No secret that Malayalam films are my favourite. After I received an amazing response to Malayalam Films to Watch on Netflix, and more requests for recommendations, I thought this list, with slightly older films —some of the best Malayalam films no doubt — to stream online on Netflix, Prime or Hotstar, is much needed. I have greatly enjoyed these films and I hope you do too.
Malayalam Movies that Deserve More Attention
That title isn’t quite right because many of these movies performed well at the box office and almost all received good response from critics even if they weren’t run away hits. This list is written with film lovers in mind — those who love exploring Malayalam cinema but would like to go deeper than the usual hit lists and not limited to watching only the newest films. Artist for example is a gem of a movie which deserves praise for the raw, selfish humans portrayed in the film. Others like Ee Adutha Kalathu set forth waves in Malayalam cinema for the innovative storytelling. Ee. Ma. Yau — excellent no doubt — led to many comparisons with another film, Shavam, for the similar theme. Shutter was highly acclaimed for its depiction of many lives melting together.
These films are good films. You might say they are standing in a corner because of being outed by the newer, shinier hits that get more social media attention, snazzier trailers and hence a wave of viewers (Not all. Trance is a 2020 release and highly entertaining too). Or maybe less attention (now, online) on them because they are older films (This list has only films released after 2012 though). The best news is that these films are available on popular steaming platforms. Look no further for best Malayalam movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hotstar — here you go!
1.Artist (2013)
Adapted from the novel Dreams in Prussian Blue by Paritosh Uttam, Artist is a masterpiece on relationships. Two art students, Michael (Fahadh Faasil) — rebellious, rich-dad-privileged eccentric boy — and Gayathri (Ann Augustine) — brahmin, too-young-and-in love girl — are attracted to one another. Gayathri who had fought with her family to study fine arts throws away her college education, being swayed by Michael’s perfect world where only art and love exists. Artist makes us think about passion and following one’s heart and how this plays differently for men and women. I shuddered at Gayathri’s sacrifices, Michael taking Gayathri for granted, manipulative friends and the courage that comes after being through it all. You will find yourself rooting for Michael and Gayathri’s love story and then wondering if you rooted wrong — shocked at his anger bursts, wound up in the blame game, tired of his never-ending demands, exasperated by her purity of heart and frustrated by the suffocating conceit. Artist navigates spaces of ‘following your heart’, ego clashes, self-centeredness, young couples, the contradiction of love vs money, and jobs that put food on the table. It is written and directed by Shyamaprasad (who is a master of dissecting relationships) and remains one of my favourites from the director.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime
2.Shutter (2012)
Four lives— an NRI who has come for his daughter’s engagement, a prostitute, a writer and an auto driver — collide in this Malayalam thriller written and director by Joy Mathew. Rasheed (Lal) gets locked inside his garage with a prostitute (Sajitha Madathil). The tension increases when the auto driver (Vinay Fortt) who has the keys to the garage does not arrive. The whole movie is set over a day and two nights. Being helpless in a closed space at the mercy of others, Rasheed gets a fresh perspective on friendships (his routine included drinking with his friends in the very same garage), and his relationship with his daughter. Shutter is heartwarming, and wonderful with memorable performances.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime
3. Trance (2020)
Trance is not a perfect movie. In fact it goes downhill in the second half with a directionless plot, and an eyebrow raising representation of mental illness (at least to me, they could’ve not generalized it). But this psychological drama directed by Anwar Rasheed deserves a watch for the dubious world of businessmen and conmen who flex religion to earn some monies. Fahadh Faasil’s transformation from the struggling motivational speaker Viju Prasad — shy but behaves confident, imitates foreign accents and dreams big — to the new recruit who will be the face of a new church — the flamboyant, charismatic Pastor Joshua Carlton — is pure delight. The atheist Viju is trained by Avarachan (Dileesh Pothan) in Bible, theology and towards a convincing public persona that can send the believers to a frenzy. There are training centres for people to ‘perform’ — sing Hallelujah, get healed (!) and praise God — at the Pastor’s conventions, big money rolling and a TV show gone wrong. The hysteria, energy and the overall psychedelic mood of the movie is sure to leave you entertained.
