The Best Malayalam Movies Streaming on Amazon Prime

Malayalam movies are my weakness. I am always proud of what excellent talent we have in the industry, be it directors with attention to detail or scriptwriters who can juggle reality bitten characters and bigger than life heroes or actors with effortless acting capabilities. If you are done watching the Best Malayalam films on Netflix, here’s more for you. There are small town dramas, medical thrillers and feel-good films now streaming on Prime.

PS: The translation of the titles given in the brackets is my own and not the official title.

1.Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

One of the biggest hits that won hearts this year is Madhu C. Narayanan’s Kumbalangi Nights set in a small fishing village, Kumbalangi, near Kochi. It is penned down by Shyam Pushkaran and follows a dysfunctional family of four brothers (two good-for-nothings, one dancer, one student). The character arcs are brilliant, laced with humour and strengthened with striking performances.  It is one of the few films that does not celebrate the toxic male and shines light on mental illness, ego, body shaming and sibling rivalry without being preachy. Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir and Fahadh Fazil give a standing-ovation-worthy performance. An absolute gem!
 

2.Virus (2019)

Directed by Aashiq Abu, this medical thriller is a non-glamourized, close-to-real look at the Nipah virus outbreak that shook Kerala in 2018. Though there was a scare of another outbreak this year, it was thankfully false. I was surprised to realise that the character played by Parvathy, which adds cinematic pressure, was based on a real person who played a vital role in finding the roots of the outbreak. With fast pacing and myriads of characters (all of whom are given equal importance), Virus makes us appreciate doctors, nurses, political heads and the smaller cogs in the system, who literally serve at the cost of their own death. After you watch it, check out this piece on ‘Reel vs real life characters in the movie’.

3.Ente Ummante Peru (2019)

Directed by Jose Sebastian, Ente Ummante Peru (transl. My mother’s name) is a feel-good watch. It follows a young man Hameed (Tovino Thomas) in search of his mother so that he can free himself from the ‘yatheem’ (orphan) label. The movie is quite plot-less, but it promises subtle humour, heart warming scenes of friendship, the beauty and dialect of north Kerala through Thalassery and also ample walks around Lucknow. Urvashi gives a strong performance as the unappealing, rude mother figure. Skip this if you are irked with movies that have very little substance.

Read : Best Malayalam movies on Netflix
 

4.Lucifer (2019)

Lucifer is a mass film — the typical alpha male, punch dialogues and slow motion fights. I did my share of clapping and cheering (especially for Mohanlal’s ‘Narcotics is a dirty business’, which only Malayalees will get the reference) in the theatre. Following a good vs evil (not really) plot set in a political environment, actor Prithviraj Sukumaran impresses with his directorial debut (especially the transitions between scenes, so fresh!). The movie stood in limelight for its references to the Illuminati and for being the first Malayalam movie to enter the 200-crore club. Except for the unnecessary item song, and the character played by Prithviraj himself (you could delete this character and the movie would make perfect sense; but there are rumours that he has a bigger role in the sequel), this one is an entertainer.

Warning : Perhaps more suited for Malayalees than non-Malayalees.
 

5.Kunju Daivam (2018)

Kunju Daivam (transl. Small god) directed by Jeo Baby is a heart warming story of a boy who aims to increase his height by attending church regularly for 100 days. He bribes his way, through prayers, in and out of homework assignments but one prayer takes a turn for the worse. He then goes on a one-man (boy?) search for a kidney. Terrorising school teachers, hypocritical spiritual leaders, and domestic squabbles colour the scenes. The child actor, Adish Praveen, won a National Award for this film

Here are two extra movies that are dubbed into Malayalam. Of course it is better to watch them in the original language, also available on Prime.
 

6.Peranbu (2019)

Peranbu (transl. Compassion), directed by Ram, highlights an important point that people with disabilities too have sexual desires and needs. When a father (Ambuvadhan, played by Mammooty) is entrusted with the care of his spastic, 14 year old daughter (Pappa played by Sadhana), he has a much bigger responsibility than he anticipates. The movie is sensitive, devastating, and achingly beautiful. It also stars a transsexual actor (Anjali Ameer) in a lead role and it is a joy to note that she isn’t a mere wallflower or a mockery aimed character in the film.

7.Mahanati (2018)

Mahanati (transl. The great actress), directed by Nag Ashwin, was simultaneously made in Tamil (Nadigaiyar Thilakam, transl. Champion of actresses) and Telugu (Mahanati)and dubbed in Malayalam. It is the biopic of South Indian actress, Savitri, and brilliantly portrays her rise to fame, turbulent love affair (and marriage) with the womanizer and actor, Gemini Ganesan, and ultimate decline. I watched the Tamil version. It was utterly enchanting; Keerthy brings to life the talented Savitri with uncanny grace and Dulquer Salman’s performance as Gemini Ganesan was spectacular.

All images are promotional posters of the said films. Please contact me if any need to be removed.