In the 2020s, Malayalam cinema has experienced a renaissance, gaining unprecedented national and global attention via OTT platforms. Films like Kumbalangi Nights (2019) redefined masculinity and family; Jallikattu (2019) was India’s official entry to the Oscars for its raw, feral energy; Minnal Murali (2021) offered a deeply humanist take on the superhero genre; and 2018: Everyone is a Hero (2023) dramatized the catastrophic Kerala floods as a story of collective survival. This new wave retains the industry’s core DNA—small stories, big emotions, and a rigorous sense of authenticity—while embracing global cinematic techniques.
Some iconic Malayalam films include: