Malayalam Film Industry, also known as Mollywood, has been creating waves across India since the lockdown began. As people sat in their homes and consumed content 24/7, they were exposed to the greatness of Malayalam Cinema. Malayalam movies have been exceptional since time immemorial due to their acting prowess and breathtaking storylines, but only now are they receiving their due credit. Some of the most famous Malayalam movies like Manichitratazhu and Drishyam have been remade by various film industries and have received immense praise from critics and audiences alike.
The year 2022 has been a great one for Malayalam movies in general. As the content has opened up to a whole new demographic because of the lockdown, the quality of Malayalam movies has increased dramatically, giving us gems that will be remembered for a very long time. So, here is a list of the top 10 Malayalam movies of 2022 that have been celebrated across the world!
1. Rorschach (IMDb Rating - 7.9)
Rorschach is a relatively new Malayalam movie that has been creating waves across the country. Released on 7 October 2022, Rorschach is a psychological thriller Malayalam movie directed by Nissam Basheer and produced by Mammooty, starring himself in the lead role. It is a story about Luke Anthony, an NRI businessman, who is out for vengeance after his wife went missing under mysterious circumstances.
2. Puzhu (IMDb Rating - 6.2)
Puzhu is another Malayalam movie starring Mammooty in the lead role. It was directed by Ratheena and produced by S.George. Puzhu was released on 13 May 2022 and is a story about the dynamic of a father-son duo and how their strained relationship, along with the possibility of an assassination forms the basis of the story. The movie, especially Mammooty, received praise from the general audience.
3. Jana Gana Mana (IMDb Rating - 8.3)
One of the most anticipated Malayalam movies of 2022, Jana Gana Mana was destined to be a hit ever since its trailer came out. The sheer passion that the actors showed and the menacing tone throughout the trailer was enough for people to flock to the cinema halls on its release.
Jana Gana Mana is a courtroom thriller Malayalam movie directed by Dijo Jose Antony and produced by Supriya Menon and Listin Stephen. The lead cast of Jana Gana Mana includes Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu.
4. Vichitram (IMDb Rating - 8.9)
Vichitram is a 2022 horror comedy Malayalam movie that was released on 14 October 2022. The movie is directed by Achu Vijayan and produced by Joy Movie Productions. It stars Shine Tom Chacko, Balu Varghese and Lal, among others in lead roles. Vichitram is a story about a mother and her five sons who visit their ancestral home but the story takes a sudden turn when strange occurrences start to happen in the bungalow.
Vichitram is a movie filled with unexpected twists and turns with elements of horror and subtle humour which is sure to take you abac with its crisp storytelling and great acting. It is one of the highest-rated Malayalam movies on IMDb with a rating of 8.9 out of 10
5. Pada (IMDb Rating - 7.9)
Pada is a Malayalam movie based on the real-life hostage situation of the then-Palakkad district collector which happened in the year 1996. The movie Pada was directed by Kamal K. M and produced by Mukesh R Mehta, A. V. Anoop and C. V. Sarathi and stars Kunchako Boban, Joju George, Vinayakan and Dileesh Pothan in lead roles.
Pada was praised by the critics for stating facts as is and not dramatizing the entire incident. Critics also praised the performances of Kunchako Boban and Dileesh Pothan who were at their absolute best in this Malayalam movie.
6. Padavettu (IMDb Rating 9.1)
Padavettu is a political action Malayalam movie that was released on 21 October 2022. It was directed by Liju Krishna and produced by Vikram Mehra, Siddharth Anand Kumar and Sunny Wayne. Padavettu has a stellar star cast of Nivin Pauly, Shine Tom Chacko and Aditi Balan in lead roles. It is the highest-rated Malayalam movie on IMDb, with a rating of 9.1 out of 10
7. Bheeshma Parvam (IMDb Rating - 7.7)
Actor Mammooty is having a stellar year with one hit release after another and Bheeshma Parvam is one of them. It was released on 3 March 2022 and stars Mammooty in the lead role. Bheeshma Parvam was directed and produced by Amal Neerad and is one of the highest-grossing movies of 2022, earning an estimated 100 crore rupees. It is also the third highest-grossing Malayalam movie of all time.
8. Hridayam (IMDb Rating - 8.1)
Hridayam is a romantic drama Malayalam movie that was released on 21 January 2022. It was directed by Vinneth Sreenivasan and produced by Visakh Subramaniam and starred Pranav Mohanlal (Mohanlal's Son) and Kayani Priyadarshan (Priyadarshan's Daughter) in lead roles. Hridayam was a box office success, earning close to 53 crore rupees and was also loved by the general audience. It also won two Kerala State Film Awards and is one of the highest-rated movies on IMDb.
9. Jo and Jo (IMDb Rating - 7.1)
Jo and Jo is a Malayalam movie of the comedy genre that was released on 13 May 2022. It was directed by Arun D Jose and produced by Imagine Cinemas and Signature Studios and starred Nikhila Vimal and Matthew Thomas in lead roles. Jo and Jo is a movie about the sibling bond and how a few misunderstandings caused a rift between the two leads Jomol and Jomon.
10. Nna, Thaan Case Kodu (IMDb Rating - 8.1)
Nna, Thaan Case Kodu is a satirical Malayalam movie that was released on 11 August 2022. It was directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval and produced by Santosh T. Kuruvilla. The main cast of Nna, Than Case Kodu includes Kunchako Boban and Gayathrie Shankar.
Nna, Thaan Case Kodu is a movie about a petty thief who decided to stop all his malicious activities and live a life of intent after he falls for a woman and marries her. One day, he crosses the fence of an MLA’s house and ends up on his property because of which he is accused of theft. What follows is a courtroom drama filled with humour while the lead actor, Kozhymmal Rajeevan (played by Kunchacko Boban) tries to prove his innocence in the court.
Honourable Mentions
1. Bhoothakaalam (IMDb Rating - 7.5)
Bhoothakaalam is one of the few Malayalam movies to have a direct-to-OTT release. The movie, which was released on Sony LIV on 21 January 2022, is considered to be one of actor Shane Nigam's best performances. Bhoothakaalam is directed by Rahul Sadasivan and produced by Sunila Habeeb and Teresa Rani. The music for this film was also composed by the multi-talented Shane Nigam, along with fellow musician Gopi Sundar.
The plot of Bhoothakaalam revolves around a family consisting of a mother-son duo who, after the death of a family member, start to experience some strange occurrences which make them question their sanity and their perception of reality. Bhoothakaalam is considered to be one of the Malayalam film industry's best horror movies and the technical prowess it showcases makes it a worthy contender to be the Malayalam movie of the year 2022.
2. Udal (IMDb Rating - 7.6)
Udal is one thriller Malayalam movie that you wouldn't want to miss! It will keep you on your toes from the start to the end. Udal is directed by Ratheesh Reghunandan and produced by Gokulam Gopalan. The music for Udal was composed by William Francis and the cinematography was done by Manoj Pillai. Udal has a stellar star cast which has a mix of both veteran actors and new-age ones like Indrans, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Durga Krishna and Jude Anthony Joseph.
The movie was praised for its unique storyline and a perfectly cast set of actors who did justice to the source material. Even the direction of the movie was praised by both audiences and critics alike, making it a must-watch Malayalam movie of 2022.
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