Malayalam film industry, always known for its bold storytelling and unique narratives, has played a different game altogether in 2024. With a slate of films that have pushed boundaries, the year has been a treat for Indian audiences who adore Malayalam cinema. From intense survival dramas to heartfelt comedies and gripping thrillers, this year’s offerings have resonated beyond regional borders, enchanting film lovers across the globe.
Unlike previous years, 2024 has brought a perfect blend of experimental stories and mainstream entertainment, proving once again why Malayalam cinema remains a pioneer in Indian filmmaking. It’s not just the storytelling that has won hearts—2024 has also seen Malayalam films creating ripples at the box office.
Synopsis: Indian migrant worker Najeeb Muhammed goes to Saudi Arabia to earn money to send back home but he finds himself living a slave-like existence herding goats in the middle of the desert.
Genre: Survival Drama
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Synopsis: After a theatre group’s party, their sole actress is subjected to a crime from one of the men. Stories unravel, suspicions surface and clamour ensues as a meeting is called to reach a consensus.
Genre: Drama
Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Synopsis: Three teens come to Bangalore for their engineering education and get involved in a fight. They turn to a local gangster for help.
Genre: Action Entertainer
Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Synopsis: At a bustling bus stand, two men from contrasting social strata cross paths. One basks in affluence, the other grapples with life’s challenges. Together, they embark on a journey laced with humour and unexpected adventures.
Genre: Comedy Drama
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Set in Northern Kerala in 1900, 1950 and 1990 three generations of heroes—Maniyan, Kunjikelu and Ajayan—try to protect the most important treasure of the land.
Genre: Adventure Drama
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: Prabha, a nurse living in Mumbai, looks for a place in the city where Anu, her roommate, and her lover can finally make love. The two women travel to a coastal town that becomes a space of freedom for their desires.
Genre: Drama
Streaming Platform: MUBI
Synopsis: A police officer returns from suspension and is thrown into a shocking murder investigation.
Genre: Thriller Drama
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Synopsis: A folklore singer from the Paanan caste loses his way after narrowly escaping a slave market. He stumbles upon a mysterious tradition that changes his destiny.
Genre: Horror Thriller
Streaming Platform: Sony LIV
Synopsis: In a corporate office housing 16 employees, life takes an unexpected turn when the Managing Director, Mr. Isaac John, is discovered dead in his own office toilet. What seems like an unfortunate incident to most soon becomes a puzzling case for Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sandeep Krishna, who begins to suspect that Mr. John’s death might be more than just an accident.
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Synopsis: A young man is about to get married but through a series of unforeseen and unfortunate events he ends up marrying a woman who despises him.
Genre: Comedy Drama
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: Strange events unfold in a monkey-inhabited village prompting a newlywed pair and forest officials to embark on a mission to uncover the root cause of the peculiar disturbances.
Genre: Drama
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: The Manjummel boys‘ adventure takes a dangerous turn when one of them plunges into Guna Caves igniting a test of unity in a fight for survival.
Genre: Thriller Drama
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: When the peaceful married life of a couple is unexpectedly disrupted by two youngsters with criminal inclination, the trials and tribulations connect the mobster lives of Thrissur by becoming a part of vengeance
Genre: Crime Thriller
Streaming Platform: Sony LIV
Synopsis: Sachin pursues romance but finds himself caught between two potential partners leading to amusing complications.
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: Friends suspect a mysterious man is hiding something sinister.
Genre: Mystic Thriller
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: An investigation at a local police station reveals the internal hierarchy within the police force.
Genre: Thriller
Streaming Platform: Sony LIV
Synopsis: A family’s attempt to bury a loved one is thwarted by floodwaters forcing them to confront long-buried secrets and lies that threaten their unity.
Genre: Drama
Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Synopsis: Four friends deemed “losers” face immense pressure from parents and society upon entering adulthood. Their emotional journey of self-discovery and acceptance sees love triumph over judgment.
Genre: Drama
Streaming Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar
Synopsis: Two young men leave their hometown to chase their dream of making it big in the world of 1970s and ’80s South Indian cinema.
Genre: Comedy Drama
Streaming Platform: Sony LIV
