Malayalam Movies are available on popular ott platforms with the feature of offline download or watch later online in HD Quality. Some platforms are free to use and some are paid. By using some of the OTT websites you can watch some movies for free but you need to watch the ads to enjoy the film. Mollywood or Malayalam films are famous with their realistic writing, natural content and awesome lyrics.
Beautiful Journey (1930s By 1960s)
The initial Malayalam talkie movie was Balan (1938). It was on orphans and social injustice which by itself meant that Malayalam films were never about song and dance only, there was always a message to be conveyed.
A new wave of actors, Sathyan, Prem Nazir and Madhu who were the superstars of Malayalam movies in the 1950s and the 60s came up bringing other new faces also. Films like Neelakkuyil (1954) and Chemmeen (1965) were very popular at that time.
The Golden Age: 1970s-1980s
This period is considered as the golden period of Malayalam film industry. Film makers such as Directors who succeeded the films of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G. Aravindan and Padmarajan were known to be experimentalists who in most cases broadened the scope of story telling and technical exposition.
Famous Films of the time were Elippathayam (1981), Thampu (1978), and Thoovanathumbikal (1987). In the meantime, commercial cinema was also evolving too. Such silver screen figures as stars as Prem Nazir (evergreen hero), heroines like Sheela, Jayabharathi etc. were very popular.
The Superstar: 1980s-1990s
The Malayalam cinema was forever swept over with the names of two men Mammootty and Mohanlal. Mammootty followed the route of deep characters; Mohanlal carried the day by applying his natural ways and charisma. They composed and produced a line of many memorable movies which characterized the 80s and the 90s, among them:
Mammootty’s Gems:
- Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) – Epic historical story
- New Delhi (1987) – This is a thriller of vengeance
- Amaram(1991) – A tearful father-daughter story
Mohanlal’s Masterpieces:
- Kireedam (1989) – A movie with a tragic story of a downfall of a son, the movie is entitled.
- Bharatham (1991) – a music and emotional family drama Familiarity is a kind of contemptible- they say.
- Devasuram (1993) – The Rise of Mangalassery Neelakandan- the cult hero
It was also the time when the cine icons Sreenivasan, Jagathy Sreekumar and filmmakers Sathyan Anthikad and Priyadarshan released their movies.
The Early 2000s
In 2000s, the popular movies were:
- Thanmathra (2005) – A man with Alzheimer and portrayed as Mohanlal
- Classmates (2006) – A twist in love campus thriller
- Katha Parayumbol (2007) – An old friendship and stardom tale that definitely never will get old
The moviegoers were ready to see something new and Malayalam cinema was willing to do so.
The New Wave: 2010s and Beyond
In the vicinity of 2010, a crew of moviemakers of younger generation and actors created some explosion of creative energy that changed the situation. New generation film-makers like Lijo Jose Pellissery and Aashiq Abu (who also happens to be the husband of Rima), Jeethu Joseph, Dileesh Pothan and Alphonse Puthren started telling stories of cutting edge, realistic and rejuvenating characters.
It was presented in the form of new faces, like Fahadh Faasil, Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly and Parvathy Thiruvothu, who rose to become a symbol of this change.
Popular Movies
- Drishyam (2013) – This is a tensed crime thriller where a father clashes with a dirty cop who is out to punish the man who abducted his daughter. You know, it was so legendary that it even was remade in, like, nine different languages.
- Premam (2015) – A childhood love-film that became a youth sensation.
- Maheshinte Prathikaram (2016) – This is the simple story of revenge and self-discovery, which is peppered with humor and soul.
- Ee. Ma. Yau (2018) – Fiction that presents a black comedy with elements of a funeral, it has got praise all over the world.
Malayalam cinema had been the flagship of content based Indian cinema.
International Fame and Superhits Latest (2020s)
In the Year 2020, Malayalam film industry never glittered less, even in the backdrop of the pandemic which proved the case, the OTT releases and the blockbuster theatrical releases affirmed.
- Drishyam 2 (2021) – An unusual sequel, which was at least as good as the original.
- Malik (2021) – The electrifying community leader Fahadh Faasil
- Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022) – A satire with feminist comedy that is caustic.
- 2018 (2023) – A disaster film, in the surrounds of the Kerala floods. It became the biggest ever grossing Malayalam movie ever grossing more than 200 crores in gross.
- Manjummel Boys (2024) – Manjummel Boys is a thriller based on the true story of the survival of one man in Kodainkanals Guna caves and enjoyed an excellent pan India reception.
Not only were these films successful but they also proved to the world that Malayalam movies and cinema can strongly compete with other films due to the emotion, excitement and excellence in films and one does not have to have big budgets or big explosions to get all that.