Top 10 Best Crime Thriller Movies In Malayalam

Malayalam movies have captured the hearts of many film enthusiasts, especially since the advent of OTT culture. The increased accessibility of various streaming platforms made movie buffs explore beyond the glitz and glamour of Bollywood or Tollywood, leading them to discover the realistic and well-written narratives present in Malayalam cinema. This platform provides a wider reach to many hidden gems like Kumbalangi Nights, Uyare, The Great India Kitchen, etc., bringing well-deserved and nationwide recognition to immensely gifted actors like Fahadh Faasil, Suraj Venjarammoodu, Soubin Shahir, and Nimisha Sajayan, among others. The widespread acceptance of these movies stands testimony to the exceptional skills and craftsmanship of artists and technicians in the Malayalam movie industry. This time, our team at Top 10s Only delved into Mollywood’s Top Crime Thriller Movies and chose the ten most gripping whodunnits for you to binge on.

Ten Finest Malayalam Crime Thrillers That Will Keep You Up At Night!

The magic of Malayalam crime thriller movies is that they manage to captivate your mind without relying on cheap jump scares or haunting background scores. Instead, they enthrall you with their compelling narratives and unforgettable character portrayals. These movies are more than just thrillers, as at some point, they make you ponder over the dark side of human minds and the thin line between revenge and justice. Brace yourself for our list of the top 10 best crime thriller movies in Malayalam that will leave your hearts pounding and send chills down your spine at the thrill of the unexpected.

1. C.I.D. (1955)

C.I.D. is one of the old Malayalam crime thriller movies in the rich history of Mollywood. In our research, we unearthed this classic, starring the evergreen superstar Prem Nazir alongside Miss Kumari and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. The movie was produced under the banner of Merryland Studio, a production house with a legacy of contributing countless classics to the Malayalam industry.

The story unfolds with the murder of a wealthy planter, Mukunda Menon (played by Jose Prakash), and CID Sudhakaran (Nazeer) steps in to solve the mystery. The investigation that initially suspected a gang of thieves takes unexpected turns, ultimately leading to Menon’s wicked estate manager, Vallabhan. He even plots a vicious plan to marry his only daughter, Vasanthi, only to seize control over the vast wealth. C.I.D., the directorial debut of the renowned director M. Krishnan Nair, is also considered to be Malayalam’s first crime thriller.

2. Memories (2013)

The film ‘Memories’ defied initial expectations, as director Jeethu Joseph, known for some mediocre movies in the past, delivered one of the top investigation crime thriller movies in Malayalam. With this psychological thriller, he not only proved his calibre but also became one of the most popular directors, especially after the success of the Drishyam series. 

The movie, starring Prithviraj in the lead, narrates the story of a depressed, alcoholic police officer forced into investigating a series of cold-blooded murders. The first half is devoted to intense character building, laying the foundation for the second half of the movie, which transforms into a top-notch thriller with unpredictable plot twists. With new pieces of information about the killer and the victims revealed, the climax weaves together all of them to reveal the true identity of the psychopathic murderer. While Prithviraj, Meghana Raj, Vijayaraghavan, and others delivered commendable performances, Memories was a remarkable career break for S.P. Sreekumar. He was highly lauded for his performance by the audience and critics equally, adding to the success of the movie.

3. Drishyam – Part 1 (2013)

Even after a decade of its remarkable success, