Best Malayalam Thriller Movies
Over the last few years, the Malayalam Film Industry has stunned the global audience with its spellbinding thriller movies. Indian film industries such as the Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil film industries have largely focused on action films. We have seen countless massive large-scale and high-budget action films in the last decade. Whereas the Malayalam filmmakers have largely focused on several critically acclaimed low-budget thriller movies. Their films have impressed the biggest actors, producers, and directors of the Indian Cinema. They have received the appreciation tremendously.
To name a few, we have listed the best Malayalam thriller films that will excite you with its tight script.
Table of contents
- Drishyam (2013 – Beginning)
- Kuruthi (2021)
- Joji (2021)
- Iratta (2023)
- Nayattu (2021)
- Jana Gana Mana (2022)
- Joseph (2018)
- Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)
- lucifer (2019)
- Anweshippin Kandethum (2024)
Drishyam (2013 – Beginning)
In 2013, director and writer Jeetu Joseph received praise for his critically acclaimed film Drishyam. Drishyam is a popular movie franchise in India. It is a crime thriller film that received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in India. It is considered a landmark film in the Malayalam Film Industry. Drishyam won numerous awards including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. The film starred an ensemble cast of Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sarath, Siddique, Roshan Basheer, and Neeraj Madhav among others.
Following its success the film was remade in several languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. The film was remade in Chinese language as well and the film was titled Sheep Without a Shephed. It was the ninth-highest-grossing Chinese film of 2019. The remake of Drishyam in Indonesian and Korean languages has been announced as well.
A sequel titled Drishyam 2 was released in 2021. The film was released on digital platform Prime Video due to the pandemic. Again, the sequel received widespread critical acclaim and was remade in several languages.
Drishyam 1 (Malayalam) is available on Hotstar while Drishyam 2 (Malayalam) is available on Prime Video.
Jeetu Joseph is presently writing the script of Drishyam 3.
Kuruthi (2021)
Kuruthi is a neo-noir action thriller film written by Anish Pallyal and directed by Manu Warrier. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Roshan Mathews, Shine Tom Chacko, Murali Gopy, Naslen K. Gafoor, and Mamukkoya among others. Popular Indian Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the character of the main antagonist in the film. He has also produced the film along with his wife Supriya Menon under their production banner Prithviraj Productions.
Kuruthi was released on 11 August 2021 to positive reviews from the critics. The film was released digitally on Amazon Prime Video. It is one of the most-watched films of 2021 on the digital platform.
Kuruthi is a mind-blowing thriller film that should fascinate the viewers. The film was shot in just a month, from December 2020 to January 2021. However, the editing and post-production work took a few months. Kuruthi was initially meant to be released in theatres. But the second wave of coronavirus took place in India in 2021 and the film was released digitally.
The film is available on Amazon Prime Video
Joji (2021)
Like Kuruthi, Joji is another film that was meant to be released in theatres but got released digitally due to the second wave of the pandemic. Joji is a crime drama thriller film starring Fahadh Faasil, Baburaj, Basil Joseph, Shammi Thilakan, and Unnimaya Prasad among others.
The film tells the story of a wealthy family based in a small town in Kerala during the peak COVID-19 pandemic. The family includes a 74-year-old man and his three sons. One of three sons is Joji played by Fahadh Faasil who is disappointed with his family as he is often intimidated by everyone and he plans to even the score with everyone.
The film received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. Like always, Fahadh Faasil was exceedingly praised for his performance as Joji. Fahadh Faasil is one of India’s finest actors. The film is directed by Dileesh Pothan. The film won several awards as it is considered one of the best Malayalam thriller movies ever.
The film is available on Amazon Prime Video
Iratta (2023)
Iratta is a crime thriller film written and directed by Rohit M. G Krishnan. The film stars popular actor Joju George, Anjali, Arya Salim, and Srikant Murali. The film revolves around a mystery murder case of a policeman inside the police station.
Joju George features in dual roles as twin brothers, one is a senior police officer and the second one is a junior police officer. The film tells the story of the junior police officer who died inside the police station and his case is investigated by his estranged brother who is the senior of the police force.
