2015 was an exciting year for Malayalam cinema, with a diverse range of films spanning genres like romance, comedy, action and drama. From heartwarming tales to edge-of-your-seat thrillers, the year had something to offer for every kind of movie buff.
As we look back at the cinematic gems the year gave us, here’s our roundup of the 18 best Malayalam movies of 2015 that deserve a place on your must-watch list. These films stood out for their riveting storytelling, powerful performances, beautiful cinematography, soulful music and more.
So grab some popcorn, get comfy and let’s dive into the cream of the crop of Malayalam cinema in 2015!
1. Premam
Directed by: Alphonse Puthren
One of the biggest blockbusters of the year, Premam follows the life and loves of George, played by Nivin Pauly, through his teenage, college and adult days. This coming-of-age romantic comedy was a breath of fresh air with its slice-of-life storytelling, memorable characters, foot-tapping music and picturesque visuals.
Nivin Pauly won hearts with his charming and natural performance as George. Madonna Sebastian, Anupama Parameswaran and Sai Pallavi made impressive debuts as the three women who leave a mark on his life. The rest of the ensemble cast, including Shabareesh Varma and Krishna Sankar, were equally delightful in their roles.
Premam is the kind of feel-good film you can watch again and again. It celebrates life, love, friendship and everything in between. If you still haven’t caught this gem of a movie, drop everything and watch it now!
2. Ennu Ninte Moideen
Directed by: R.S. Vimal
Ennu Ninte Moideen is an epic romance based on the tragic real-life love story of Moideen and Kanchanamala, who fought against the odds to be together. Set in the 1960s and 70s in Mukkam, Kozhikode, the film follows their relationship from childhood to adulthood.
Prithviraj and Parvathy delivered stellar performances as Moideen and Kanchanamala, portraying the joys and pains of their ill-fated romance with conviction. The film also featured a talented supporting cast including Bala, Lena, Tovino Thomas and others.
Ennu Ninte Moideen is a poignant, old-fashioned love story filled with intense emotions. Director R.S. Vimal captured the period setting beautifully and extracted soulful performances from his lead pair. The music by M. Jayachandran elevated the impact of many scenes. Keep tissues handy while watching this tearjerker of a film.
3. Premam Padam
Directed by: Leo Thaddeus
Premam Padam is a romantic drama starring Anoop Menon, Sharafudheen and Miya in the lead roles. The story revolves around Harikrishnan, an ad filmmaker who falls in love with Sonia, a woman he meets on a train journey.
However, their relationship faces challenges as Sonia is a divorcee with a young daughter. Premam Padam depicts how the couple navigate societal judgments and pressures surrounding their unconventional relationship.
Anoop Menon delivered a mature, understated performance as Harikrishnan. Miya was impressive as the strong yet vulnerable Sonia. Sharafudheen provided able support as Harikrishnan’s friend. The film also touched upon themes like divorce, single parenthood and live-in relationships.
Premam Padam is a well-made, progressive film that normalizes relationships considered taboo by society. If you enjoy slice-of-life relationship dramas, give this one a watch.
4. Oru Vadakkan Selfie
Directed by: G. Prajith
Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a coming-of-age comedy drama about a young man’s misadventures as he pursues his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Umesh, a college student from Kozhikode, runs away to Chennai to join the film industry. However, a selfie he takes with his attractive neighbor goes viral and lands him in trouble.
Nivin Pauly played the naive and endearing Umesh with ease, once again proving his versatility as an actor. Aju Varghese and Vineeth Sreenivasan also delivered memorable performances in supporting roles. The rest of the cast, including several newcomers, were apt in their parts.
Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a lighthearted, relatable film that captures the aspirations and misadventures of today’s social media-obsessed youth. The film’s breezy humor and subtle insights make it an enjoyable watch.
5. Picket 43
Directed by: Major Ravi
Picket 43 is a war drama that depicts the friendship between an Indian and a Pakistani soldier stationed at the Kashmir border. Prithviraj played Lieutenant Shivakumar, who is posted alone at Picket 43 in Kashmir. The film follows his unlikely bond with a Pakistani soldier named Mushraff, played by Javed Jaffrey.
