Best Malayalam Movies of 2023, Ranked According to IMDb

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Malayalam cinema with our curated list of the 10 best movies of 2023, now available on OTT platforms.

Nikhil Biswas

Last Updated: January 3, 2024

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If you’re a fan of Malayalam cinema, you’re in for a treat! In this blog, we’ll check out some of the most exceptional Malayalam films that not only shattered box-office records but continue to captivate audiences through their OTT releases. We have shared a quick summary, info about the cast, release dates, IMDB ratings, directors, genre, and more for each film. Come join us as we celebrate these best Malayalam movies of 2023 that have made a lasting impact on both the box office and viewers’ hearts.

Table of Contents

2018

In this movie, we are taken back to 2018, when a catastrophic flood wreaked havoc, affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds in Kerala. The narrative revolves around residents who united in the face of this unprecedented disaster and collaborated resiliently to overcome the challenges and ensure collective survival. This period of crisis saw people from various walks of life joining forces, emphasizing the strength of community and the human spirit in adversity. This Malayalam movie is considered one of the best movies of all time.

Cast: Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali

IMDb Rating: 8.4

Where to watch: SonyLiv

Director: Jude Anthany Joseph

RDX: Robert Dony Xavier

Robert, Dony, and Xavier, who happen to be three close young friends, develop an elite alliance while improving their martial arts skills at a nearby training facility. However, an argument with an opposing gang forces them to part ways. A vicious assault a few years later brings the three of them back together.

Cast: Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese, and Neeraj Madhav

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Where to watch: Netflix

Director: Nahas Hidayath

Genre: Action and Thriller

Also Read: New Malayalam Movies on OTT with Release Dates

Kannur Squad

A police officer and his fellow officers embark on a difficult across-the-nation mission to bring down an illegally operating gang. He steers these individuals towards success by directing them using professional uncertainties.

Cast: Mammootty, Rony David Raj, Azees Nedumangad, Shabareesh Varma, Kishore, and Vijayaraghavan

IMDb Rating: 7.9

Where to watch: Disney+Hotstar

Director: Roby Varghese Raj

Genre: Thriller and Drama

Kaathal – The Core

Mathew Devassy, a retired bank secretary decides to contest in panchayat elections. His wife Omana shocks everyone by asking for a divorce, citing that Mathew is a gay man. The film follows Mathew’s personal struggles and the election following this revelation.

Cast: Mammootty, Jyothika, Sudhi Kozhikode, Pooja Mohanraj, RS Panickar, Joji John, Muthumani, Chinnu Chandni, Alex Alister, Kalabhavan Haneef, Anagha Maya Ravi, Josey Sijo

IMDB Rating: 8.2

Where to watch: JioCinema (rumoured)

Director: Jeo Baby

Genre: Drama

Romancham

Seven friends living in Bengaluru, India choose to give it their hand at fortune with an Ouija board. Shortly thereafter, the group finds themselves caught in a series of eerie incidents that drag them into a completely unanticipated world beyond the ordinary.

Cast: Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan, and Sajin Gopu

IMDb Rating: 7.5

Where to watch: Disney+Hotstar

Director: Jithu Madhavan

Genre: Horror and comedy

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam

A group of Malayali tourists take a nap on their journey back to Kerala by bus after touring Velankanni. When the bus stops in an isolated Tamil Nadu village, Sundaram pretends to be James, creating confusion amongst the passengers.

Cast: Mammootty, Ramya Pandian, and Ashokan

IMDb Rating: 7.5

Where to watch: Netflix

Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery

Genre: Drama and Comedy

Also Read: Upcoming Malayalam Movies on OTT

Garudan (2023)

Police officer Harish Madhav arrests a college professor Nishanth Kumar in a rape case. After being released after 7 years, Nishanth approaches the High Court accusing Harish Madhav of misconduct and asks for a retrial. He proceeds to defend himself on the case, as he has earned an LLB degree while in jail.

Cast: Suresh Gopi, Biju Menon, Siddique, Jagadish, Abhirami, Divya Pillai, Thalaivasal Vijay, Major Ravi, Dileesh Pothan, Nishanth Sagar, Krishna Vijayachandran, Kalabhavan Haneef, Dinesh Panicker, Arjun Nandhakumar.

