsfolk become very fond of the good-natured foreigner who doesn’t speak their language.

‘Sudani from Nigeria’ reminds us that love and humanity can transcend barriers of language and nationality. It also successfully shatters the myth that foreigners who play for football clubs in India come from sound economic backgrounds. The reality in the case of many African footballers is in stark contrast to what most people assume. Many of them play in India with the hope of escaping their impoverished lives in their home countries.

Related to Best Malayalam Movies – The 20 Best Regional Indian Movies of the Decade (the 2010s)

Watch/stream sudani from nigeria full movie on netflix, 23. munnariyippu (2014).

Director: Venu

Multiple National Award-winning cinematographer Venu’s second directorial outing follows a young female journalist who sets out to write a biography on convict C. K. Raghavan (Mammootty) who professes that he never committed the crimes he is in prison for.

‘Munnariyippu’ is a multilayered film that deconstructs the narrative and discards certain conventions, making it an interesting visual experiment. What elevates the film’s level is Mammootty’s terrific performance and subdued mannerisms. He sheds off any trace of the superstar persona and methodically absorbs the character of Raghavan in totality.

The film doesn’t indulge in the crests and troughs of mainstream drama and adopts a very restrained and mature approach in its storytelling. The main contemplation that ‘Munnariyippu’ tries to delineate through Raghavan to the audience is that the interpretation of freedom or exemption is absolutely subjective in accordance with the individual in question. Viewers willing to participate in the narrative can expect to be rewarded.

Similar to Best Malayalam Movies – Top Malayalam Movies Of 2018 and where to watch them Online

Watch/stream munnariyippu full movie online on sunnxt, 22. the great indian kitchen ( 2021).

Director: Joe Baby

Arguably, one of the best Malayalam movies to come out in recent times, the sarcastically titled film serves a disgusting assortment of patriarchy, male chauvinism, hypocrisy, and makes the viewer slowly chew it by repeating the chores and ordeal of its female protagonist.

A must-watch for all moral custodians of society who have fixed notions about gender roles in a household. The film tells the story of a newlywed woman (Nimisha Sajayan) who struggles to be the submissive wife that her husband (Suraj Venjaramood) and his family expect her to be. Millions of housewives who drudge through household chores daily that have been normalized by society will realize the injustice women have been enduring for centuries while fulfilling their expected role of duty-bound housewives. If ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ can bring about a positive change in even one married family, the film would have done its job. That would be the greatest reward for the film.

Must-Read – The Reincarnation Of Indian Cinema

Watch/stream the great indian kitchen full movie on amazon prime, 21. jallikattu (2019), director: lijo jose pellissery.

India’s official submission to the Oscars , ‘Jallikattu’ stamps the authority of Lijo Jose Pellissery as one of the finest auteurs of our generation. The raw, pulsating energy of the film makes it a wild ride that draws out the inherent beastly nature coated underneath the mask of civilization.

An ingenious plot, a myriad of characters, and an eerie background score make ‘Jallikattu’ a modern-day classic. Lijo’s obsession with close-up shots of meat butchering and food preparation syncs with the barbaric theme of the film.

Related Read: Every Lijo Jose Pellissesry Film Ranked

Lijo is one of the most exciting directors of our time who can be trusted to experiment with form, treatment, and themes in every new venture. Except for ‘Double Barrel’, every film of Lijo ranges between good and very good. ‘ Ee.Ma.Yau ‘ and ‘ Angamaly Diaries ‘ are considered cult films in Kerala and with the phenomenal success of ‘Jallikattu’, there is a lot of expectation from Lijo’s next film ‘ Churuli ‘.

Related to Great Malayalam Movies – Jallikattu [2019] Review: How masculinity is rendered fragile with its volatility

Watch/stream jallikattu full movie online on amazon prime, 20. sexy durga (2019).

Director: Sanal Kumar Sasidharan

Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is a current-generation filmmaker raising the bar of experimental cinema in Malayalam cinema. Ever since his debut feature film ‘Oraalppokkam’ in 2014, Sanal has been experimenting with the subject, narrative, and form with each film.

Sexy Durga is arguably his best work which became the first Indian film to win the Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2017. The film’s plot is fairly simple but touches upon dark themes including domination, patriarchal attitudes, hypocrisy, etc. 

During a nocturnal ride, a young woman and her lover come across a cross-section of Indian male society. What starts out as an attempt to escape descends into a journey through hell – from which no escape seems possible. Sanal has made some very fine films like ‘Ozhivudivasathe Kali’, ‘ Unmadiyude Maranam ‘, and ‘Chola’ that have received wide acclaim. He is one filmmaker from whom the audience can expect something unique and innovative in each film.

Related to Best Malayalam Movies of All Time – The 20 Best Indian Movies of 2020

19. vadakkunokkiyantram (1989).

Director: Sreenivasan

‘Vadakkunokkiyantram’ is one of the finest dark comedies in Indian cinema. Sreenivasan’s insightful observations on the male ego, insecurities, and inferiority complex shine through in his performance as well as direction.

As a jealous and suspicious husband, he keeps on doubting his wife as she is more beautiful and smarter than him. This eventually leads to marital discord and him undergoing treatment for his complexities. The film has aged very well and makes it frequently to many lists on the greatest Malayalam movies of all time.

It was remade in Tamil as ‘Dindigul Sarathy’, in Kannada as ‘Nanjangudu Nanjunda’, and in Hindi as ‘ Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh ‘. Sreenivasan’s other directorial venture ‘Chinthavishtaya Shyamala’ also stars him in the lead role, and is a brilliant black comedy on a lazy and irresponsible husband who neglects his family.

Watch/Stream Vadakkunokkiyantram Full Movie Online on Amazon Prime

18. amma ariyan (1986).

Director: John Abraham

Despite having made only four feature films due to his accidental death in 1987, the maverick John Abraham is considered one of the finest Malayalam filmmakers. And, ‘Amma Ariyan’ is unarguably his finest and most complex work.

Featured in BFI’s Top 10 Indian Films list, the story revolves around the incidents following the death of a young Naxalite, upon whose death his friends travel to the village where his mother lives to inform her of the death of her only son.

It is among the most experimental works of Indian cinema and continues to be discussed for its multi-layered narrative. Abraham was a gold medalist from FTII, and he began his career by assisting Mani Kaul on ‘ Uski Roti ‘. His ‘Cheriyanchante Kroorakrithyangal’ is also a fine film that critiques the feudal system and police atrocities. One must also take out time for his Tamil film ‘Agraharathil Kazuthai’ which is inspired by Robert Bresson’s ‘Au Hasard Balthazar’.

Related to Best Malayalam Movies – Bresson and the agony of innocence: 3 Tragic Films from the Master of Minimalism

Watch/stream amma ariyan full movie on youtube, 17. maheshinte prathikaaram (2016).

Director: Dileesh Pothan

This directorial debut of Dileesh Pothan is a “serious comedy” in Fahadh Fassil ‘s own words who plays Mahesh in the film. While attempting to defuse a conflict between his friend and a group of youngsters, he is knocked down. Unable to fight back, an embarrassed Mahesh publicly vows that he will not wear his slippers again until he has avenged his humiliation.

Instead of relying on the usual mix of hate and anger for revenge, the writer Syam Pushkaran intelligently uses comedy to draw reactions from the characters and develop a gripping, funny screenplay (which won the National Award).

Related Read: 10 Best Fahadh Faasil Movie Performances

‘Maheshinte Prathikaaram’ has gained a cult status over the years and has been remade into Tamil as ‘Nimir’ by Priyadarshan and into Telugu as ‘Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya’ by the ‘C/o Kancharapalem’ director Venkatesh Maha. In his second feature ‘Thondimuthalam Driksakshiyum’ and the third film ‘Joji’, Dileesh again teamed up with Fahadh to create some really good cinema. Both films are highly enjoyable and entail relevant social commentary as well.