Where to watch ? Netflix
Read : The best Malayalam movies on Netflix
4.Iyobinte Pusthakam (2012)
This movie made me miss half a day at work because I could not stop watching it. It is beautiful, engaging with well fleshed characters. The historical drama directed by Amal Neerad is set in 1900s in British occupied Munnar. It follows Iyob and his three sons, Dmitry, Ivan and Aloshy — named after Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov by the white master/businessman — who are trapped in a rather strong bond of sibling rivalry. The movie follows the rise of slaves to masters, the spurts of communism that shook the feudal structure, arrival of a Tamil merchant (and biryani), and women being victims, pawns and avengers. With ample violence, and scandals set in patriarchal community, Iyobinte Pusthakam is a visual treat, be it the costumes, the untamed wilderness, or the mystical air of superstitions that surround Munnar.
Where to watch? Hotstar
4. Kammatipaadam (2016)
Anurag Kashyap called Kammatipaadam ‘ one of the best gangster/brotherhood films from India’. This is one of the best films that explore the urbanization of Kochi. It lays bare the land grabbing from Dalits by the real estate mafia, the spread of crimes among the underclass and relationships that were ruined by circumstance. Both Dulquer and Vinayakan give a mature, nuanced performance as the two childhood friends, Krishnan and Ganga. Through the dwellers of the slum locality, Kammatipaadam, we follow small crimes, murders, thug life, and mentors. Watch it for how the actors age — excellent makeup and nuanced acting — as the movie progresses.
Where to watch? Hotstar
5. Ee. Ma. Yau (2018)
Ee. Ma. Yau is a satire set in Chellanam, a coastal village in Ernakulam. It follows the death of Vavachan Mesthiri and the build up towards his funeral. There is drama (a second wife and son comes to claim the body, a detective priest is suspicious of foul play), humour and an acute observation of life and co-existence in coastal towns. The movie is thought provoking about life and death and presents stellar performance by the cast. The film’s name is an expansion of Easow Mariyam Yausephe (Jesus Mary Joseph) which is whispered in the ears of the deceased in some Christian communities.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime
6. Ee Adutha Kalathu (2012)
This one’s a must watch. Parallel storylines, many characters and one mind blowing climax! A garbage collector, an ex-Bollywood actress, her business man husband who does not treat her well, a policeman investigating murders, a journalist who might know a secret, a conman and several others make an enticing cast. I loved how innovative and suspenseful the narration was – not one boring scene in this one.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime
8. English (2013)
I have a thing for movie where parallel stories come together (Traffic, City of God, Ee Adutha Kalathu). English, directed by Shyamaprasad is one such film that follows a couple of Indians living in the UK. We meet an illegal immigrant waiter (Jayasurya) who was Kathakali artiste and came to earn money to marry his sweetheart back in Kerala, an IT executive (Nivin Pauly)who fools around, a store owner (Mukesh) being the responsible older son who has to care for their ageing mother (while his brother and his wife shirk responsibilities) while struggling to understand his own teenage daughter, a Tamil Brahmin homemaker (Nadia Moidu) who craves to go back to India while her doctor husband and children prefer not to, a new wife (Ramya Nambisan) in London, and more. There are secrets, betrayals, family problems, discord and merriment. The movie offers a voyeuristic glance into the lives of these NRIs and evokes sympathy, shocks and acceptance that life has to go on.
Where to watch? Amazon Prime
9.Varathan (2018)
Varathan (transl. Outsider) is a survival thriller directed by Amal Neerad, commercial in tone but with an important underlying message. If you have always romanticized staying in small towns —In the movie a young couple, Aby and Priya move to their parent’s old house in a naatumpuram — you’ll put that dream to rest after a watch. I watched this film with a thumping heart and after coming home (I stay in a small town), I was terrified of being in the house or taking a bath. The film explores how men dismiss women’s fears, nonsocial community members who should be kept at arm’s length and the unacceptance of outsiders. The last 30 minutes are pure adrenaline rush. Ecstatic! I wish Fahadh’s character did not get a heroic transformation — that too soon after what befalls his wife — but Malayalam cinema does seem to conform to the patriarchal thirst of the man-saviour here. I wish we were given more time to be attached to Priya’s mental state. That aside, Varathan is brilliant with its broody atmosphere, and fear inducing setting.
Where to watch? Hotstar
Excellent Malayalam movies to stream online. Fake evangelists, murders, artists — you are going to LOVE these. Click To Tweet
Featured image by Pierrick van Troost
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This is such a great list. Despite being a Keralite (and married to a Gujarati), looks like I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to Malayalam movies. Out of this list, I’ve only watched Artist and Varathan, both of which are just outstanding movies! I’m definitely going to watch the rest of them.
You are in for a treat! Hope you enjoy the rest of the movies x