Choosing the best Malayalam movies of all time is a near-impossible task. Malayalam cinema has given India some of its most celebrated filmmakers — Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G. Aravindan, Padmarajan, Bharathan, K.G. George and many more — along with two of the greatest actors in Indian film history, Mohanlal and Mammootty. Add the new generation of writers and directors, and the list of classics becomes very long.
We have narrowed it down to 20 essential films, spread across seven decades, that every movie lover should see at least once.
Key Takeaways
- Chemmeen (1965) was the first South Indian film to win the President’s Gold Medal for Best Feature Film.
- The late 1980s and early 1990s produced an extraordinary run of classics like Kireedam, Thoovanathumbikal and Manichitrathazhu.
- Modern classics such as Drishyam, Kumbalangi Nights and Manjummel Boys continue that legacy.
Table of Contents
Classics From the 1960s to the 1980s
1. Chemmeen (1965)
Ramu Kariat’s adaptation of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s novel is a tragic love story set in a fishing community. With music by Salil Chowdhury, it was the first South Indian film to win India’s top national film award.
2. Elippathayam (1981)
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s study of a feudal family in decline uses the image of a rat trap to show a man unable to change. It won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival.
3. Yavanika (1982)
K.G. George’s murder mystery set in a travelling drama troupe is one of the finest investigative films in Indian cinema.
4. Thoovanathumbikal (1987)
Padmarajan’s romantic drama with Mohanlal, Sumalatha and Parvathy is loved for its poetic rain-soaked imagery and Johnson’s music.
5. Kireedam (1989)
Written by A.K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil, Kireedam follows Sethumadhavan (Mohanlal), a young man whose dream of becoming a police officer is crushed by circumstances. Mohanlal’s performance is legendary.
6. Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989)
M.T. Vasudevan Nair reimagined the folk ballads of Chandu as a tragic hero, and Mammootty won the National Film Award for Best Actor.
7. Piravi (1989)
Shaji N. Karun’s debut, about a father waiting for his missing son, won international acclaim, including the Caméra d’Or – Special Mention at Cannes.
The 1990s
8. Sandesam (1991)
Sathyan Anthikad and Sreenivasan’s political satire remains razor sharp.
9. Devasuram (1993)
I.V. Sasi’s drama, written by Ranjith, gave Mohanlal one of his most iconic characters, Mangalassery Neelakandan.
10. Manichitrathazhu (1993)
Fazil’s psychological thriller is perhaps the most rewatched Malayalam film ever. Shobana won the National Award for Best Actress.
11. Spadikam (1995)
Bhadran’s father–son drama gave us “Aadu Thoma”, one of Mohanlal’s mass characters. Its 4K re-release in 2023 drew big crowds.
12. Vanaprastham (1999)
Shaji N. Karun’s film about a Kathakali artist earned Mohanlal his second National Award for Best Actor.
The 2000s and 2010s
13. Classmates (2006)
Lal Jose’s campus reunion mystery became a cultural phenomenon and still inspires real college reunions in Kerala.
14. Drishyam (2013)
Jeethu Joseph’s thriller redefined the genre and was remade across languages. Read our Drishyam review.
15. Premam (2015)
Alphonse Puthren’s romance had cult status in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
16. Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016)
The defining film of the Malayalam new wave.
17. Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
A modern masterpiece about brotherhood and masculinity. See our full review.
The 2020s
18. Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023)
Lijo Jose Pellissery’s dreamlike film gave Mammootty one of his most acclaimed late-career roles.
19. Bramayugam (2024)
A black-and-white folk horror that won Mammootty both state and national honours.
20. Manjummel Boys (2024)
A survival film about friendship that became a nationwide phenomenon.
Why These Films Still Matter Today
What links a 1965 fishing-village tragedy to a 2024 survival thriller? Honesty. The best Malayalam movies of all time are rooted in specific places — a fishing coast in Alappuzha, a feudal house in central Kerala, a police station in Kasaragod, a backwater island in Kochi — and they treat their characters with dignity. They rarely rely on spectacle. Instead, they trust writing, performance and atmosphere.
These films also shaped the people who make cinema today. Directors like Dileesh Pothan and Lijo Jose Pellissery have spoken about growing up on the work of K.G. George, Padmarajan and Bharathan. Writers study Lohithadas and M.T. Vasudevan Nair. When you watch Kireedam and then Kumbalangi Nights, you can see a clear line connecting the two — an interest in flawed, ordinary men and the families around them.
Finally, many of these classics have been restored or re-released in recent years. Spadikam and Manichitrathazhu returned to theatres in remastered versions, introducing them to a generation that had only seen them on television.
How We Chose the Best Malayalam Movies of All Time
We considered four things: artistic achievement, influence on later films, lasting popularity with audiences, and recognition through national and international awards. We also aimed for variety across eras and genres. We deliberately avoided ranking purely by box office, because many of the most important Malayalam films were modest commercial performers in their time. Inevitably, some favourites are missing — Thaniyavarthanam, Amaram, Perumthachan, Mathilukal, Kaazhcha and Ustad Hotel could all easily make a top 20.
| Decade | Films in this list |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s–2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the No. 1 Malayalam movie of all time?
Opinions differ, but Kireedam, Manichitrathazhu, Chemmeen and Drishyam are most often named among the best Malayalam movies of all time.
Which Malayalam film won the first national award for best film?
Chemmeen (1965) won the President’s Gold Medal, the highest national honour for a feature film at the time.
Where can I watch old Malayalam classics?
Many are available on major OTT platforms. See our guide to where to watch Malayalam movies online.
Conclusion
These 20 films offer a journey through the history of Kerala itself — its villages, its politics, its families and its dreams. Use this list of the best Malayalam movies of all time as your starting point, and you will soon have your own favourites to add. For deeper history, explore Malayalam cinema on Wikipedia.
