Malayalam cinema has always been known for its realistic portrayal of characters and gripping storylines. Over the years, the industry has produced some of the finest investigation and crime thriller movies that have kept audiences at the edge of their seats. From the iconic CBI series to modern-day masterpieces, Malayalam cinema has a rich collection of investigation movies that are a must-watch for any movie buff. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at 18 of the best Malayalam investigation movies that are sure to keep you hooked till the very end.
1. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988)
Director: K. Madhu
Starring: Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jagathy Sreekumar
‘Oru CBI Diary Kurippu’ is the first installment in the iconic CBI series and revolves around the character of Sethurama Iyer, a brilliant CBI officer played by Mammootty. In this movie, Sethurama Iyer is called upon to investigate the mysterious death of a businessman’s daughter-in-law, Omana. While the death is initially ruled as a suicide, Sethurama Iyer is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of lies, deceit, and murder.
The movie is known for its tight screenplay, brilliant performances, and edge-of-the-seat thrills. Mammootty’s portrayal of Sethurama Iyer is considered one of his finest performances till date. The movie also stars Suresh Gopi and Jagathy Sreekumar in pivotal roles. ‘Oru CBI Diary Kurippu’ was a massive commercial success and went on to become a cult classic in Malayalam cinema. It spawned four sequels, making it one of the most successful movie franchises in Malayalam cinema.
2. Jagratha (1989)
Director: K. Madhu
Starring: Mammootty, Mukesh, Jagathy Sreekumar
‘Jagratha’ is the second installment in the CBI series and sees Sethurama Iyer investigating the murder of a famous actress. The movie begins with the actress being found dead in her hotel room, with the police initially suspecting it to be a case of suicide. However, Sethurama Iyer is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye and begins his investigation.
As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a complex web of relationships and motives that lead him to the killer. The movie is known for its clever plotting, red herrings, and unexpected twists that keep the audience guessing till the very end. Mammootty once again delivers a stellar performance as Sethurama Iyer, with able support from Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar.
‘Jagratha’ was a critical and commercial success and further cemented the CBI series as one of the most beloved movie franchises in Malayalam cinema.
3. Chinthamani Kolacase (2006)
Director: Shaji Kailas
Starring: Suresh Gopi, Bhavana
‘Chinthamani Kolacase’ tells the story of Lal Krishna Viradiyar, a criminal lawyer with a dark past. Lal Krishna is known for his ability to get even the most hardened criminals acquitted in court. However, what the public doesn’t know is that Lal Krishna has a secret agenda – to deliver his own brand of justice to the criminals he helps acquit.
The movie takes a turn when Lal Krishna is approached by the family of Chinthamani, a young girl who was brutally raped and murdered by a gang of wealthy, spoiled brats. As Lal Krishna takes on the case, he finds himself going up against a powerful and influential family that will stop at nothing to protect their own.
‘Chinthamani Kolacase’ is a gripping tale of revenge and justice, with Suresh Gopi delivering a powerful performance as the enigmatic Lal Krishna. The movie also features a breakout performance by Bhavana as Chinthamani, the young girl whose death sets the events of the movie in motion. The movie was a massive commercial success and is considered one of the best investigation movies in Malayalam cinema.
4. Detective (2007)
Director: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Suresh Gopi, Sindhu Menon
‘Detective’ marks the directorial debut of Jeethu Joseph, who would go on to direct the blockbuster ‘Drishyam’ series. The movie tells the story of Shyam Prasad, a private detective who is hired to investigate the mysterious death of a politician’s wife. The police have ruled the death as a suicide, but Shyam is convinced that there is more to the case than meets the eye.
As Shyam delves deeper into the investigation, he finds himself entangled in a web of political intrigue and corruption. The movie is known for its clever plotting and unexpected twists, with Suresh Gopi delivering a standout performance as the enigmatic detective.
‘Detective’ was praised for its tight screenplay and edge-of-the-seat thrills. The movie was a commercial success and established Jeethu Joseph as a director to watch out for in Malayalam cinema.
