Best Malayalam murder mystery movies that you should not miss if you are a fan of the genre. Malayalam industry is an expert in this genre. There are numerous movies of this genre. The most number of murder mystery movies than any other industry in India. A perfect competitor of this genre to Korean industry.
Ee Kanni Koodi (1990) – Directed by the great K.G. George. It is about the murder of a prostitute and the police investigation followed by. It is hard to find a movie like this. No other Indian film has shown police investigation like this. We know only what police know. The investigation part is so cleanly shown that we feel a part of police department. A must see cop movie. It is disturbing also in the way that people need to be disturbed in.
Jagratha (1989) – Sequel to the murder mystery classic “Oru CBI Diary Kurippu”. Sethurama Iyer is back. Now to investigate about the murder of a popular actress (Aswathi). Written by S.N. Swamy and directed K. Madhu, is a treat for every murder mystery lovers. The story opens up clues and turns one by one.
Mumbai Police (2013) – Mumbai Police is richly detailed, and beautifully performed. Acting and cinematography are outstanding. Don’t miss this refreshing bold murder mystery written by Bobby-Sanjay and directed by Roshan Andrews starring Prithviraj, Rahman and Jayasuriya. You will be completely blown away by this piece of cinematic excellence. The film is a true suspense film that always has you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
Kariyila Kaatu Pole (1986) – The murder mystery film is written and directed by the legendary P. Padmarajan starring Mohanlal, Mammootty, Rahman, Sripriya, Karthika, Jalaja, and Unni Mary. It is about finding the killer behind the murder of film director Harikrishnan. Mohanlal in police uniform is a treat to watch. This film can be kept as a reference for whoever want to make a murder mystery. We feel this is one of the best murder mysteries ever.
Uththaram (1989) – A masterpiece written by the legendary M.T. Vasudevan Nair. Uththaram directed by V.K. Pavithran starring Mammootty, Sukumaran, Parvathy and Suparna is deeply haunting and disturbing crime thriller. Plot: Selina Joseph a budding poet leading a very happy family life, commits suicide by shooting herself with her husband’s gun. Upon request from Mathew (her husband), Balachandran Nair (Mammootty), his friend, a Delhi-based journalist, decides to look into the reasons that led her to suicide. This is one of the great Malayalam films of all time.
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988) – This movie will keep you guessing like no other movie. Amazing script flow. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is the first instalment of CBI Sethurama Iyer series. Written by S.N. Swami and directed by K. Madhu. It is a fantastic thriller that keeps you thinking.
Drishyam (2013) – Written and directed by Jeethu Joseph, Driysham is one of the biggest hits of Malayalam industry. Drishyam is a masterpiece that you cannot miss. Whether you like police films or not you should see this movie. This is not the kind of ‘police investigation’ movie. You will not be betting for a police here. This is a crime thriller with heavy dose suspense in every department. Drishyam is a must watch film if you are a fan of crime-dramas, but more importantly, this is a for anyone interested in film. Who’s right and who’s wrong?
Yavanika (1982) – Yavanika is brilliant brilliant film-making. It is written and directed by K.G. George starring Bharath Gopi, Jalaja, Mammootty and Venu Nagavalli. The plot is structured around the search for an unpopular tabla player of a drama troupe who suddenly disappears. This is an outstanding movie.
Paleri Manikyam (2009): The actual title is “Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha”. The murder mystery film is directed by Ranjith starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is about Haridas, a private detective, who returns to his birthplace, Paleri, to solve a murder mystery that occurred on the same night he was born. It was released with an ‘A’ certificate for violent scenes and adult content. The score is fantastic and the overall look and sound of the film is top class. It’s depressing and unpleasant but riveting.
Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu (1990) – Script written by P. Padmarajan and directed by Joshiy starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Nadumudi Venu and Sumalatha. Plot: Justice T. Vasudev is murdered in his house, and after his death Coir is pushed into his mouth by the murderer. One of his close friends, businessman Kuwait Mani is killed in an intentional car accident. After his death too, coir was inserted in the mouth. Who and why! Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu is a jarringly disturbing and haunting film.
