Prithviraj Sukumaran Movies: Best Films as Actor, Director and Producer

Few figures in Malayalam cinema are as ambitious as Prithviraj Sukumaran. He has been a romantic hero, an action star, a National Award-winning producer, a record-breaking director and, most recently, a pan-Indian villain in some of India’s biggest films. This guide to the best Prithviraj Sukumaran movies follows his journey from a teenage debut in 2002 to directing L2: Empuraan, one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films ever.

Early Career: A Star at 20

Prithviraj was studying in Australia when director Ranjith cast him in Nandanam (2002). Within a few years he was one of the busiest young actors in Malayalam, known for his confident screen presence and articulate interviews. Vaasthavam (2006), a political drama, won him his first Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor at just 24, and Lal Jose’s Classmates (2006) became a cultural phenomenon.

In the early 2010s, he became a key figure in the new wave as well. As co-founder of August Cinema, he produced the period epic Urumi (2011) and Ranjith’s Indian Rupee (2011), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.

20 Best Prithviraj Sukumaran Movies

#	Film	Year	Role
1	Nandanam	2002	Actor (debut)
2	Vaasthavam	2006	Actor
3	Classmates	2006	Actor
4	Thalappavu	2008	Actor
5	Puthiya Mugham	2009	Actor
6	Urumi	2011	Actor, producer
7	Indian Rupee	2011	Actor, producer
8	Ayalum Njanum Thammil	2012	Actor
9	Celluloid	2013	Actor
10	Memories	2013	Actor
11	Mumbai Police	2013	Actor
12	Ennu Ninte Moideen	2015	Actor
13	Ezra	2017	Actor
14	Koode	2018	Actor
15	Lucifer	2019	Director
16	Driving Licence	2019	Actor, producer
17	Ayyappanum Koshiyum	2020	Actor
18	Jana Gana Mana	2022	Actor
19	Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life	2024	Actor
20	L2: Empuraan	2025	Director, actor

Read our Aadujeevitham review and L2: Empuraan trailer breakdown.

Prithviraj the Director

Prithviraj made his directorial debut with Lucifer (2019), a political action drama starring Mohanlal as Stephen Nedumpally. Written by Murali Gopy, it became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of its time. He followed it with Bro Daddy (2022), a light family comedy that premiered on Disney+ Hotstar.

His third film, L2: Empuraan (2025), was a massive, globe-spanning sequel that became the first Malayalam film to cross ₹250 crore worldwide, though it also faced controversy and voluntary edits after release. A third chapter, L3: Azrael, has been teased. As a director, Prithviraj is known for large-scale ambition, meticulous planning and slick visuals that compete with big-budget Telugu and Hindi films.

Pan-Indian Roles

Prithviraj has worked across languages for years — in Tamil films such as Mozhi and Kaaviya Thalaivan, and Hindi films such as Aiyyaa, Aurangzeb and Naam Shabana. His profile rose sharply when he played Vardharaja Mannar opposite Prabhas in Prashanth Neel’s Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (2023). He also played the villain in the Hindi action film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024) and starred in Sarzameen (2025). He is reported to be part of S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming epic with Mahesh Babu, as well as Salaar: Part 2.

Five Performances Every Fan Should See

Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015)

As B.P. Moideen, a man in love across a religious divide, Prithviraj gives one of his most tender performances. The film’s tragic real-life story and the restraint of his acting made it a modern classic.

Mumbai Police (2013)

Playing a police officer who loses his memory after solving a case, he took a bold risk for a mainstream star, and the film’s twist remains one of the most discussed in Malayalam cinema.

Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)

Opposite Biju Menon, he plays Koshy, an arrogant ex-army man whose ego clash with a police officer spirals out of control. The film was later remade in Telugu as Bheemla Nayak.

Aadujeevitham (2024)

His physical and emotional transformation as Najeeb is the defining performance of his career.

Celluloid (2013)

As J.C. Daniel, the father of Malayalam cinema, he honoured the industry’s forgotten pioneer and won a state award for it.

Together, these five Prithviraj Sukumaran movies show his range — romantic, intense, egotistical, vulnerable and historical.

Awards and Honours

• Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor: four times — Vaasthavam, Ayalum Njanum Thammil, Celluloid and Aadujeevitham.
• National Film Award: Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Indian Rupee (as producer).
• Filmfare Awards South: multiple wins in acting categories.

Prithviraj Productions

Founded with his wife, Supriya Menon, Prithviraj Productions has produced or co-produced films such as 9, Driving Licence, Kuruthi, Jana Gana Mana and Kaduva, and has distributed major Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films in Kerala, including KGF: Chapter 2. It is one of the most active production and distribution houses in the state.

Recent and Upcoming Prithviraj Sukumaran Movies

After Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (2024) and L2: Empuraan (2025), Prithviraj appeared in Vilayath Buddha and in 2026 headlined Vysakh’s Khalifa: The Ruler. With directing, acting and producing commitments across several industries, he remains one of the busiest names in Indian cinema. Follow our upcoming Malayalam movies page for release updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Prithviraj Sukumaran movies tell the story of an artist who keeps raising the bar for Malayalam cinema — as actor, director and producer. For his complete filmography, see Wikipedia.