Iratta was released on 3rd February 2023 to positive reviews. The film received high praise from the critics. A month later on 3rd March 2023, the film was released digitally on Netflix and became one of the most-watched movies of the year.
The climax of Iratta is intense and astonishing. It is surely going to leave the audience dumbfounded.
The film is available on Netflix
Nayattu (2021)
Nayattu is a survival thriller film directed by Martin Prakkat and released on 8 April 2021. The film stars an ensemble cast of Joju George, Kunchako Boban, Nimisha Sajayan, and Jaffar Idukki among others.
Nayattu revolves around an accident and murder case where the Kerala police accused three of their police officers and some major politicians got involved. The film received widespread critical acclaim upon its release.
In October 2021, Nayattu was nominated for India’s selection for Best International Film at the 94th Academy Awards. The film was remade in the Telugu language as well.
The film is available on Netflix
Jana Gana Mana (2022)
Jana Gana Mana is a legal thriller film directed by Dijo Jose Anthony. The film was released on 28 April 2022 to widespread critical acclaim. The film was praised for its story, screenplay, dialogues, writing, editing, direction, and performance by the cast.
The film starred an ensemble cast of Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Pasupathi Raj, G M Sundar, Mamta Mohandas, Sri Divya, Shari, and Priyanka Nair among others. Most of the scenes of Jana Gana Mana are in Malayalam language but some scenes are also in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and English languages.
Jana Gana Mana is based on a few widespread real-life incidents that happened in India.
The film is available on Netflix
Joseph (2018)
Joseph is a crime thriller film directed by M. Padmakumar. The film stars an ensemble cast of Joju George, Athmiya Rajan, Malavika Menon, Madhuri Braganza, and Dileesh Pothan among others. The film was released on 16 November 2018 to widespread critical acclaim and highly positive reviews.
The story revolves around four retired police officers and an investigation. Actor Joju George won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actor. He also received a special mention at the National Awards.
Joseph is being remade in Hindi language with actor Sunny Deol surprising Joju George’s role. The Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil remakes of Joseph are already released.
The film is available on Netflix
Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)
Ayyappanum Koshiyum is an action thriller film directed and written by Sachy. The film stars an ensemble cast of Prithviraj Sukumaran, Biju Menon, Anil Nedumangad, Gowri Nandha, and Anna Rajan among others.
Ayyappanum Koshiyum is one of the most celebrated films of the Malayalam film industry. The film received widespread critical acclaim for its story, screenplay, and writing. They won numerous awards including two National Film Awards.
Ayyappanum Koshiyum stars Prithviraj Sukumaran as a wealthy, influential, and ex-military officer who goes on an ego fight with a ferocious police officer played by Biju Menon. Ayyappanum Koshiyum was remade in Telugu language while the Hindi remake is in pre-production.
The film is available on Hotstar
Lucifer (2019)
Lucifer is a 2019 political thriller film starring an ensemble cast of Mohanlal, Vivek Oberoi, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Saikumar among others. The film is directed by popular actor Prithviraj Sukumaran who also made a special appearance in the film. Upon its release, Lucifer broke several records and emerged as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films ever. The film received highly positive reviews.
A Telugu remake of Lucifer was released in 2022 where actor Chiranjeevi reprised the role of Mohanlal and superstar Salman Khan reprised the special appearance of Prithviraj Sukumaran.
The makers of Lucifer are presently shooting for the sequel titled L2: Empuraan. It is one of the most anticipated Malayalam films.
The film is available on Prime Video
Anweshippin Kandethum (2024)
Anweshippin Kandethum is a 2024 police thriller film directed by Darwin Kuriakose. The film stars an ensemble cast of Tovin Thomas, Siddique, Thomas, Baburaj, Sadiq, and Shammi Thilakan among others.
The film revolves around a police officer and his team who are suspended for their oversight and negligence and are re-assigned unofficially to investigate a long unsolved murder case.
Anweshippin Kandethum was released on 9 February 2024 to positive reviews.
Anweshippin Kandethum is available on Netflix