A curated selection · Kerala's new century of cinema · 2000 → Today

The 100
Best Films

of 21st Century Malayalam Cinema

From Blessy's tearworks to the new generation's break and the 2024 boom — the century's hundred, ranked. Mark what you've seen, and let the projector pick tonight's film.

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The new wave decade leads — and the 2020s are catching up fast

The 100 Best Malayalam Films of the 21st Century — full ranked list

Kumbalangi Nights (2019) — directed by Madhu C. Narayanan
Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016) — directed by Dileesh Pothan
Ee.Ma.Yau (2018) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017) — directed by Dileesh Pothan
Drishyam (2013) — directed by Jeethu Joseph
Premam (2015) — directed by Alphonse Puthren
Thanmathra (2005) — directed by Blessy
Bangalore Days (2014) — directed by Anjali Menon
The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) — directed by Jeo Baby
Jallikattu (2019) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Ustad Hotel (2012) — directed by Anwar Rasheed
Kammatipaadam (2016) — directed by Rajeev Ravi
Angamaly Diaries (2017) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Sudani from Nigeria (2018) — directed by Zakariya
Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Kaathal – The Core (2023) — directed by Jeo Baby
Joji (2021) — directed by Dileesh Pothan
Virus (2019) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Ore Kadal (2007) — directed by Shyamaprasad
Paleri Manikyam (2009) — directed by Ranjith
Pranchiyettan & the Saint (2010) — directed by Ranjith
Adaminte Makan Abu (2011) — directed by Salim Ahamed
Traffic (2011) — directed by Rajesh Pillai
22 Female Kottayam (2012) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Annayum Rasoolum (2013) — directed by Rajeev Ravi
Take Off (2017) — directed by Mahesh Narayanan
Mayaanadhi (2017) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Unda (2019) — directed by Khalid Rahman
Nayattu (2021) — directed by Martin Prakkat
Manjummel Boys (2024) — directed by Chidambaram
Bramayugam (2024) — directed by Rahul Sadasivan
2018 (2023) — directed by Jude Anthany Joseph
Moothon (2019) — directed by Geetu Mohandas
Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015) — directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
Katha Parayumpol (2007) — directed by M. Mohanan
Kaazhcha (2004) — directed by Blessy
Perumazhakkalam (2004) — directed by Kamal
Meghamalhar (2001) — directed by Kamal
Madhuranombarakattu (2000) — directed by Kamal
Nandanam (2002) — directed by Ranjith
Meesa Madhavan (2002) — directed by Lal Jose
Classmates (2006) — directed by Lal Jose
Arabikkatha (2007) — directed by Lal Jose
Thirakkatha (2008) — directed by Ranjith
Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004) — directed by K. Madhu
Rajamanikyam (2005) — directed by Anwar Rasheed
Udayananu Tharam (2005) — directed by Rosshan Andrrews
CID Moosa (2003) — directed by Johny Antony
Big B (2007) — directed by Amal Neerad
Thalappavu (2008) — directed by Madhupal
Bhramaram (2009) — directed by Blessy
Pazhassi Raja (2009) — directed by Hariharan
Ritu (2009) — directed by Shyamaprasad
Passenger (2009) — directed by Ranjith Sankar
Kerala Cafe (2009) — directed by Anthology · ten directors
Salt N' Pepper (2011) — directed by Aashiq Abu
Indian Rupee (2011) — directed by Ranjith
Chaappa Kurishu (2011) — directed by Sameer Thahir
Ee Adutha Kaalathu (2012) — directed by Arun Kumar Aravind
Thattathin Marayathu (2012) — directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan
Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012) — directed by Lal Jose
Amen (2013) — directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery
Shutter (2012) — directed by Joy Mathew
North 24 Kaatham (2013) — directed by Anil Radhakrishnan Menon
Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (2013) — directed by Sameer Thahir
Om Shanti Oshana (2014) — directed by Jude Anthany Joseph
1983 (2014) — directed by Abrid Shine
How Old Are You (2014) — directed by Rosshan Andrrews
Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014) — directed by Amal Neerad
Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015) — directed by R. S. Vimal
Charlie (2015) — directed by Martin Prakkat
Pathemari (2015) — directed by Salim Ahamed
Action Hero Biju (2016) — directed by Abrid Shine
Parava (2017) — directed by Soubin Shahir
Eeda (2018) — directed by B. Ajithkumar
Koode (2018) — directed by Anjali Menon
Uyare (2019) — directed by Manu Ashokan
Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019) — directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval
Thanneer Mathan Dinangal (2019) — directed by Girish A. D.
Helen (2019) — directed by Mathukutty Xavier
Kappela (2020) — directed by Muhammad Musthafa
C U Soon (2020) — directed by Mahesh Narayanan
Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020) — directed by Sachy
Drishyam 2 (2021) — directed by Jeethu Joseph
Malik (2021) — directed by Mahesh Narayanan
Minnal Murali (2021) — directed by Basil Joseph
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam (2021) — directed by Senna Hegde
Bhoothakaalam (2022) — directed by Rahul Sadasivan
Hridayam (2022) — directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan
Pada (2022) — directed by Kamal K. M.
Thallumaala (2022) — directed by Khalid Rahman
Saudi Vellakka (2022) — directed by Tharun Moorthy
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
Iratta (2023) — directed by Rohit M. G. Krishnan
Aavesham (2024) — directed by Jithu Madhavan
Premalu (2024) — directed by Girish A. D.
Kishkindha Kaandam (2024) — directed by Dinjith Ayyathan
Thudarum (2025) — directed by Tharun Moorthy

About This List

The 21st century remade Malayalam cinema twice: first through the quiet craftsmanship of the 2000s — Blessy's grief studies, Shyamaprasad's chamber dramas, Ranjith's writerly turn — and then through the 2011 new-generation break that led to Dileesh Pothan's realism, Lijo Jose Pellissery's chaos symphonies, and a 2020s run so strong that Manjummel Boys, Bramayugam, Premalu and Aavesham arrived within a single year. This is an independent editorial ranking of the century's hundred best, curated by this site — argue with it, stream from it, and work through it one film at a time.

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