Memories (2013) – The tempo, the thrill, the development of characters, everything it has been well worked. Another Jeethu Joseph film. Memories is written and directed by Jeethu Joseph, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Vijayaraghavan, Suresh Krishna, Miya and Meghana Raj. The film follows Sam Alex, a drunkard cop, who is forced to investigate a series of murders.
Charithram (1989) – Another fabulous crime thriller from the master. S.N. Swamy. Directed by G.S. Vijayan starring Mammootty, Rahman and Shobana, Charithram, is not directly a cop investigation film but its a full fledged thriller with murder mystery in the background.
The Truth (1998) – Again. Written by S.N. Swamy. It is directed by Shaji Khailas starring Mammotty. Chief Minister of the state is killed in a bomb blast. A Special Investigation Team is formed. Police finds a camera from the spot, suspicion is laid on the photograph of a ‘killer woman’, who entered the venue using a forged journalist pass. The Truth does have the most clever twist in the mid way (not the climax one. Climax one another shocker and even cleverer). The twists and turns of this film will impress you. The movie deserved better making style, and far better reach. Awesome script. Don’t miss this either.
Bhramaram (2009) – Written and directed by Blessy starring Mohanlal and Bhumika Chawla is an intense revenge drama. Dark masterpiece of the genre. A stupendous, moody, and well crafted thriller. Riveting cinema! An emotional thriller.
Mukham (1990) – The cop thriller directed by Mohan starring Mohanlal, Ranjini, Nasser, Sukumaran is about a police officer who tries to uncover and stop an unknown serial killer who has sniped three victims. Mukham is one of the best thrillers of all time.
Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004) – Another suspense thriller written by S.N. Swamy, the master. Directed by K. Madhu again. Third instalment of CBI series. Plot: A convicted serial killer, Isow Alex, is awaiting his execution for the cold-blooded murder of seven people in two different families. He tells Sethurama Iyer that he didn’t commit one of the seven murders he was convicted for. Case opens here. This is another suspense filled police investigation film. The film is very well made and a joy to watch. It keeps you awake and leaves you to wonder about the next suspect. Very grim and disturbing but you can’t stop watching.
Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary (1995) – From the makers of CBI series. Written by S.N. Swamy and directed by K. Madhu. A young servant girl is raped, murdered and her body is dumped in a pond. The police accuse Unni Thampuran of murder and arrest him. A public prosecutor discovers flaws in the investigation and decides to take up the case. An unsettling, and dark thriller.
Detective (2007) – The debut film of the director of Drishyam and Memories. Written and directed by Jeethu Joseph starring Suresh Gopi in double role. The movie starts with the death of wife of a young politician, Mohan Kumar. Investigation part is very good. Even though it is not as good as Jeethu Joseph’s other two in the list, this is worth your time. There is a brilliant bad guy here. He should make more murder mysteries.
Classmates (2006) – Written by James Albert and directed by Lal Jose is a romantic thriller starring Prithviraj, Indrajith, Jayasuriya, Narian and Kavya Madhavan. Plot: A group of college class mates get together for a reunion. On the night of the reunion Sukumaran is almost murdered and goes into a coma.
No: 20 Madras Mail (1990) – A thriller written by Dennis Joseph and directed by Joshiy starring Mohanlal and Mammootty. Plot: No: 20 Madras Mail train reaches Chennai, Devi is found murdered in the toilet. Suspicion lands on Tony and friends. Mammootty plays himself in the film.
Nadiya Kollappetta Rathri (2007) – Even if you don’t enjoy, you cannot deny that its suspense was real. Written by AK Sajan and directed by CBI series’ specialist K. Madhu. It is loosely based on Agatha Christie’s novel Elephants Can Remember.
Chinthamani Kolacase (2006) – The crime thriller is written by AK Sajan and directed by Shaji Khailas starring Suresh Gopi, Bhavana, and Biju Menon. It is about a lawyer, Lal Krishna, who works for criminal clients. He helps his clients to come out of the case, then he executes his punishment. He now has a case of a murder of a young girl.
12 Best Bollywood Crime/Thriller/Mystery Films | Hindi
“No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough” – Roger Ebert
Leave a comment