From 'Thudarum' to 'Rekhachithram': The best of Malayalam cinema 2025 (so far)

This year saw the debut of several first-time filmmakers and actors, all with their unique gifts. Armed with a wealth of experience in other technical areas, some proved their remarkable potential for direction through their nuanced and skilful approach to the material. The actors, on the other hand, brought out different, unexplored sides. Let's dig in...

 

Ponman (JioHotstar)

Written by GR Indugopan and Justin Mathew, Ponman marked the directorial debut of production designer Jothish Shankar, who has worked in films such as Kumbalangi Nights, Bramayugam, and Android Kunjappan. The film proved that all the knowledge and expertise Jothish gained working with some of contemporary Malayalam cinema's most sensible and game-changing filmmakers eventually worked in his favour. It's one of those rare films where not even one second is dull or boredom-inducing. Every character has a purpose, a clear reason for doing what they do, and their share of vulnerabilities. Everyone is answerable to someone.

Full review here

Rekhachithram (SonyLIV)

This Asif Ali-starrer appeals to the hardcore film lovers in all of us, and, in doing so, gets you to admire the inventiveness with which director Jofin T Chacko weaves together all the pieces of the puzzle into a simple, coherent investigation story. It gets you strongly invested in the victim's story because, after all, you're looking at the story of someone who is a cinephile just like you. You want to find out what happened to her. You want to find out how she fell in love with movies. And you want Asif Ali's efficient cop to apprehend the culprits.

Full review here

Ronth (JioHotstar)

One of Shahi's strong qualities as a writer and filmmaker is his design of the dynamic between different characters, in this case, a senior cop, Yohannan, played by Dileesh Pothan, and a younger cop, Dinanath (Roshan Mathew). These two men make an unlikely pair — you could even assume it's a toxic working relationship — but you also know they'll have each other's backs when the situation demands it, a belief that gets tested in the third act. The film suggests that these are human beings just like us, with all inherent shortcomings, and if we were placed in the same circumstances, we might have done the same thing. Ronth boasts the career-best performances of Dileesh and Roshan.

Full review here

Thudarum (JioHotstar)

With Tharun Moorthy's Thudarum, we went in expecting a certain kind of film, only to realise later that the filmmaker behind 'Operation Java' and 'Saudi Vellakka' had other plans. Thudarum was marketed as a feel-good family drama, but the film took everyone by surprise, in a good way. It was made to please Mohanlal fans, and it delivered in spades. It more than made up for the disappointment caused by L2: Empuraan. And, of course, there was noted ad filmmaker Prakash Varma's scene-stealing performance as 'George sir'.

Full review here

Kerala Crime Files: Season 2 (JioHotstar)

This show demands your complete, undivided attention. Writer Bahul Ramesh ("Kishkindha Kaandam") conjures up multiple plot strands so cleverly and economically that even missing a piece of dialogue, a glimpse, or any other little detail might meddle with your grasp of how everything ties together. Bahul's writing invites comparisons to Christopher Nolan's in terms of not steering clear of spoonfeeding the audience and trusting them to figure everything out without relying on constant exposition. It would be wise to do what Aju Varghese, who reprises his character from the first season, says during a crucial point: "Focus, focus..."

Full review here

Padakkalam (JioHotstar)

A mind-bending body-swapping fantasy comedy that draws judiciously from comic books and pop culture, Padakkalam is bolstered by its charming array of actors of two different age groups. Not all of its jokes land, but when some do, they bring the house down. Manu Swaraj's directorial debut creates the effect of watching a group of friends playing a fun game, only here, it becomes a race against time to... get back to one's original bodies before the proverbial s*** hits the fan.

Ouseppinte Osiyathu (Prime Video)

Featuring exceptional performances from National award winner Vijayaraghavan ("Pookkaalam", "Kishkindha Kaandam"), Dileesh Pothan ("Ronth", "Rifle Club") and Kalabhavan Shajohn ("Aattam", "Drishyam"), the film revolves around the stifling circumstances in an affluent but dysfunctional patriarchal household in the wake of an unexpected crime. While not perfect, it's bolstered by convincingly evocative and layered performances from Pothan (as a man burdened by too many things) and Shajohn (who plays a different kind of 'George sir'). Kani Kusruti is cast against type as a discerning cop investigating the case.

Moonwalk (JioHotstar)

Do you know how to 'wave', bro? Debutant Vinod AK's film is another example of a coming-of-age drama that stands out with its fresh narrative approach, travelling back to that time of electrifying synth and funk tracks, break dance, Michael Jackson — the time when music used to be fresh and original and not something repetitive and template-based like today. It's a tale where music becomes an act of rebellion, the stage a catalyst for transformation. Oh, and it takes you back to those days when playing a VHS tape correctly posed its own challenges.

Alappuzha Gymkhana (SonyLIV)

Alappuzha Gymkhana evokes the vibe — yes, this is very much a 'vibe movie' — of a Pixar film, or one of those Into the Spider-Verse films. Khalid has made a film you would normally associate with a filmmaker like Richard Linklater. The kind of film that's built around interesting faces, characters, and conversations. The two Linklater films that immediately sprang to mind while watching the amusing camaraderie of these characters are Dazed and Confused and its spiritual sequel, Everybody Wants Some! The very thought of a Malayali filmmaker finally doing this (can we add Girish AD to the list, too?) brings joy.

Full review here

Officer on Duty (Netflix)

The directors of all three films written by Shahi Kabir have their own style and intentions, which can be said of the director of Officer on Duty, too. Jithu Ashraf's approach leans more towards the commercial side. The fight sequences work so well because the bad guys (and gals) are built up as such deplorable figures that, irrespective of the usual cliches associated with drug-snorting villains, we have nothing but contempt for every single one of them. And after one hell of an intense, surprise-laden roller coaster ride, the necessary catharsis is delivered. Sure, it's not flawless — some scenes make one question their logic — but it didn't matter, because it was so satisfying to see the trauma-driven antihero delivering the necessary catharsis.

Full review here

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