Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Malayalam movies had a niche following outside the State with just the most enthusiastic viewers keeping an eye on what was coming out of Kerala. However, the pandemic forced Malayalam filmmakers to take the OTT route and a huge audience outside the Malayalam-speaking world discovered the hidden gems of this small industry. It helped that this was one of the only movie industries to actively produce films even during the height of the pandemic, with Dileesh Pothan’s Joji, starring Fahadh Faazil getting declared by the New Yorker as the ‘first major film of the COVID-19 pandemic.’
Now, the Malayalam movie industry is back on its feet and starting to stretch its wings again. Halfway through 2022, the industry has already churned out blockbusters like Bheeshma Parvam, Jana Gana Mana, and Hridayam that have earned much love from other-language viewers, while bringing out a number of critically acclaimed and well-received films — Bhoothakalam , Puzhu, Pada, Freedom Fight, Oruthee and Kuttavum Shikshayum.
Here is a list of movies to watch out for the rest of the year:
