Malayalam film industry is famous for their realistic approach to cinema. They usually make movies with strong script and better character arc. The only one thing they are not into it is big budget sci-fi movies. It is mostly because they have very limited budget. But that doesn’t mean they don’t make such movies at all. “Minnal Muarali” is a superhero movie available in Netflix which really makes this assumption wrong. There are some other couple of movies which doesn’t fit in the normal Malayalam filmmaking. This list contains five such movies that you should try to watch.
Chirakodinja Kinavukal (2015) – Sun NXT, MX Player
Chirakodinja Kinavukal is such a movie which still difficult to chew for Malayalam audience. It is a spoof movie which is a genre not so familiar to Indian audience. These kinds of movies are plenty in Hollywood. Malayalam did make some political spoofs but this movie was the first movie which hundred percent true to the genre. The movie was directed by Santhosh Viswanath which featured Kunchacko Boban and Rima Kallingal in the titular roles. The movie mocks the preexisted clichés in Malayalam cinema.
This is the most underrated Malayalam movie which is directed by Rohith VS. The movie is a fantastical movie which deals with the ideas of afterlife. What would be your reaction if you came to know that all dead person wont go anywhere actually but they live with us? This is the thread of the movie which really explores this possibility. Asif Ali, Madonna Sebastian, Siddique are playing the main roles of the movie. The concept of magical realism is used in the movie.
Double Barrel (2015) – Jio Cinema, MX Player
The name Lijo Jose Pellissery is equal to making diverse subjects on the screen. His recent films like “Churuli” and “Jallikattu” made his name more recognizable internationally. But back in 2015, when his movie “Double Barrel” came out nobody cared. But it was a parody movie with many comical scenes which was new to Malayalam cinema. His style in making this movie was totally different making it as a onetime wonder. It had also a stellar cast with Prithviraj Sukumaran ,Indrajith Sukumaran, Arya and Sunny Wayne in the major roles.
“C U Soon” is the first computer screen movie in Malayalam. This movie came out at the peak of corona which helped the movie to connect with audience when they are also living in online spaces at that time. The movie was directed by Mahesh Narayanan and featured Fahadh Fasil, Darshana Rajendran and Roshan Andrews in the main roles. The movie is a gripping mystery thriller revolves around a girl who goes missing after leaving a suicide note.
Athbhutha Dweepu (2005) – Disney+ Hotstar, Youtube
This list is incomplete without a Vinayan movie who made many movies back in those days which were not familiar for Malayalam audience. “Athbhutha Dweepu” is a fantasy movie telling about the story of an Island which only had dwarf males in it. One day an aeroplane crashes in the Island with normal men. The movie then tells the events after it. Guinness Pakru was awarded a Guinness record for the shortest actor in a full length feature film. Comparing to that period’s technology, the movie was a masterpiece.