Few Malayalam actors have travelled as far as Kani Kusruti in recent years. From experimental theatre in Thiruvananthapuram to the red carpet at Cannes, her career is built on brave choices and quietly powerful performances. With her new SonyLIV series Eyes streaming from October 9, interest in Kani Kusruti movies has surged again. Here is a guide to her best films and series, the awards she has won and what she is working on next.
Key Points
- Kani Kusruti won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for Biriyaani.
- Biriyaani also earned her Best Actress at the Moscow International Film Festival.
- All We Imagine as Light won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024.
- Her new SonyLIV series Eyes streams from October 9, 2026.
Table of Contents
Who Is Kani Kusruti?
Kani Kusruti grew up in Thiruvananthapuram and the village of Cheruvakkal, the daughter of social activists Jayasree A. K. and Maitreya Maitreyan. She famously created her own surname, Kusruti, meaning mischievous, as a teenager. She trained at the School of Drama in Thrissur and later spent two years at the renowned Jacques Lecoq international theatre school in Paris. That physical theatre background shows in the stillness and precision she brings to every screen role.
Before films, she spent years in theatre, performing with groups such as Abhinaya and touring international stages. That foundation explains why directors often cast her in emotionally complex roles that need restraint rather than dramatic dialogue. Her early screen appearances were small, but each one showed a distinct presence. Today, Kani Kusruti movies are often discussed in film schools as examples of how stage training can enrich naturalistic screen acting in Malayalam and Indian cinema.
10 Best Kani Kusruti Movies and Series
| Year | Title | Role | Platform/Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Kerala Cafe | Zeba | Anthology film |
| 2010 | Cocktail | Elsa | Film |
| 2010 | Shikkar | Naxalite | Film |
| 2019 | Biriyaani | Khadeeja | Film |
| 2024 | All We Imagine as Light | Prabha | Film |
| 2024 | Girls Will Be Girls | Anila | Film |
| – | Maharani | Kaveri Sridharan | SonyLIV series |
| – | Killer Soup | Kirtima | Netflix series |
| – | Poacher | DFO Dina | Prime Video series |
| 2026 | Eyes | Police officer | SonyLIV series |
This list mixes Malayalam classics with international and Hindi projects, because her best work crosses languages. Early films like Cocktail brought her mainstream attention, while Biriyaani showed what she could do with a demanding lead role. Her recent streaming series introduced her to a pan-Indian audience, making Kani Kusruti movies and shows some of the most recommended titles for viewers exploring serious Indian drama.
Biriyaani: The Breakthrough
Sajin Babu’s Biriyaani gave Kani Kusruti the role of Khadeeja, a woman whose life unravels after her son is linked to terrorism. The film was bold, uncomfortable and divisive, but her performance was widely praised. It won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and the Best Actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival’s BRICS competition in 2020. For many critics, it confirmed her as one of the most fearless actors of her generation. The film’s festival journey also opened doors for her in Hindi and international projects.
All We Imagine as Light and Global Recognition
Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light changed everything. Kani Kusruti played Prabha, a Malayali nurse in Mumbai, alongside Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the first Indian film ever to win that prize, and was celebrated by critics worldwide. Its success put Kani Kusruti movies on the radar of international audiences and festival programmers, and it remains her most acclaimed work so far.
The same year, Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls cast her as Anila, a mother navigating her daughter’s coming of age in a boarding school. The role won her a Filmfare OTT Award in 2025. She also received the IMDb STARmeter Breakout Star award and a Critics’ Choice Shorts and Series Award for her work in Poacher and Girls Will Be Girls, and served on a jury at the Locarno Film Festival.
Best Kani Kusruti Web Series
On streaming, she has built an impressive range. In SonyLIV’s political drama Maharani she played Kaveri Sridharan, while Netflix’s dark comedy Killer Soup showed her comic timing. Amazon’s Poacher, an investigative series about elephant poaching in Kerala, cast her as forest officer Dina, a role many viewers consider among her finest. Her latest, Eyes, written by Bobby-Sanjay, sees her as a police officer investigating stalking and harassment cases.
Upcoming Projects
In 2026 she appears in the Hindi film Assi as Parima, and the Malayalam project Anchaam Pramaanam is in production. She also appeared in Ouseppinte Osyath in 2025. With international interest growing, more global co-productions are likely. Fans looking for more Kani Kusruti movies should keep an eye on festival line-ups, where her films often premiere first. Our weekly Malayalam OTT releases this week page tracks her streaming arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Kani Kusruti movies?
Top Kani Kusruti movies include Biriyaani, All We Imagine as Light, Girls Will Be Girls and Cocktail.
Which awards has Kani Kusruti won?
She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and Best Actress at the Moscow International Film Festival for Biriyaani, plus a Filmfare OTT Award.
Where can I watch Kani Kusruti’s new series?
Her series Eyes streams on SonyLIV from October 9, 2026.
Where did Kani Kusruti study acting?
She studied at the School of Drama, Thrissur, and the Jacques Lecoq school in Paris.
Which Kani Kusruti movies are on OTT?
Several Kani Kusruti movies and series stream on platforms such as Prime Video, Netflix and SonyLIV; availability changes, so check each app.
Is Kani Kusruti in Eyes on SonyLIV?
Yes. She plays the lead police officer in the SonyLIV series Eyes, streaming from October 9, 2026.
Conclusion
From Kerala’s theatre scene to Cannes, Kani Kusruti has built a career on fearless, thoughtful choices. Start with Biriyaani and All We Imagine as Light, then binge Poacher and her new series Eyes. For more actor guides, see our Parvathy Thiruvothu movies list and our upcoming Malayalam movies page.