5. Crime File (1999)
Director: K. Madhu
Starring: Suresh Gopi, Vijayaraghavan
‘Crime File’ tells the story of a series of mysterious deaths that occur in a convent. The police are called in to investigate, and the case is handed over to a team of officers led by Suresh Gopi’s character. As the investigation progresses, the officers find themselves in a race against time to catch the killer before they strike again.
The movie is known for its atmospheric setting, with the convent serving as the perfect backdrop for the eerie and mysterious events that unfold. Suresh Gopi delivers a commanding performance as the lead investigator, with able support from Vijayaraghavan and the rest of the cast.
‘Crime File’ was a critical and commercial success, with praise directed towards its taut screenplay and effective performances. The movie is considered one of the best investigation thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
6. Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004)
Director: K. Madhu
Starring: Mammootty, Mukesh
The third installment in the CBI series, ‘Sethurama Iyer CBI’ sees the titular character investigating a case from the past. The movie begins with a death row convict confessing to Sethurama Iyer that he had been wrongly convicted in a murder case years ago. Sethurama Iyer decides to reopen the case and find out the truth behind the murder.
As he delves deeper into the investigation, Sethurama Iyer uncovers a complex web of lies and deceit that lead him to the real killer. The movie is known for its clever plotting and unexpected twists, with Mammootty once again delivering a standout performance as the brilliant investigator.
‘Sethurama Iyer CBI’ was a massive commercial success and further cemented the CBI series as one of the most beloved movie franchises in Malayalam cinema.
7. Drishyam (2013)
Director: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena
‘Drishyam’ tells the story of Georgekutty, a middle-class family man who finds himself in a desperate situation when his daughter accidentally kills a young man who was trying to blackmail her. Georgekutty decides to cover up the crime to protect his family, but soon finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with the police as they investigate the disappearance of the young man.
The movie is a masterclass in suspense and tension, with Mohanlal delivering a career-defining performance as the resourceful and determined Georgekutty. The movie also features strong performances from Meena and the rest of the cast.
‘Drishyam’ was a massive commercial and critical success, with praise directed towards its clever plotting, effective performances, and nail-biting suspense. The movie spawned remakes in several languages and is considered one of the best investigation thrillers in Indian cinema.
8. Adikkurippu (1989)
Director: K. Madhu
Starring: Mammootty, Urvashi
‘Adikkurippu’ tells the story of Advocate Bhaskara Pillai, who takes up the case of Basheer, a homeless man who is accused of murder. As Bhaskara Pillai investigates the case, he finds himself drawn into a web of political intrigue and corruption that goes all the way to the top.
The movie is known for its strong performances, with Mammootty delivering a powerful turn as the idealistic lawyer who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Urvashi also delivers a strong performance as Bhaskara Pillai’s wife, who supports him through the investigation.
‘Adikkurippu’ was a critical and commercial success, with praise directed towards its strong performances and socially relevant themes. The movie is considered one of the best investigation thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
9. August 1 (1988)
Director: Sibi Malayil
Starring: Mammootty, Sukumaran
‘August 1’ tells the story of a Crime Branch officer who is tasked with investigating a potential threat to the Chief Minister’s life. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of the government.
The movie is known for its taut screenplay and effective performances, with Mammootty delivering a standout turn as the determined investigator. The movie also features strong performances from Sukumaran and the rest of the cast.
‘August 1’ was a commercial success and is considered one of the best political thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
10. Ee Adutha Kaalath (2012)
Director: Arun Kumar Aravind
Starring: Indrajith Sukumaran, Tanusree Ghosh
‘Ee Adutha Kaalath’ tells the story of six individuals from different walks of life whose lives become intertwined due to a series of unexpected events. The movie is a complex web of relationships and motives, with each character harboring their own secrets and agendas.
The movie is known for its clever plotting and strong performances, with Indrajith Sukumaran and Tanusree Ghosh delivering standout turns as two of the central characters. The movie also features effective performances from the rest of the ensemble cast.
‘Ee Adutha Kaalath’ was a critical success, with praise directed towards its complex screenplay and effective performances. The movie is considered one of the best multi-narrative thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
11. Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri (2007)
Director: K. Madhu
Starring: Suresh Gopi, Kavya Madhavan
‘Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri’ tells the story of a series of mysterious deaths that occur in a small town. The police are called in to investigate, and the case is handed over to a team of officers led by Suresh Gopi’s character. As the investigation progresses, the officers find themselves in a race against time to catch the killer before they strike again.