The film portrayed the soldiers’ personal lives, their longing for home, and the futility of war in a sensitive manner. Prithviraj delivered a restrained performance as the duty-bound Shivakumar. Javed Jaffrey was equally impressive as Mushraff. Their camaraderie felt genuine on-screen.
Picket 43 is a poignant film that humanizes the soldiers guarding our borders and questions the human cost of war. It’s a must-watch for fans of war dramas and Prithviraj.
6. Aadu
Directed by: Midhun Manuel Thomas
Aadu is a comedy caper that follows the hilarious misadventures of Shaji Pappan and his mischievous gang of friends. The story kicks off when they win a tug-of-war tournament and get a goat named Pinky as the prize. Their attempts to get rid of the goat unwittingly get them mixed up with a group of smugglers.
Jayasurya led the ensemble cast with his energetic performance as Shaji Pappan. The rest of the actors, including Saiju Kurup, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Vijay Babu and Sunny Wayne also got their comic timing spot on. The goat Pinky was the scene-stealer with its antics.
Aadu is a wacky, no-holds-barred comedy that keeps you in splits throughout. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s its biggest strength. If you’re in the mood for a laughter riot, Aadu is your best bet.
7. Oru Second Class Yathra
Directed by: Jexson Antony, Rejis Antony
Oru Second Class Yathra is a road movie that follows two police constables, played by Vineeth Sreenivasan and Chemban Vinod Jose, as they travel from Kannur to Trivandrum with a prisoner and a box whose contents are a mystery.
The film is filled with humorous moments emerging from the banter between the two constables and the absurd situations they find themselves in. Vineeth Sreenivasan and Chemban Vinod Jose shared a crackling chemistry that elevated the film. Nikki Galrani also made an impression in a brief role.
While Oru Second Class Yathra is primarily a comedy, it also offers commentary on the state of law enforcement and prison systems in India. The suspense surrounding the box keeps you hooked till the end. This is a perfect pick for those who enjoy lighthearted road movies.
8. Fireman
Directed by: Deepu Karunakaran
Fireman is a disaster thriller that depicts the heroic efforts of firefighters to contain a major fire that breaks out in a city. Mammootty played Vijay, a fire force officer who leads the mission to prevent a massive LPG tanker from exploding.
The tense, race-against-time narrative keeps you on the edge of your seat. Mammootty brought his trademark intensity to the role of Vijay. Unni Mukundan, Siddique and the rest of the supporting cast also delivered convincing performances. The film also depicted the challenges faced by fire force personnel realistically.
While the plot of Fireman is quite straightforward, the film’s technical finesse and Mammootty’s star power make it an engaging watch. If you’re a fan of disaster movies, this one is worth a watch.
9. Haram
Directed by: Vinod Sukumaran
Haram is an unconventional romantic drama that follows the relationship between Balu, a Muslim man and Isha, a Hindu woman. Fahadh Faasil and Radhika Apte played the lead roles.
The film depicted the religious and societal obstacles the interfaith couple face. Rather than resorting to stereotypes, it presented a nuanced take on interfaith romance. Fahadh Faasil and Radhika Apte delivered understated performances that made their romance feel real and relatable.
Haram is a progressive film that normalizes interfaith relationships without being preachy. It’s a sensitive, well-acted relationship drama that’s a must-watch for Fahadh Faasil fans.
10. Mili
Directed by: Rajesh Pillai
Mili is a slice-of-life drama that revolves around the eponymous protagonist, an introverted woman who struggles to come out of her shell. Amala Paul played Mili, a sales executive who is an underachiever both in her personal and professional life. The film follows her journey towards self-acceptance and growth.
Amala Paul delivered a understated yet impactful performance as Mili. She brought out the character’s vulnerabilities and quirks with ease. Nivin Pauly played Naveen, Mili’s supportive husband. The rest of the cast including Sai Kumar and Sanusha also fit their roles well.
Mili is a simple, heartwarming film that’s relatable to anyone who has struggled with self-doubt and introversion. It’s a great pick for those who like slice-of-life movies with strong female leads.
11. Nee-Na
Directed by: Lal Jose
Nee-Na is a romantic drama that explores themes of marriage, infidelity and complex relationships. Vijay Babu and Ann Augustine played Vinay and Nalini, a married couple whose relationship is strained when Vinay develops feelings for Neena, played by Deepti Sati.
