The best Malayalam films ever made..
by vrvnth | created - 02 Sep 2017 | updated - 06 Oct 2017 | PublicThe list neither follows any particular order nor limited to a certain number. The commercial success or mass appeal is not at all a criteria. There maybe good movies that skipped the list maker's mind out of ignorance or pure coincidence.
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1. Vanaprastham (1999)
119 min | Drama
An illicit relationship between a Kathakali dancer and a young woman from an upper caste family results in an illegitimate child. He faces hardships when she refuses to let him see their child.
Director: Shaji N. Karun | Stars: Mohanlal, Suhasini, Mattanoor Shankara Marar, Kalamandalam Gopi
Votes: 1,915
2. Vidheyan (1994)
112 min | Drama
Thommy is a loyal servant of Bhaskar Patel. But Patel is a ruthless tyrant. Thommy struggles between his moral sense and his professional sense. He is finally redeemed without compromising his duty as Patel's servant.
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Mammootty, M.R. Gopakumar, Tanvi Azmi, Sabitha Anand
Votes: 1,504
3. Swayamvaram (1972)
131 min | Drama
Vishwam and Sita, who resist opposition from their families, elope and marry. The unemployed couple begin a happy married life but later land in a sea of perils without a source of income.
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Adoor Bhawani, Bharat Gopy, K.P.A.C. Lalitha, Madhu
Votes: 123
4. Piravi (1989)
110 min | Drama
Raghu, the only son of Raghava Chakyar was born late for him. So he poured his entire love and affection on him. Raghu, studying in an engineering college in a far away city has to arrive ... See full summary »
Director: Shaji N. Karun | Stars: Premji, Archana, Lakshmi Krishnamurthy, V.K. Sriraman
Votes: 294
5. Vasthuhara (1991)
103 min | Drama, Romance
The story is told through the eyes of Venu, a Malayali government officer sent on a mission to rehabilitate refugees from Calcutta to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Director: Govindan Aravindan | Stars: Mohanlal, Neelanjana Mitra, Neena Gupta, Padmini
Votes: 164
6. Chidambaram (1985)
103 min | Drama
Muniyandi (Sreenivasan), a laborer in the farm, believes and respects Shivakami (Smita Patil). Muniyandi brings Shivakami to the farm after marrying her. She soon befriends Shankaran (Gopi)... See full summary »
Director: Govindan Aravindan | Stars: Mohan Das, Bharat Gopy, Smita Patil, Sreenivasan
Votes: 168
7. Rat-Trap (1982)
121 min | Drama
The protagonist is trapped within himself and is unable to comprehend the changes taking place around him.
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Jalaja, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Rajam K. Nair, Mavelikara Ramachandran
Votes: 566
8. Peruvazhiyambalam (1979)
118 min | Drama
This is a National award winning and critically acclaimed film by P Padmarajan, based on his novel of the same name. The film explores the angst of a teenage mind remorseful of murder and the changes life brings in the aftermath.
Director: P. Padmarajan | Stars: Ashokan, Azeez, Adoor Bhawani, Geetha
Votes: 96
9. Chemmeen (1965)
Not Rated | 140 min | Drama, Romance
Karuthamma, the daughter of a Hindu fisherman, falls in love with a Muslim fish trader. However, social prejudices seem to ruin their love life and invite the wrath of their communities.
Director: Ramu Kariat | Stars: Sathyan, Sheela, Madhu, Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair
Votes: 541
11. The Sea Within (2007)
Drama, Romance
A married woman falls in love with an Economics Professor and becomes pregnant and insane by the physical relationship outside her married life.
Director: Shyamaprasad | Stars: Mammootty, Meera Jasmine, Narain, Ramya Krishnan
Votes: 431
12. Ponthan Mada (1994)
119 min | Drama
Set in 1940s, the low-caste Ponthan Mada bonds with his colonial landlord Sheema Thampuran, who was expelled to British India from England during his youth for supporting the Irish Republican Army.
Director: T.V. Chandran | Stars: Janardanan, Salu Koottanad, Lakshmi Krishnamurthy, Mahesh
Votes: 1,015
13. Yavanika (1982)
147 min | Drama, Mystery
An infamous tabla player of a touring drama group goes missing. Later on, Sub-inspector Jacob Eeraly investigates the case.
