A survival thriller, a rom-com, a period folk horror, a mass entertainer and more: 9 best Malayalam films of 2024’s first half

9) Manjummel Boys

Director Chidambaram’s survival thriller is currently the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. Based on a real incident from 2006, Manjummel Boys manages to draw viewers into its world instantaneously and spectacularly, thanks to the brilliant contributions of literally everyone in its cast and crew. Though the movie’s script falls short in capitalising on potentially intense moments, Manjummel Boys can indeed be dubbed as a good film that tugs at viewers’ heartstrings.

8) Premalu

If a movie is marketed as a rom-com, we know that the central characters will ultimately end up together, even if it’s a one-sided love that is portrayed for a significant portion of the screen time. That’s the conventional template we’re accustomed to and we’re fine with watching another film made in the same mould. However, the challenge for a filmmaker lies in how they present the story. It’s not sufficient for the relationship to be endearing; it should also resonate with the audience, evoke the same emotions that the characters experience and compel them to root for the duo’s union. To achieve this, a touch of freshness is necessary so that the audience remains engaged without making obvious predictions. This is where Premalu succeeds. Not only does writer-director Girish AD skillfully place the Malayalam film in a lesser-explored city, giving unfamiliar visuals, but he also deftly integrates real-life situations, conflicts and humour to create a vibrant cinematic experience. Enhanced by outstanding performances from the lead actors, whose chemistry too is delightful, Premalu remains faithful to its genre throughout.

Mammootty in director Rahul Sadasivan’s Bramayugam. (Image: Mammootty Kampany/Facebook)

7) Bramayugam

Once unleashed, there is no stopping actor Mammootty, and that’s exactly what director Rahul Sadasivan’s Bramayugam proves. One of the finest experimental movies in the industry’s history, this black-and-white period folk horror film also serves as a testament to the achievements possible through meticulous filmmaking. The film also utilises mythology to provide a brilliant take on the politics of power and the significant role caste plays within it.

6) Aavesham

Despite scaling heights, performing a diverse range of roles, and earning widespread acclaim, many doubted Fahadh Faasil’s ability to tackle a full-on massy role and achieve the “superstar” label. Though he never aimed for this title, Fahadh effectively silenced all criticisms through director Jithu Madhavan’s gangster comedy Aavesham. This all-encompassing Malayalam masala film provides equal parts laughs and thrills, serving as a reference for how to rejuvenate a familiar and overused template and create a fresh film without evoking déjà vu of old movies.

Prithviraj Sukumaran in Blessy’s Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life. (Image: Prithviraj Sukumaran/Facebook)

5) Aadujeevitham

It is doubtful if any Malayalam movie has generated as much anticipation as Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life had. What’s intriguing is that it’s not a mass entertainer or a vehicle for superstar worship. Instead, the hype primarily stemmed from the fact that it’s an adaptation of a beloved and best-selling novel of the same name. Director Blessy, through actor Prithviraj Sukumaran’s outstanding performance, as well as the support of a powerful crew, vividly portrayed Najeeb’s tumultuous journey. While remaining faithful to the original work, the director also made strategic decisions to enhance the film’s appeal, especially since it couldn’t delve into every thought of Najeeb as the novel does. Aadujeevitham masterfully captures Najeeb’s struggles, helplessness, hope, resilience and tenacity in a detailed and impactful manner.

4) Ullozhukku

A spellbinding work like Ullozhukku is what audiences get when a filmmaker has a complete understanding of the world they have created; believe me, most “directors” don’t. Right from the start, it is clear that writer-director Christo Tomy knows all the undercurrents of his narrative. While the Malayalam movie touches upon several subjects like parental paternalism, the role of patriarchy in Indian families, camaraderie between women, morality and women’s agency, Ullozhukku never feels like a preachy film made just to deliver a message without artistic merit. With measured writing, sharp technical aspects — especially the music and cinematography — and a stellar performance by Urvashi, Ullozhukku offers an unforgettable experience.

3) Paradise

Helmed by legendary Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanage, Paradise is a modern-day classic that serves as a multifaceted microcosm. While the movie addresses the Sri Lankan economic crisis and the nationwide protests it sparked, Paradise also explores themes such as the system’s oppression and harassment of Eelam Tamils and their resistance, elitism, humanity, empathy, lack of empathy, loneliness, manipulation and more. Although the movie starts off as a feel-good romance, it gradually slithers through multiple terrains, defying genres at several points, and seamlessly incorporates multiple languages, including Malayalam, Sinhala, Tamil, Hindi, and English, into its narrative. Ace cinematographer Rajeev Ravi’s contributions, combined with those of other crew members, and spectacular performances by Darshana Rajendran and Roshan Mathew, elevate the movie to the stature of a masterpiece.

2) Aattam

Aattam, directed by Anand Ekarshi, is one of those films that gives a tingling feeling in the neck throughout and the reason for this depends on factors such as hypocrisy, greed, shamelessness, self-centeredness and more in us. The film’s greatest strength lies in its intricately crafted screenplay, featuring sharp dialogues. A significant part of the Malayalam movie revolves around 11 men who sit and ‘discuss/investigate’ an incident where a woman from their drama troupe was sexually assaulted while she was accompanied by the team members. It also dissects each character with utmost precision, avoiding anything to appear contrived, and reveals their multiple layers and greyness at a gradual, real-time pace. From the setting of each shot to the measured tempo in which the dialogues are delivered, aligned with the narrative’s atmosphere at any given moment, Aattam underscores that a movie becomes spectacular only when everyone involved, led by a visionary director, invests their heart, soul, sweat, tears, and blood into it.

1) Family

In an interview with Hindustan Times last year, director Don Palathara said that he “always looked at this particular story as a horror story.” The closing scene in this Malayalam film indeed underscores this sentiment. Family is a multi-layered slow-burner that explores how families, religious institutions and a conservative, close-knit society facilitate child sex abuse and create a safe space for predators. The mention, in the film’s beginning, of the presence of a prowling leopard in the area gradually reveals itself as a symbol of this predatory force. The movie also challenges the perceived innocence often blindly attributed to rural areas and their inhabitants. With exceptional performances by Vinay Forrt, Divya Prabha and Nilja K Baby, alongside impressive technical craftsmanship, Don creates a chilling yet compelling narrative that demands attention.