Similar to the Best Malayalam Movies of All Time – The 15 Best Indian Films of 2016

Watch/stream maheshinte prathikaaram full movie on mubi, 16. nadodikkattu (1987).

Director: Sathyan Anthikad

Sathyan Anthikad is one of the most commercially successful Malayalam filmmakers who mastered the art of satirizing social issues and packaging them in entertaining capsules. The director-writer combination of Anthikad and Sreenivasan is responsible for some of the wittiest popular movies of Malayalam cinema.

‘Nadodikkatu’ stars Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in the lead roles as Ramdas and Vijayan. After losing their jobs in Kerala, they decide to migrate to Dubai to make their fortunes. However, they get deceived and end up in the neighboring Tamil Nadu where they are mistaken as two criminal investigators by a group of smugglers.

‘Nadodikkattu’ drew upon relevant social factors affecting Kerala of the 1980s such as widespread unemployment and poverty. Portraying the struggles of unemployed youths seeking jobs in the Middle East, this biting Malayalam satire takes a piercing look at the quirks and inferiority complexes of middle-class society. It is among the most popular Malayalam comedies of all time.

Watch/Stream Nadodikkattu Full Movies Online on MUBI

15. t halayana manthram (1990).

‘Thalayana Manthram’ is another super-hit comedy from the Anthikad-Sreenivasan stable. The film focuses on the greedy, insecure, and jealous wife of Sreenivasan’s character, who cunningly creates a rift between her husband and his family.

She desires to lead a life of luxury beyond their means, leading to severe complications in their life. The film is packed with funny scenes and hilarious situations. Much of the humor is born out of the helplessness of Sreenivasan and the troubles that he encounters due to his wife’s demands.

Urvashi, who plays Sreenivasan’s wife, received a lot of acclaim for her performance as a greedy and shrewd lady. There are many more films by Sathyan Anthikad that deserve to be viewed, and among them, a few of my favorites are ‘Varavelpu’, ‘T. P. Balagopalan M. A.’, ‘Achuvinte Amma’.

Similar to the Greatest Malayalam Movies of All Time – The 25 Finest Indian Movies of 2019

Watch/stream t halayana manthram full movies online on amazon prime, 14. kireedam (1989).

Director: Sibi Malayil

Sibi Malayil and his screenwriter A. K. Lohithadas have given Malayalam cinema some of its most commercially and critically successful films. ‘Kireedam’ is yet another masterclass in acting from Mohanlal who won the National Film Award – Special Mention “for portraying a young man’s agony and pain marvelously and in unique style”.

The film chronicles the life of a young man whose life turns upside down when he intervenes in a dispute to rescue his father (a cop) from a ruthless local outlaw. An inadvertent moment of rage and the series of unanticipated repercussions that follow it form the poignant focus of this Malayalam classic.

Sibi Malayil paints a solemn portrait of a distraught young man caught in the web of an intricate father-son dynamic , violence, and personal failings. ‘Kireedam’ was remade into six other languages – Telugu as ‘Rowdyism Nasinchali’ (1990), in Kannada as ‘Modada Mareyalli’ (1991), and in Hindi as ‘Gardish’ (1993).

Watch/Stream Kireedam Online on Amazon Prime

13. thaniyavarthanam (1987).

This was the first film that kicked off the Malayil-Lohithadas partnership. The film discusses a variety of topics such as superstition and orthodoxy in rural Kerala, attitudes towards mental illness, the difference of attitudes between people of different generations, and the decline of once-proud Nair “joint families”.

Apart from the main storyline concerning Balan (Mammootty), the movie also makes a subtle sketch of the life of people in a “matriarchal” society. The uncle of Balan (played by Thilakan) enjoys so much influence in the family affairs that he becomes a catalyst to Balan’s slow but steady decline to lunacy.

It was Thilakan who had recommended Mammootty for the lead role. The writer-director duo has given the Malayalam film industry some of its acclaimed classics including ‘Dasharatham’ and ‘Bharatham’ for which Mohanlal bagged a Best Actor National Film Award. Forbes India included Mohanlal’s performance in the film on its list of “25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema”.