Director: K.G. George | Stars: Bharat Gopy, Nedumudi Venu, Mammootty, Venu Nagavalli
Votes: 870
14. Agni Sakshi (1999)
100 min | Drama
Unni accepts Devaki as his wife and brings her into the fold of his Namboothiri illam. Bound by a plethora of traditional beliefs, customs and rituals that constitute life within four walls... See full summary »
Director: Shyamaprasad | Stars: Rajit Kapoor, Madampu Kunjukuttan, Madhupal, Omana Ouseph
Votes: 71
15. The Play of God (1997)
Not Rated | 130 min | Drama
An adaptation of "Othello" set in the south Indian state of Kerala.
Director: Jayaraj | Stars: Suresh Gopi, Lal, Manju Warrier, Biju Menon
Votes: 325
16. Desadanam (1996)
127 min | Drama
The emotional pangs a child and his parents go through when his grandfather agrees to him being selected to be the head of a genuine and distinguished Matha.
Director: Jayaraj | Stars: Master Kumar, Vijayaraghavan, Mini Nair, Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri
Votes: 147
17. Pulijanmam (2006)
87 min | Drama, Fantasy
Director: Priyanandanan | Stars: Murali, Sindhu Menon, Vineeth Kumar, Samvrutha Sunil
Votes: 43
18. Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009)
155 min | Crime, Drama, History
A woman is found dead in mysterious circumstances. Several discrepancies arise in the findings, which eventually leads to the closure of the case. Years later, Haridas decides to reopen the case.
Director: Ranjith | Stars: Mammootty, Mythili, Shweta Menon, Gowri Munjal
Votes: 2,061
19. Nirmalyam (1973)
134 min | Drama
An ancient temple is neglected to ruins and is tended only by the Velichappadu 'village oracle'. When the priest goes on leave, a young man takes up his job and forms a relationship with Velichappadu's daughter.
Director: M.T. Vasudevan Nair | Stars: P.J. Anthony, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair, Sankaradi
Votes: 147
20. Bharatham (1991)
147 min | Drama, Musical
The tale of two classical musician brothers: while the elder squanders his life and talent away, the younger one fulfills their joint responsibilities towards their family.
Director: Sibi Malayil | Stars: Mohanlal, Urvashi, Nedumudi Venu, Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Votes: 3,186
21. Kutty Srank: The Sailor of Hearts (2009)
127 min | Drama
Kutty Srank is a short-tempered, lonely, but law-abiding boatman whose work leads him to travel the back waters of Kerala. One day, when the local police station discovers an unidentified ... See full summary »
Director: Shaji N. Karun | Stars: Mammootty, Kamalinee Mukherjee, Meena Kumari Perera, Padmapriya
Votes: 654
22. Mathilukal (1990)
120 min | Drama, Romance
Its a story of Basheer, an author who experiences his prison life. In it he finds friendship, loneliness, fear and finally love, but that remains questionable.
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Mammootty, Thilakan, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Murali
Votes: 1,650
23. Kathapurushan (1996)
107 min | Biography, Drama
Against the history of Kerala, we see a young man grow up without a father, relate to the working class people employed in his feudal household, become an intellectual, land in prison, and find a cure for the stuttering that afflicts him.
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmulla Ponnamma, Urmila Unni
Votes: 134
24. Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam (1985)
126 min | Drama
Two sons and their families get together to celebrate their mother's 60th birthday in their ancestral house. But problems develop when the younger son reveals his plan to sell the house for money and put the mother in an old age home.
Director: P. Padmarajan | Stars: Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Mammootty, Karamana Janardanan Nair, Srividya
Votes: 167
25. Kodiyettam (1978)
137 min | Drama
Sankarankutty, a village simpleton, lives a carefree life, indulges in childish pursuits, lives off the money given to him by his sister (working elsewhere as a servant), and eats quite ... See full summary »
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Bharat Gopy, K.P.A.C. Lalitha, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Azeez
Votes: 125
26. Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986)
137 min | Romance
A man falls in love with his new neighbor but then finds that her family life is difficult.
Director: P. Padmarajan | Stars: Mohanlal, Shari, Thilakan, Vineeth
Votes: 2,562
27. Kaazhcha (2004)
Not Rated | 137 min | Drama
Madhavan, a villager, comes across Pavan, a young boy who lost his family in the Gujarat earthquake. He welcomes Pavan into his family and the rapport between them strengthens over time.
Director: Blessy | Stars: Mammootty, Yash Gawli, Padmapriya, Sanusha
Votes: 3,483
28. Thanmathra (2005)
160 min | Drama
Will 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?
Director: Blessy | Stars: Mohanlal, Meera Vasudevan, Arjun Lal, Nedumudi Venu
Votes: 4,793
30. Thoovanathumbikal (1987)
151 min | Drama, Romance
Jayakrishnan falls in love with two girls, Radha and Clara, and fights his confusion about whom he should marry and spend his life with.