The film took a nuanced look at infidelity and how it affects a marriage. Rather than passing judgments, it presented the perspectives of all parties involved. Vijay Babu, Ann Augustine and Deepti Sati all delivered mature performances that brought out the complexities of their characters.
Nee-Na is a well-acted relationship drama that provides food for thought on modern marriages and the repercussions of infidelity. If you enjoy films that explore complicated relationships, this one’s for you.
12. Chirakodinja Kinavukal
Directed by: Santhosh Viswanath
Chirakodinja Kinavukal is a romantic comedy that follows the hilarious attempts of Ambujakshan, a middle-aged man, to modify his love story and pitch it to a filmmaker. Sreenivasan played Ambujakshan while Kunchacko Boban and Rima Kallingal played the younger versions of him and his love interest Sumathi.
The film seamlessly alternated between Ambujakshan’s present day and flashbacks of his youth. Sreenivasan brought his trademark wit and timing to the role of Ambujakshan. Kunchacko Boban and Rima Kallingal also shared a sweet, playful chemistry in the flashback portions.
Chirakodinja Kinavukal is a lighthearted, nostalgic film that celebrates the innocence of first love. It’s a great pick for rom-com lovers and those who enjoy trips down memory lane.
13. Oru Vadakkan Selfie
Directed by: G. Prajith
Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a coming-of-age comedy drama that revolves around Umesh, a college student who dreams of becoming a filmmaker. Nivin Pauly played Umesh, a naive young man from Kozhikode who runs away to Chennai to pursue his passion. However, a selfie he takes with his attractive neighbor snowballs into a major controversy.
Nivin Pauly brought his boy-next-door charm to the role of Umesh, making him an instantly likable protagonist. Aju Varghese and Vineeth Sreenivasan also delivered memorable performances as Umesh’s friends. The film captured the aspirations and misadventures of today’s social media-savvy youth in a relatable manner.
Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a breezy, entertaining film that offers a humorous take on the pitfalls of instant fame in the digital age. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted coming-of-age story, this one fits the bill.
14. Chandrettan Evideya
Directed by: Sidharth Bharathan
Chandrettan Evideya is a family drama that revolves around the strained relationship between Chandramohan, a retired mathematics professor and his wife Sushama. Dileep played Chandramohan, an absent-minded professor who keeps receiving calls from his wife asking his whereabouts.
The film explored the complexities of long-term relationships and how small misunderstandings can snowball into major conflicts. Dileep delivered a restrained performance as the forgetful Chandramohan. Anusree, who played Sushama, also brought out the frustrations of a neglected wife convincingly.
Chandrettan Evideya is a simple yet poignant film that’s relatable to anyone who has been in a long-term relationship. It’s a great pick for those who enjoy slice-of-life family dramas.
15. Bhaskar The Rascal
Directed by: Siddique
Bhaskar The Rascal is a family entertainer that revolves around the rivalry between two business tycoons and how their children’s romance brings them together. Mammootty played Bhaskar, a widowed business magnate who disapproves of his son’s relationship with the daughter of his rival, played by Nayanthara.
The film was a perfect blend of comedy, action, romance and family drama. Mammootty brought his star power to the role of Bhaskar, portraying him as a lovable rogue. Nayanthara also made an impact as the strong-willed businesswoman Hima. The rest of the ensemble cast, including Sanoop Santhosh and Anikha Surendran, also delivered endearing performances.
Bhaskar The Rascal is a wholesome entertainer that’s perfect for a family movie night. It’s got something for everyone – romance for the youngsters, comedy for the kids and drama for the adults.
16. Acha Din
Directed by: G. Marthandan
Acha Din is a political satire that takes a humorous look at the state of politics and governance in India. Mammootty played Devan, a small-time politician who unwittingly becomes the state’s Chief Minister after a series of comical events.
The film poked fun at various political stereotypes and the absurdities of Indian politics. Mammootty brought his impeccable comic timing to the role of Devan, a street-smart man who learns the ropes of politics on the job. Sreenivasan, who played his secretary, was the perfect foil to Mammootty’s antics. The rest of the cast, including Lalu Alex and Suraj Venjaramoodu, also delivered hilarious performances.
Acha Din is a laugh riot that provides a much-needed respite from the grim realities of Indian politics. It’s a great pick for Mammootty fans and those who enjoy political satires.