Watch/Stream Thaniyavarthanam Full Movie Online on Eros Now

12. peruvazhiyambalam (1979), director: p. padmarajan.

P. Padmarajan was not only among the finest filmmakers from Kerala but also a highly accomplished author. Along with K. G. George and Bharathan, he is credited with founding a new school of filmmaking in Malayalam cinema in the 1980s. Along with his contemporaries, Padmarajan created groundbreaking films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed.

He is known for his mastery in screenwriting. ‘Peruvazhiyambalam’ is based on his novel of the same name, and marks his directorial debut along with the acting debut of Ashokan who plays the central character, Raman.

The film is an incisive examination of how violence or totalitarianism works in our society; it deals with disturbing questions relating to masculinity and how people adore and dread it at the same time. The Hindu described the film as one of the finest films in Malayalam.  It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and was included in IBN Live’s list of 100 greatest Indian films of all time. ‘Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam’, ‘Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal’, and ‘Innale’ are also some fine films from the master.

Watch/Stream Peruvazhiyambalam Full Movie on YouTube

11. thoovanathumbikal (1987).

The film is partly based on Padmarajan’s novel Udakappola . It revolves around Jayakrishnan (Mohanlal), who falls in love with two women; Radha (Parvathy), a distant relative of his, and Clara (Sumalatha), an escort in town.

The film is widely noted for its rich film score and songs, dialogues and characters, detailed screenplay, and Mohanlal’s and Sumalatha’s performance. Rain is a recurring theme and is portrayed almost as a character in the film. Set in Thrissur, the film displays the typical Malayali bachelor lifestyle in many scenes. One such scene where Mohanlal invites Ashokan for a lemonade drink and straight away gets into the city bar has now become an iconic call sign for a drink offer between Malayalis.

‘Thoovanathumbikal’ is considered, by many, to be the most romantic movie ever made in Malayalam cinema history. The film deals with the most intense human emotions of love and lust. Years after its release, the movie has turned into a cult classic, especially among the youth. In a 2013 online poll, IBN Live listed it as the 8th greatest Indian film of all time.

Watch/Stream Thoovanathumbikal Full Movies Online on Amazon Prime

10. prayanam (1975).

Director: Bharathan 

Bharathan’s films were known for their realistic portrayal of rural life in Kerala. Melodrama and escapism were usually absent in his films. His background as a painter enabled him to create frames that were often credited for their visual beauty. Natural props and nature itself often became important characters in his films (like the railway track in ‘Palangal’, or the sea in ‘Amaram’).

Bharathan is one of the few Indian directors known to use an elaborate storyboard system for filming. He also often designed posters for his films. ‘Pranayam’ was written by P. Padmarajan and it marked the debut of both Bharathan as a director and Padmarajan as a screenwriter.

The film probes into the realities that existed within the Brahmin community of the day. Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair plays an elderly Brahmin priest married to a girl young enough to be his daughter. A lot is implicated and unsaid in the film. It is one of the personal favorites of the director.

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Watch/stream pranayam full movie online on eros now, 9. vaishali (1988), director: bharathan.

‘Vaishali’ is regarded as a modern-day masterpiece in Malayalam cinema. The film is an adaptation of a sub-story told by Vedavyasa to King Yudhishtira in the epic Mahabharatha. It is the story of Vaisali, a devadasi girl who was assigned the mission of seducing Rishyashrungan, the son of Maharshi Vibhandakan, and bringing him to Chambapuri to perform a mahayagam to bring rain.

Films like ‘Vaishali’ and ‘Amaram’ (where Bharathan collaborated with acclaimed cinematographer Madhu Ambat) set a new benchmark for cinematographic excellence in Malayalam and Indian Cinema. Several of Bharathan’s films are known for their bold portrayal of sexual themes. His films often defied social conventions and norms about man-woman relationships. ‘

Rathinirvedam’ was the sexual-coming-of-age story of the relationship between a teenager and an older woman while ‘Chamaram’ dealt with the tumultuous affair between a student and his college lecturer. ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’ and ‘Kaathodu Kaathoram’ also explore adulterous relationships and are worth one’s time.