IMDB Rating: 7.4

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Director: Arun Varma

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Iratta

The tale concentrates on an investigator’s quest to discover the truth shortly after an investigating officer turns up dead. The look into the matter reveals disturbing links among the officer’s separated twin and their complicated past, disclosing hidden histories and unresolved disagreements that complicate the chilling search for justice.

Cast: Joju George, Anjali, Arya Salim, and Srikant Murali

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Where to watch: Netflix

Director: Rohit M. G. Krishnan

Genre: Crime and Drama

Purusha Pretham

Despite SI Sebastian’s brilliance, his trustworthiness is called into doubt when he accidentally leaves behind a body, causing problems and confusion as a woman claims the man who passed away is her husband.

Cast: Darshana Rajendran, Alexander Prasanth, and Jagadish

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Where to watch: SonyLiv

Director: Krishand

Genre: Thriller and Comedy

Neru

Sara, a blind sculptor is seeking justice for a terrible incident that happened to her. Police find it hard to find the identifier. But Sara, with her skills as a sculptor, makes a statue of her rapist and the police arrest Michael Joseph based on this. But he is soon granted bail and the family of Sara hires Vijayamohan, a lawyer who hasn’t attended trials for many years to bring justice to Sara.

Cast: Mohanlal, Priyamani, Anaswara Rajan, Sankar Induchoodan, Siddique, Jagadish, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Santhi Mayadevi, Haritha G Nair, Sreedhanya, Harikrishnan, Aditi Ravi, Nandhu, Mathew Varghese, Dinesh Prabhakar, Krishna Prabha.

IMDB Rating: 7.9

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (rumoured)

Director: Jeethu Joseph

Genre: Drama

Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum

A young man living in Mumbai who runs an Ayurvedic drugstore agrees to travel with his landlord’s mother from Kerala to Mumbai. However, a strange request sends him off on a journey of self-discovery.

Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Anjana Jayaprakash, Mukesh, Innocent, and Vineeth

IMDB Rating: 7.3

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Director: Akhil Sathyan

Genre: Drama and comedy

Thankam

Muthu and Kannan are two gold brokers from Thrissur. Kannan goes to Mumbai to distribute the gold but is found dead in a hotel room. He had several wounds in his body and 8Kgs of gold was found missing. The investigation reveals a dark truth about Kannan and how he planned his own murder.

Cast: Biju Menon, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali, Girish Kulkarni, Kalaiyarasan, Vineeth Thattil, Indira Prasad, Anshuman Joshi, Kochu Preman, Thankam Mohan, Srikant Murali, Abdul Jabbar

IMDB Rating: 7.1

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Director: Saheed Arafath

Genre: Crime, Drama

Ayisha

Ayisha relocates to the Persian Gulf to work as a maid for a successful Arab family, gradually picking up the palace social behaviour. A wonderful relationship blossoms between the Mama and Ayisha as as a consequence of a series of fascinating occurrences.

Cast: Manju Warrier, Mona Tawil, Krishna Sankar, and Radhika

IMDb Rating: 6.4

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Director: Aamir Pallikkal

Genre: Drama and Comedy

Valatty: Tale Of Tails

Tomy, an adorable golden retriever, develops feelings towards his cocker spaniel neighbour Amalu. Despite their human owners’ dissatisfaction and attempts to drive them apart, Tomy and Amalu make the choice to elope and set out on an epic journey together.

Cast: Roshan Mathew, Raveena Ravi, Soubin Shahir, Sunny Wayne, Saiju Kurup, and Aju Varghese

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Where to watch: Disney+Hotstar

Director: Devan Jayakumar

Genre: Comedy and Adventure

B 32 Muthal 44 Vare

Five women and a transgender man coming from different socioeconomic classes face severe challenges in everyday circumstances, all of which stem from problems with their physical appearances. The tales they tell unfold every time they face these difficulties, shedding a spotlight on the impact of expectations from society and their road to self-acceptance.

Cast: Ashwathy, Neena Cheriyan, and Sajin Cherukayil IMDB Rating: 6.5

Where to watch: TBA

Director: Shruthi Sharanyam

Genre: Drama