Eight Malayalam films that you must definitely watch on Amazon Prime Videos

Ayyappanum Koshiyum
(Image credit: Gold Coin Motion Picture Company)

The advent of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos and HotStar has seen several welcome developments in the entertainment industry. And breaking down of language barrier resulting in a larger audience for non-English titles could be considered the biggest. 

When Netflix first arrived in India and Amazon Prime followed suit immediately, Indian viewers got a wider choice of international cinema with subtitles. In fact, not just movies, even episodic content gained popularity. Narcos received tremendous following in India as did Money Heist, both being Spanish. In fact, our very own Sacred Games found itself in several global lists of popular Netflix series. 

It was not just movies and series in foreign languages that gained acceptance. Even movies made in various Indian languages began crossing over territory as the presence of subtitles meant that all was not lost in translation. Starting with this list, TechRadar India would bring you weekly doses of movies in various languages that would enrich your movie experience. 

Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)

Prithviraj and Biju Menon from Ayyappanum Koshiyum Malayalam Movie

Prithviraj and Biju Menon from Ayyappanum Koshiyum Malayalam Movie (Image credit: Gold Coin Motion Picture Company)

Director: Sachy

Actors: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Biju Menon

Synopsis: The story revolves around the conflict between Koshy Kurien, an influential and wealthy retired army jawan and Ayyappan Nair, a Sub-inspector in Attappadi, a reserve forest and scenic part of Kerala. It is a story of bloated egos and a sense of entitlement that certain public roles bring to the person carrying it out. Such has been the popularity of the movie that it is already being remade in multiple south Indian languages and may even find itself converted into a Bollywood script. 

Virus (2019)

Virus Malayalam movie

Rima Kallingal, Tovino Thomas, Kunchako Boban, Asif Ali  (Image credit: OPM Cinemas)

Director: Ashiq Abu

Actors: Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Indrajeeth Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Parvathy

Synopsis: The movie is set in the backdrop of the 2018 Nipah virus attack and the manner in which Kerala handled it without allowing it to spread. The movie was shot in a single schedule at the Government Medical College in Kozhikode and featured some of the top actors from Malayalam cinema. The story features a man who gets admitted to hospital and dies thereafter after passing on a unknown virus to 18 other people. The movie takes us through a tension-filled few days as doctors and staff battle the virus using isolation and treatment protocols. In fact, it was this real life experience that helped Kerala tackle the Covid-19 virus more effectively. 

Driving License (2019)

Driving License Malayalam Movie

Prithviraj in a scene from Driving License (Image credit: Prithviraj Productions Magic Frames)

Director: Lal Junior

Actors: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu

Synopsis: What happens when a top movie star loses his cool at a fan, who happens to be a traffic inspector and when the actor needs to get a duplicate driving license? Yet another story of clashing egos where the slighted traffic inspector uses every rule in the book to harass the actor and force him to accept his conditions.  Of fulfilling all formalities where usually people in India procure a driver's license after paying a fixed bribe to the local touts. Both actors are in peak form in this movie which went on to garner tremendous crowd support. 

Kumbalangi Nights 

Kumbalangi Nights Malayalam Movie

Srinath Bhasi, Shoubin Shahir and Shane Nigam (Image credit: Fahadh Faasil and Friends)

Director: Madhu C Narayanan

Actors: Shoubin Shaheer, Shane Nigam, Srinath Bhasi and Fahadh Faasil 

Synopsis: Set in the quaint fishing village of Kumbalangi in Kochi, the movie revolves around the strained relationship between two brothers and their two step-brothers living in a dysfunctional home. The movie was produced by actor Fahadh Faasil who plays a negative role in the movie, of someone suffering from acute emotional disorder. The movie became a sleeper hit with viewers from across the world hailing it as a coming of age film for the debutant director. 

Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019)

Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 Malayalam Movie

Suraj Venjaramoodu in a scene from the movie (Image credit: Moonshot Entertainment)

Director: Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval

Actors: Suraj Venjaramoodu, Shoubin Shahir, Saiju Kurup

Synopsis: Inspired by the 2012 Hollywood movie Robot and Frank, this one tells the story of a man who heads out to Russia for work and leaves behind his ageing father with a robot for company. The father makes his son quit earlier jobs because he fears a lonely death and to guard against that the son gets him a robot caregiver. How the man first resents the machine and then accepts it into his life makes for the rest of this heartwarming story, which also hands out a message of elderly care.  

Unda (2019) 

Malayalam Movie Unda

Mammootty plays sub-inspector Manikandan in Unda (Image credit: Movie Mill Gemini Studios)

Director: Khalid Rahman

Actor: Mammootty, Shine Tom Chacko, Arjun Ashokan, Ranjith

Synopsis: Those who have seen the Bollywood flick Newton featuring Rajkumar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi would resonate with this story involving a police unit from Kerala that is deputed to provide security during an election in faraway Chhattisgarh. Based on a real incident during the 2014 general elections, the story revolves around the sub-inspector leading a nine-member team and how they battle the odds, including one that relates to their having never fired a rifle. Mega-star Mammootty essayed the role of the inspector who is comfortable with his lathi than his pistol. 

Trance (2020)

Trance Malayalam Movie

The real-life couple Nazriya Nazim and Fahadh Faasil in a still from the movie (Image credit: Anwar Rasheed Entertainment)

Director: Anwar Rasheed

Actors: Fahadh Faasil, Nazriya Nazim, Gautam Menon, Dilesh Pothan

Synopsis: The plot follows the events in the life of Viju Prasad, a Kanyakumari-based despondent motivational speaker, an atheist, who is hired by a couple of business tycoons to work as a Christian pastor and miracle worker. The logic being that religion is where the money is underlines the story and its shift from motivating people to heal themselves to eventually creating a money-spinning empire that is complete with places for congregation, schools, digital offerings and the works. Fahadh Faasil was appreciated for his nuanced performance as a high-strung pastor.

Helen (2019)

Helen Malayalam Movie

Anna Ben and Lal act in this survival thriller (Image credit: Big Bang Entertainments)

Director: Mathukutty Xavier

Actors: Anna Ben, Lal, Aju Varghese, Noble Babu Thomas

Synopsis: The story of a nursing graduate who works at a cold storage and gets locked inside the facility by mistake makes the crux of the story. Upon realizing her predicament, Helen doesn't lose faith and tries everything to keep herself alive in the deep freeze where temperature is maintained at minus 18 degrees celsius. Outside, the predicament of her father, who disapproves of her relationship with a boy outside of his community and his fears for her wellbeing is played out. This mix makes for an edge of the seat thriller where the audience, for once, feels empathy for all the characters. 

This is the first of our lists from regional Indian cinema. We hope you take time off and watch at least a few of these movies and savour the flavours of "God's Own Country" while appreciating the cinematic excellence of their movies. Each one of these films fared well at the box office and received critical acclaim. 

Raj Narayan

A media veteran who turned a gadget lover fairly recently. An early adopter of Apple products, Raj has an insatiable curiosity for facts and figures which he puts to use in research. He engages in active sport and retreats to his farm during his spare time.