Watch/Stream Vaishali Full Movie Online on Eros Now

8. yavanika (1982).

Director: K. G. George

Known for his unconventional work, K. G. George is noted for his deep psychological analysis and character study of the human mind in his films. He made his directorial debut with ‘Swapnadanam’ (1975) and became a strong presence of the new cinema movement in Kerala that became active during the early 1970s.

‘Yavanika’ stands out as one of the most commercially successful, yet artistically superior films of the 1980s. In the form of a detective thriller, it explores the backstage drama of a traveling drama troop. The plot is structured around the search for an unpopular tabla player of the troupe who suddenly disappears.

The film is regarded as the finest mystery or investigative thriller ever made in Malayalam cinema. One of the greatest screenplays written in Malayalam cinema, and the performances of Bharat Gopi and Thilakan are phenomenal. It won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, Best Story, and Second Best Actor for Thilakan.

Also Related to the Best Malayalam Movies – Disappearance [2017]: ‘TIFF’ Review

Watch/stream yavanika full movie online on hotstar, 7. irakal (1985).

‘Irakal’ is considered the first dark movie in Malayalam and one of the best works of K.G George. The film is an in-depth exploration of the psychology of violence and its theme in undertones depicted political conditions of the country during that time including The Emergency.

Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi are said to be symbolically presented by Thilakan and Ganesh respectively in the film, though George didn’t say it directly. Dileesh Pothan’s ‘Joji’ is said to have taken inspiration from the film with regard to theme.

The film won two Kerala State Film Awards—Second Best Film and Best Story. George has given Malayalam cinema many groundbreaking classics. ‘ Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback ‘  (1983), ‘Adaminte Vaariyellu’ (1983), and ‘Panchavadi Palam’ (1984) are some highly engaging films that should definitely be explored by cinephiles.

Watch/Stream Irakal Full Movie Online on Eros Now

6. vanaprastham (1999).

Director: Shaji N. Karun

‘Vanaprastham’ is the crowning glory in Mohanlal’s acting career for which he won yet another National Award. His tragic performance is considered the pinnacle of acting by many. The film chronicles the life of a lower-caste Kathakali artist (Mohanlal) who receives great acclaim in his career but is burdened by repeated rejections and abandonment in his personal life.

Like most Shaji N. Karun films, this one too has pain written all over it. An Indo-French production, ‘Vanaprastham’ excels in every department of filmmaking. The cinematography is exceptional and the soul-stirring soundtrack by Zakir Hussain is truly world-class.

The film was Shaji’s third film to be screened at Cannes and is deservingly regarded as one of the finest Indian films. It won multiple National awards, and after the screening of the film, the Government of France conferred Shaji with the title Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Related to Best Malayalam Movies – Suspiria (2018): A True Spell To The Remake Formula

Watch/stream vanaprastham full movie online on hotstar, 5. piravi (1989).

After a glorious career as one of the finest cinematographers in India and giving Malayalam cinema some of its most poetic images, mostly in the films of G. Aravindan, Shaji decided to become a director. And boy, what a debut! ‘Piravi’ not only won the National Award for Best Feature Film but also won several awards at prestigious international film festivals including the Camera d’Or at Cannes.

The film is based on the life of professor T. V. Eachara Warrier, whose son, a student in Regional Engineering College, Calicut, was killed in police custody during the National Emergency Period of 1976. The grief of a father endlessly waiting for his son to return has been portrayed brilliantly by Premji who won the National Award for Best Actor.

Shaji’s films are filled with pathos and are as real as cinema can get. An uncompromising filmmaker who is among the best we’ve seen. His second film ‘Swaham’ (1994) was the last Indian film that competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

4. Pokkuveyil (1982)

Director: G. Aravindan

Govindan Aravindan is one of the finest filmmakers produced by India. Arguably, the country’s most poetic director, Aravindan’s films are revered for their visual lyricism and minimalism. A large portion of the credit goes to his cinematographer Shaji N. Karun for creating a transcendental world through his beautiful images.