Director: P. Padmarajan | Stars: Mohanlal, Sumalatha, Parvathi, Ashokan
Votes: 4,990
31. Annayum Rasoolum (2013)
168 min | Romance
The story of how Rasool, a Muslim falls in love with a Christian girl, Anna and how her family's strong disapproval makes their relationship change for the worse.
Director: Rajeev Ravi | Stars: Fahadh Faasil, Andrea Jeremiah, Sunny Wayne, Shine Tom Chacko
Votes: 2,296
32. Angamaly Diaries (2017)
Not Rated | 132 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller
Vincent Pepe who wanted to be a powerful leader of a righteous gang that ruled the city, like his seniors. And then there's the rival clan with the malicious gangsters of Angamaly a locale on which the film is based.
Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery | Stars: Antony Varghese, Reshma Rajan, Binny Rinky Benjamin, Amrutha Anna Reji
Votes: 6,688
33. Nizhalkkuthu (2002)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama
Kaliyappan, the last hangman of Travancore dynasty is dragging his remaining life by consuming alcohol and worshipping the Mother Goddess.
Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Stars: Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Sukumari, Mallika, Thara Kalyan
Votes: 256
34. Kerala Cafe (2009)
140 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
A series of related and unrelated tales together linking them in subtle ways and discuss different shades of life.
Directors: Uday Ananthan, Lal Jose, Shaji Kailas, Anjali Menon, M. Padmakumar, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Anwar Rasheed, Revathi, Shyamaprasad, B. Unnikrishnan | Stars: Sathyan Anthikad, Augustine, M.A. Baby, Nandan Chalissery
Votes: 1,171
35. Vaishali (1988)
133 min | Musical, Drama, Romance
Princess of a country long suffering from drought should please a saint living in distant hills to bring rain.
Director: Bharathan | Stars: Sanjay Mitra, Suparna Anand, Geetha, Babu Antony
Votes: 435
36. The Master Carpenter (1991)
140 min | Drama, History
Perumthachan, a legendary carpenter, follows the stringent social norms of his time. However, when Kannan, his son, grows up to rebel against those very norms, Perumthachan must deal with him.
Director: Ajayan | Stars: Jalaja, Manoj K. Jayan, T.P. Madhavan, Monisha
Votes: 417
37. Parinayam (1994)
163 min | Drama
A 17-year-old widow, Unnimaya, who was married to an old man, is ostracized by the community. She falls in love with Madhavan, a Kathakali artist, but problems arise when she becomes pregnant.
Director: T. Hariharan | Stars: Mohini, Vineeth, Manoj K. Jayan, Thilakan
Votes: 143
38. A Northern Story of Valor (1989)
168 min | Drama, History
The film offers an alternative version of the fight between two legendary Chekavars from Chanthu's perspective.
Director: T. Hariharan | Stars: Mammootty, Madhavi, Devan, Suresh Gopi
Votes: 6,311
39. Lekhayude Maranam: Oru Flashback (1983)
Not Rated | 172 min | Drama
The movie narrates the story of a poor Malayalee family reaches Madras to try luck for their daughter Shantamma in the film industry.
Director: K.G. George | Stars: Nalini, Bharat Gopy, Shubha, John Varghese
Votes: 133
40. Oridathu (1987)
112 min | Drama
The movie narrates the story of a remote village and the incidents pertaining to the electrification during the post-independence period of India.
Director: Govindan Aravindan | Stars: Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Vineeth, Sithara
Votes: 59
41. Kireedam (1989)
Not Rated | 124 min | Action, Drama
The 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.
Director: Sibi Malayil | Stars: Mohanlal, Thilakan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Parvathi
Votes: 8,534
42. Shantham (2001)
95 min | Drama
In the midst of a raging political strife, a group of individuals learn some life values.
Director: Jayaraj | Stars: Sima Bisvas, Kalamandalam Gopi, Madampu Kunjukuttan, K.P.A.C. Lalitha
Votes: 37
43. Report to Mother (1986)
115 min | Drama
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.
Director: John Abraham | Stars: Kunhulakshmi Amma, Nilambur Balan, Harinarayan, Joy Mathew
Votes: 216
44. Guru (1997)
136 min | Drama, Fantasy
Situations turn a man who believes in secularism into an extremist. He plots to bomb a monastery where the survivors of a riot take refuge.
Director: Rajiv Anchal | Stars: Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Madhupal, Kaveri
Votes: 3,500
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