The movie is known for its atmospheric setting, with the small town serving as the perfect backdrop for the eerie and mysterious events that unfold. Suresh Gopi delivers a commanding performance as the lead investigator, with able support from Kavya Madhavan and the rest of the cast.
‘Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri’ was a commercial success and is considered one of the best investigation thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
12. Kariyilakkattu Pole (1986)
Director: P. Padmarajan
Starring: Mohanlal, Mammootty
‘Kariyilakkattu Pole’ tells the story of a series of mysterious deaths that occur in a small village. The police are called in to investigate, and the case is handed over to a team of officers led by Mohanlal’s character. As the investigation progresses, the officers find themselves in a race against time to catch the killer before they strike again.
The movie is known for its atmospheric setting, with the small village serving as the perfect backdrop for the eerie and mysterious events that unfold. Mohanlal delivers a commanding performance as the lead investigator, with able support from Mammootty and the rest of the cast.
‘Kariyilakkattu Pole’ was a critical and commercial success, with praise directed towards its taut screenplay and effective performances. The movie is considered one of the best investigation thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
13. Shutter (2012)
Director: Joy Mathew
Starring: Lal, Vinay Forrt
‘Shutter’ tells the story of a man who finds himself trapped in a room with a prostitute. As the night progresses, the two characters find themselves drawn into a web of secrets and lies that threaten to destroy them both.
The movie is a tense and claustrophobic thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Lal and Vinay Forrt deliver powerful performances as the two central characters, with the movie’s success resting largely on their shoulders.
‘Shutter’ was a critical success, with praise directed towards its taut screenplay and effective performances. The movie is considered one of the best independent thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
14. Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)
Director: Midhun Manuel Thomas
Starring: Kunchacko Boban, Sharaf U Dheen
‘Anjaam Pathiraa’ tells the story of a psychologist who becomes involved in the hunt for a serial killer. As he delves deeper into the mind of the killer, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse that threatens to consume him.
The movie is a tense and atmospheric thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. Kunchacko Boban delivers a standout performance as the psychologist, with able support from Sharaf U Dheen and the rest of the cast.
‘Anjaam Pathiraa’ was a massive commercial success and is considered one of the best serial killer thrillers in Malayalam cinema. The movie’s success has led to the announcement of a sequel, titled ‘Aaraam Pathiraa’.
15. Memories (2013)
Director: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Meghana Raj
‘Memories’ tells the story of a former police officer who is struggling with alcoholism and memory loss. When a series of murders occur that bear a striking resemblance to a case from his past, he is forced to confront his demons and hunt down the killer.
The movie is a tense and atmospheric thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers a powerful performance as the troubled police officer, with able support from Meghana Raj and the rest of the cast.
‘Memories’ was a critical and commercial success, with praise directed towards its taut screenplay and effective performances. The movie is considered one of the best psychological thrillers in Malayalam cinema.
16. Mumbai Police (2013)
Director: Rosshan Andrrews
Starring: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jayasurya
‘Mumbai Police’ tells the story of a police officer who is investigating the murder of his own brother. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of corruption and deceit that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
The movie is a tense and atmospheric thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers a powerful performance as the troubled police officer, with able support from Jayasurya and the rest of the cast.
‘Mumbai Police’ was a critical and commercial success, with praise directed towards its taut screenplay and effective performances. The movie is considered one of the best police procedurals in Malayalam cinema.
Malayalam cinema has a rich history of gripping investigation movies that keep audiences guessing until the very end. From the iconic CBI series to modern thrillers like Mumbai Police and Drishyam, these films are known for their clever plotting, unexpected twists, and powerhouse performances.
If you enjoy trying to solve a mystery along with the characters, while being immersed in a well-crafted story and top-notch acting, you can’t go wrong with any of these must-watch Malayalam investigation movies. They represent some of the finest filmmaking Malayalam cinema has to offer.