In ‘Pokkuveyil’, both the artists are at their peak and have created a haunting masterpiece. It is a beautiful, melancholic work of art with some of the finest images of nature captured on film. The indefinability of the human mind is the theme of the film.

Aravindan recorded its audio first as a composition for the flute by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and the sarod by Rajeev Taranath. The visuals were ‘composed’ according to musical notations without any script. The film won the Rajat Kamal for the second-best movie in the country for the year 1982. It was screened in several international film festivals, including Cannes.

Watch/Stream Pokkuveyil Full Movie Online on YouTube

3. esthappan (1980).

The film blends together the Biblical story of the deeds of Christ and the way society responded to him, with the life of Esthappan, whose life mystifies others. Esthappan is a fisherman, who lives in a seashore colony. His story unfolds through narrations by other fishermen about his miraculous acts. Through the contradictory statements of these people, a mystical figure of Esthappan unfolds.

Again, it’s the ethereal images of Shaji N. Karun that cast a spell on the viewer. Through the prophetic dialogues in the film and the theme of mysticism, Aravindan raises existential questions about life, death, and everything in between.

‘Esthappan’ won the Kerala State Film Awards for Best Film and Best Director. Readers of this list must do themselves a favor by watching Aravindan’s entire filmography if possible. He was an incomparable artist whose ingenuity was reflected in his strikingly beautiful mise en scenes.

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Watch/stream esthappan full movie online on youtube, 2.  anantaram (1987).

Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Regarded as the greatest living Indian filmmaker, Adoor Gopalakrishnan is the brightest jewel in the crown of Malayalam cinema. He pioneered the new wave in Kerala with his debut film ‘Swayamvaram’ in 1972. With several documentaries and 12 feature films to his credit, almost every film of his can find a place in this list.

‘Anantaram’ is arguably his best work. In fact, it is my favorite Indian film of all time. It stars Ashokan and Shobhana in the lead with Mammootty in an extended guest role. The film is structured like a monologue. It develops through a commentary by the protagonist about himself in the first person.

In an interview, Adoor said, “Anantaram is basically about perceptions. About a young, impressionable boy who lacks some sort of functioning. Though my life was not very familiar, I was searching for the familiar experience of growing up, struggling with life and relationships. What is in the frame and what is juxtaposed to it just outside the frame… or let us put it this way, it has to do with attuning to the reality just beyond perception. Actually, this is part of the daily experience though we don’t analyze it.”

Related to Best Malayalam Movies – The 10 Most Essential Adoor Gopalakrishnan Movies

Watch/stream anantaram full movie online on youtube, 1.  vidheyan (1994).

The film is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. Zacharia’s novella was inspired by a real-life character named Patela Shekhara Gowda alias Shiradi Shekhara. ‘Vidheyan’ explores the master-slave relationship in a South Karnataka setting and is a brilliant psychology study of the topic.

Mammootty and M. R. Gopakumar essay the lead roles of master and slave respectively. The performance of Mammootty is arguably the greatest portrayal of a villainous character in Indian cinema. The actor is terrifying and menacing as a ruthless landlord who does as he pleases and completely owns his slave.

Adoor masterfully examines the changing dynamics between the master and slave as the film progresses. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and the Best Actor Award for Mammootty. Adoor’s ‘Mathilukal, ‘Kodiyettam’, ‘Mukhamukham’, ‘Kathapurushan’, ‘Elippathayam’, are all brilliant films that are must-visits.

Related to Best Malayalam Movies of All Time – Top Malayalam Movies Of 2020 and Where to Watch Them Online

Watch/stream vidheyan full movie on youtube, trending right now.

Arun A.K. is a communications professional working in Mumbai, India. He admits being guilty of showing more love to cinema and food than to writing. Most of the time, he ends up losing his frequent fights with sugar cravings. Arun holds an MBA degree from Symbiosis International University and B.E. in Electronics from Mumbai University. Twitter Handle: @arunusual

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