A curated selection · Four decades of Kerala cinema · 1980 → Today

The 100
Best Films

of Malayalam Cinema

From Adoor's art house to the new wave's rampage — a hundred essential frames of Kerala. Mark what you've seen, and let the projector choose tonight's classic.

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The golden eighties still tower over this curation

The 100 Essential Malayalam Films Since 1980 — full ranked list

Elippathayam (1981) — directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Piravi (1988) — directed by Shaji N. Karun
Thoovanathumbikal (1987) — directed by Padmarajan
Manichitrathazhu (1993) — directed by Fazil
Kireedam (1989) — directed by Sibi Malayil
Yavanika (1982) — directed by K. G. George
Kumbalangi Nights (2019) — directed by Madhu C. Narayanan
Amaram (1991) — directed by Bharathan
Sandesham (1991) — directed by Sathyan Anthikad
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) — directed by Hariharan
Mathilukal (1990) — directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Anantaram (1987) — directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Adaminte Variyellu (1983) — directed by K. G. George
Irakal (1985) — directed by K. G. George
Chidambaram (1985) — directed by G. Aravindan
Pokkuveyil (1981) — directed by G. Aravindan
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986) — directed by Padmarajan
Moonnam Pakkam (1988) — directed by Padmarajan
Vaishali (1988) — directed by Bharathan
Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987) — directed by Bharathan
Thaniyavarthanam (1987) — directed by Sibi Malayil
Bharatham (1991) — directed by Sibi Malayil
Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989) — directed by Sreenivasan
Chithram (1988) — directed by Priyadarshan
Kilukkam (1991) — directed by Priyadarshan
Nadodikkattu (1987) — directed by Sathyan Anthikad
Vidheyan (1994) — directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Vaanaprastham (1999) — directed by Shaji N. Karun
Spadikam (1995) — directed by Bhadran
Devasuram (1993) — directed by I. V. Sasi
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988) — directed by K. Madhu
Ramji Rao Speaking (1989) — directed by Siddique–Lal
In Harihar Nagar (1990) — directed by Siddique–Lal
Godfather (1991) — directed by Siddique–Lal
Perumthachan (1991) — directed by Ajayan
Panchagni (1986) — directed by Hariharan
Nakhakshathangal (1986) — directed by Hariharan
Kaalapani (1996) — directed by Priyadarshan
Thazhvaram (1990) — directed by Bharathan
Innale (1990) — directed by Padmarajan
Njan Gandharvan (1991) — directed by Padmarajan
Koodevide (1983) — directed by Padmarajan
Desatanakkili Karayarilla (1986) — directed by Padmarajan
Aparan (1988) — directed by Padmarajan
Season (1989) — directed by Padmarajan
Chamaram (1980) — directed by Bharathan
Kattathe Kilikkoodu (1983) — directed by Bharathan
My Dear Kuttichathan (1984) — directed by Jijo Punnoose
Rajavinte Makan (1986) — directed by Thampi Kannanthanam
New Delhi (1987) — directed by Joshiy
Irupatham Noottandu (1987) — directed by K. Madhu
1921 (1988) — directed by I. V. Sasi
Dasharatham (1989) — directed by Sibi Malayil
His Highness Abdullah (1990) — directed by Sibi Malayil
Vietnam Colony (1992) — directed by Siddique–Lal
Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu (1988) — directed by Sathyan Anthikad
Commissioner (1994) — directed by Shaji Kailas
The King (1995) — directed by Shaji Kailas
Kaliyattam (1997) — directed by Jayaraaj
Ponthan Mada (1994) — directed by T. V. Chandran
Bhoothakkannadi (1997) — directed by A. K. Lohithadas
Thanmathra (2005) — directed by Blessy
Paleri Manikyam (2009) — directed by Ranjith
Pranchiyettan & the Saint (2010) — directed by Ranjith
Traffic (2011) — directed by Rajesh Pillai
22 Female Kottayam (2012) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Ustad Hotel (2012) — directed by Anwar Rasheed
Drishyam (2013) — directed by Jeethu Joseph
Annayum Rasoolum (2013) — directed by Rajeev Ravi
Bangalore Days (2014) — directed by Anjali Menon
Premam (2015) — directed by Alphonse Puthren
Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016) — directed by Dileesh Pothan
Kammatipaadam (2016) — directed by Rajeev Ravi
Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017) — directed by Dileesh Pothan
Angamaly Diaries (2017) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Take Off (2017) — directed by Mahesh Narayanan
Mayaanadhi (2017) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Sudani from Nigeria (2018) — directed by Zakariya
Ee.Ma.Yau (2018) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Jallikattu (2019) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Virus (2019) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Unda (2019) — directed by Khalid Rahman
The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) — directed by Jeo Baby
Joji (2021) — directed by Dileesh Pothan
Nayattu (2021) — directed by Martin Prakkat
Minnal Murali (2021) — directed by Basil Joseph
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam (2021) — directed by Senna Hegde
Nna Thaan Case Kodu (2022) — directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022) — directed by Vipin Das
Romancham (2023) — directed by Jithu Madhavan
2018 (2023) — directed by Jude Anthany Joseph
Kaathal – The Core (2023) — directed by Jeo Baby
Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Bramayugam (2024) — directed by Rahul Sadasivan
Manjummel Boys (2024) — directed by Chidambaram
Aavesham (2024) — directed by Jithu Madhavan
Premalu (2024) — directed by Girish A. D.
Kishkindha Kaandam (2024) — directed by Dinjith Ayyathan
Bougainvillea (2024) — directed by Amal Neerad
Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015) — directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan

About This List

Since 1980, Malayalam cinema has run two parallel miracles: an art cinema that carried Kerala to the world — Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Elippathayam, Shaji N. Karun's Piravi, Aravindan's meditations — and a popular cinema of astonishing craft, from Padmarajan and Bharathan's middle path through the Mohanlal and Mammootty golden age to the new wave of Lijo Jose Pellissery, Dileesh Pothan and beyond. This is an independent editorial selection of the hundred essential films of those four decades, ranked by this site — meant to be argued with, streamed, and worked through one classic at a time.

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