The Definitive List for the Best Malayalam Movies (Last 35 years)
While 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!
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!
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35 titles
- DirectorJeethu JosephStarsMohanlalMeenaAsha SharathA man goes to extreme lengths to save his family from punishment after the family commits an accidental crime.9.0
- DirectorFazilStarsShobanaMohanlalSuresh GopiWhen a forbidden room in an old bungalow is unbolted, the spirit of a vengeful dancer is unleashed.8.8
- DirectorDileesh PothanStarsFahadh FaasilSuraj VenjaramooduNimisha SajayanPrasad 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.8.7
- DirectorVineeth SreenivasanStarsSabitha AnandAmritha AnilDeepak ParambolRohini 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.8.6
- DirectorSibi MalayilStarsMohanlalThilakanKaviyoor PonnammaThe 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.8.5
- DirectorLal JoseStarsPrithviraj SukumaranIndrajith SukumaranKavya MadhavanCollege 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.8.5
- DirectorPriyadarshanStarsMohanlalAmrish PuriPrabhuGovardhan, 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.8.5
- DirectorAbrid ShineStarsNivin PaulyAnu EmmanuelDevi AjithThe life of an honest and determined police officer Biju and the various criminals he puts behind bars.8.4
- DirectorJoshiyStarsMohanlalMadhuJagathy SreekumarVelayudhan 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.8.3
- DirectorAppu N. BhattathiriStarsNayantharaKunchacko BobanLalJohn 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.8.2
- DirectorM. PadmakumarStarsPrithviraj SukumaranKavya MadhavanJagathy SreekumarBalachandran from a poor family gets employed in Kerala Secretariat and his life changing incidents occur there.8.2
- DirectorBlessyStarsMohanlalMeera VasudevanArjun LalWill 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?8.2
- DirectorSachyStarsBiju MenonPrithviraj SukumaranRanjithThe 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.8.1
- DirectorAnwar RasheedStarsMohanlalSaikumarKalabhavan ManiThe daily lives of Vasco Da Gama and his friends in a fraction of Cochin, called Chota Mumbai is portrayed in this comedy.8.1
- DirectorMadhu C. NarayananStarsShane NigamSoubin ShahirFahadh FaasilThe 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.8.0
- DirectorLal JoseStarsDulquer SalmaanUnni MukundanNamitha PramodAdithyan, 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.8.0
- DirectorAlphonse PuthrenStarsNivin PaulyNazriya NazimLalu AlexCan a young man escape from the clutches of a loan shark on time?8.0
- DirectorLal JoseStarsPrithviraj SukumaranPrathap PothenNarainA 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.8.0
- DirectorSrinath RajendranStarsDulquer SalmaanSunny WayneGauthami NairLalu'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.8.0
- DirectorAnjali MenonStarsDulquer SalmaanNivin PaulyNazriya NazimA fun roller coaster ride about three young people, Aju, Divya and Kuttan who are cousins, reach Bangalore to dream, discover and explore.8.0
- DirectorSibi MalayilStarsMohanlalAugustineJanardananSadayam follows the final days of a condemned prisoner, for murdering two little girls.7.9
- DirectorLal JoseStarsDileepKavya MadhavanIndrajith SukumaranAlthough 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.7.9
- DirectorDileesh PothanStarsFahadh FaasilAparna BalamuraliSoubin ShahirMahesh, 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.7.9
- DirectorAnwar RasheedStarsDulquer SalmaanThilakanSiddiqueFaisi 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.7.8
- DirectorRosshan AndrrewsStarsPrithviraj SukumaranJayasuryaRahmanACP 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.7.8
- DirectorRosshan AndrrewsStarsRoma AsraniMariya RoyParvathy ThiruvothuThree teenage girls in boarding school invite serious trouble when one of them gets pregnant.7.8
- DirectorRajesh PillaiStarsSreenivasanKunchacko BobanSudip JoshyThe 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.7.8
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsMohanlalThilakanSukumaranCaptain 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.7.7
- DirectorB. UnnikrishnanStarsMohanlalAjmal AmeerMallika KapoorA loan shark in rural Kerala must face hurdles from corporate, enemies and his own family to keep his enterprise going.7.7
- DirectorRanjithStarsPrithviraj SukumaranThilakanRima KallingalAn 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.7.6
- DirectorMajor RaviStarsMohanlalJiivaLakshmi GopalaswamyBased on a real life incident that happened during the Kargil War.7.6
- DirectorBasil JosephStarsTovino ThomasRenji PanickerWamiqa GabbiCaptain, 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.7.6
- DirectorMahesh NarayananStarsParvathy ThiruvothuFahadh FaasilKunchacko BobanIn 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.7.6
- DirectorT.V. ChandranStarsDileepJyothirmayiVijayaraghavanRenuka trying to find the reason for Gopi's suicude by going through his past.7.5