2017 Best Malayalam Movies May 2026

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

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 2017 best malayalam movies

Based on the real-life 2014 evacuation of Indian nurses from war-torn Tikrit, Iraq, by the Indian government and a rogue journalist. A masterclass in minimalist storytelling

Here’s a detailed review and retrospective of the best Malayalam movies of 2017—a landmark year often hailed as the beginning of the "new wave" or the Malayalam cinema renaissance. 2017 wasn't just a good year for Malayalam cinema; it was transformative. The industry moved decisively away from formulaic star vehicles toward content-driven, realistic, and genre-bending films. This was the year when "small films" with strong scripts started consistently outperforming big-budget masala movies at the box office. Directors like Lijo Jose Pellissery, Mahesh Narayan, and Dileesh Pothan became household names, and actors like Fahadh Faasil, Tovino Thomas, and Nivin Pauly redefined stardom through risky, unconventional choices. The script by Sajeev Pazhoor is razor-sharp, using