2017 Best Malayalam - Movies
The only "star vehicle" on this list that worked. Villain is not a great film, but it’s a well-made commercial thriller. Mohanlal’s restrained performance as a grieving, morally gray cop elevates the material. The twist about the killer’s identity is genuinely clever. However, the film suffers from a bloated second half and underutilized supporting cast. Verdict: A solid one-time watch for Mohanlal fans. 10. Parava (The Pigeon) Director: Soubin Shahir Cast: Amal Shah, Shane Nigam, Dulquer Salmaan (extended cameo)
A kinetic, almost documentary-like experience. The film’s 11-minute single-take climax (involving a chaotic festival and a chase) is already legendary. Lijo Pellissery captures the smell, taste, and noise of small-town Kerala—the porotta-beef feasts, the local slang, the casual violence. The ensemble acting is astonishing, given most had never acted before. Verdict: A cult classic. A sensory overload in the best way. 5. Eeda (The Leftover) Director: B. Ajithkumar Cast: Shane Nigam, Nimisha Sajayan 2017 best malayalam movies
Nivin Pauly (known for boy-next-door roles) shocks in this dark, uncomfortable film. The nonlinear narrative and surreal sequences (a dancing ghost, talking animals) polarized audiences, but for those who appreciate Lynchian influences, Aby is a bold experiment. The film is less about plot and more about the subjective experience of a fractured mind. Verdict: Divisive but ambitious. Not for mainstream tastes. 9. Villain Director: B. Unnikrishnan Cast: Mohanlal, Vishal, Manju Warrier, Hansika Motwani The only "star vehicle" on this list that worked
A masterclass in minimalist storytelling. The film has no songs, no fight scenes, and no villain in the traditional sense—yet it’s gripping. Fahadh Faasil as the stoic, unpredictable thief Prasad is a revelation, but Suraj Venjaramoodu (as the sub-inspector) delivers a career-best performance, oscillating between comic exasperation and quiet authority. The script by Sajeev Pazhoor is razor-sharp, using a single incident to critique the absurdities of the legal system and human ego. Verdict: A near-perfect satire-drama. Essential viewing. 2. Take Off Director: Mahesh Narayan Cast: Parvathy Thiruvothu, Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, Asif Ali The twist about the killer’s identity is genuinely clever
A deeply underrated gem. Eeda is the antithesis of glamorous romance. It shows how political extremism infiltrates personal relationships—two lovers from rival ideologies meet in secret, aware that their families would kill them. Shane Nigam and Nimisha Sajayan are painfully real. The film’s pacing is deliberate, almost uncomfortable, mirroring the suffocation of its characters. Verdict: For serious cinephiles. Unflinching and important. 6. Ramaleela (Ram’s Play) Director: Arun Gopy Cast: Dileep (controversial figure, but performance-wise), Radhika Sarathkumar