Best Malayalam Movies 2022

[Maricel Fergason]

Yetamidst these challenging times, Malayalam cinema thrived, especially compared to last year. Not just moderately well, but extraordinarily well; impressively well; dazzlingly well; awe-inspiringly well. The year has been so fruitful for the industry that five of the ten highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time were released in 2024. Malayalam cinema outshined all other major industries in the country, not just in box office numbers but also in the sheer quality of works produced during the first half of this year. As vexing as the process is, here are the Malayalam movies we consider the best among those released in theatres in the past six months.

Released this year, Nna Than Case Kodu has already created a buzz due to its simple yet unique storyline. Directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, this movie is a story about a reformed thief who fights in court to prove himself innocent. The movie deals with serious justice issues in a comedic way.

A story of a man dealing with anger management issues. Things get out of hand when he gets involved with a gangster. Some of the best actors and actresses like Dulquer Salman, Sai Pallavi, Vinayakan, and Soubin Shahir are in this Sameer Thahir-directed movie.

A story so unique yet so relatable, Parava is a story based out of Fort Kochi. Haseeb and Irshaad, two friends have an interest in rearing pigeons. The movie has an 8 IMDb rating and is an absolutely beautiful watch. Soubin Shahir is the director of the movie.

Based on a true story, Take Off was released in 2017 and stars Parvathy, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko, and Asif Ali as the lead. It is a survival thriller movie about the Indian nurses who got stranded in the city of Tikrit, Iran.

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While there were some box office misses, there wer some commerical hits too. 2023 was a mixed bag for Malayalam movies. Here is a list of some of the brilliant movies that you should watch if you haven't already.

If you love survival dramas, this one based on the severe 2018 Kerala floods will give the chills. Starring Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan among others, 2018 is simply one of the best Malayalam movies of 2018 whose powerful and moving story evokes emotions as well as thrill.

In this emotional suspense filled thriller, Joju George stars in in dual roles along with Anjali, Arya Salim and Srikant Murali. The story revolves around twins, one of whom dies on duty. The investigation that follows next unravels a lot of secrets that leads to the reason of his death.

The comedy-drama film starring Vijayaraghavan (Ittoop) as a 100-year-old man and KPAC Leela as his wife revolves around their granddaughter's engagement, the day when Ittoop tells the family that he wants divorce. While everyone laughs it off initially, things take a serious turn eventually. High on emotions, the film hailed as one of the best Malayalam movies of 2023 is a delight to watch.

Exploring the comedy horror genre, Romancham revolves around seven bachelors inviting a spirit as the Ouija board goes hilariously wrong. Based on real life incident that director Jithu Madhavan experienced himself, the film will give you plenty of laughs and goosebumps too.

A Police procedural story revolves around a deadbody found floating mysteriosuly and the Police departments trying to push the case on one another. Meanwhile, two families are looking for missing men from their families. Darshana Rajendran stellar performance and film's humrous take on human behaviour and life makes this absolute dark comedy roller coaster a must watch and one of the best Malayalam movies of 2023.

The crime thriller starring Mammootty and Rony David Raj among others is a well-directed masterpiece that revolves around a four-member police investigation team that goes to north India to nab a criminal gang. The film is pretty engaging right from the start and a must-watch film of 2023.

Adding to the list of best Malayalam movies of 2023 is Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum starring Fahad Faasil revolves around a middle class Malayali youth who agrees to take his landlord's mother from Kerala to Mumbai without knowin that the journey he is about to take is of self-discovery and adventure. It is a heart-warming story that will definitely bring a smile to your face.

A crime drama starring Biju Menon, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Aparna Balamurali, Thankam revolves around two gold brokers who travel to Mumbai in order to distribute gold. However, their journey isn't as easy as it sounds. The murder mystery has one of the best climax in a crime drama.

Starring Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese and Neeraj Madhav, RDX: Robert Dony Xavier is a delight for action enthusiasts. It revolves around three friends who are honing their martial arts skilsl at a local academy. Altercation with rival gangs forces them to separate only to reunite later after a brutal assault. The adrenaline rush of action cinema will keep you on the edge of yoru seats and that's what makes it one of the best Malayalam movies of 2023.

Starring Nivin Pauly, Indrajith Sukumaran, Joju George and Arjun Ashokan among others, Thuramukham is about the famous protests against the 'chappa' system that was practiced in the Cochin harbor during the 1950s. Hailed as one of the best Malayalam movies of 2023, Thuramukham is a master class in cinematography.

One of the best Malayalam movies of 2023, B 32 Muthal 44 Vare stars Anarkali Marikar, Remya Nambeesan and Krisha Kurup among others is a story of five women and a transman from different walks of life who face pressures in their daily lives because of body image issues.

The comedy movie starring Kunchacko Boban, Aparna Balamurali, Madonna Sebastian and Vincy Aloshious is a light-hearted family entertainer that reflects on several social issues. We are sure you won't regret watching this one.

Garima Satija leads the Entertainment vertical of Indiatimes. A storyteller at heart who enjoys the thrill of writing, she is sometimes found daydreaming about living the lives of movie characters. Also, she hates talking about herself in the third person

The Malayalam cinema industry is currently at its very high peak, content-wise and business-wise. Known for its quality and daring approach, many best Malayalam movies have often set the standard for the rest of the film industry as many Malayalam movies have been remade in other languages. The industry has a rich tradition of tackling various genres, resulting in many iconic movies that have left a lasting impression.

Joji, written by Shyam Pushkaran and directed by Dileesh Pothan, is one of the classic films ever made in Malayalam cinema. Fahadh Faasil plays the title role in this psychological crime drama film which is loosely adapted from Shakespeare's Macbeth and the 1985 Malayalam film Irakal, directed by KG George. Released on Amazon Prime, Joji won national-level acclaim especially due to Fahadh Faasil's exceptional performance in the lead role.

Rahul Sadasivan's Bramayugam is a fantasy horror thriller that is narrated in the background of mediaeval myths and folklore characters of Kerala. Starring Mammootty and with only five characters in the entire film, Bramayugam stood out as a unique cinematic experience that came out from Malayalam recently. Bramayugam was discussed and celebrated nationwide drawing attention to its unique approach and storytelling.

Chidambaram's second movie Manjummel Boys is the biggest blockbuster and all-time top grosser in the Malayalam film industry. The film grossed over 200 crores worldwide and created waves everywhere in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu where it collected spectacularly. The movie is based on a real-life incident where a group of young men from a small town Manjummel were trapped in the Guna cave in Kodaikanal and their survival. Manjummel Boys achieved widespread acclaim and celebration without major stars, showcasing its compelling story and excellent filmmaking. Manjummel Boys is a must-watch Malayalam movie for any cinephile.

Jeethu Joseph directed Drishyam marked a revolutionary moment in Malayalam cinema when it was released in 2013. Its compelling unique story led to remakes in various languages, including Tamil and Hindi. Impressively, Drishyam even inspired a Chinese adaptation and a well-known Hollywood production house bagged the rights to an English remake. Drishyam was hailed as one of the top Malayalam movies of all time. The brilliant performances by Mohanlal, Meena and Shajohn contributed to its record-breaking success at the Malayalam box office. The film's immense popularity led to a sequel and talk of a third installment underscoring its lasting impact on audiences around the world.

The 2022 Malayalam blockbuster Rorschach stands out as a truly epic cinematic masterpiece of Indian cinema. This is one movie which can be shown to audiences all over the world. Graded in Neo Noir style, this psychological thriller stars Mammootty in the lead role. The plot of Rorschach tells the mysterious story of Luke, played by Mammootty, who arrives in a rural Kerala village in search of his missing wife and discovers some dark truths along the way. This thriller breaks new ground in Malayalam cinema with its innovative storytelling style and offers viewers a fresh and immersive viewing experience. Rorschach is undoubtedly one of the best Malayalam movies of all time.

Premalu is one of the most entertaining movies that came out in Malayalam cinema in a long time. This Gen Z romantic comedy-drama explores the complexities of modern love and relationships among the new generation. Naslen Gafoor and Mamitha Baiju are the lead artists of this movie. Directed by Girish AD, known for making lighthearted dramas, the film stands out among the top Malayalam movies of all time. Excitingly, the makers have announced a sequel which promises delightful moments for the audience

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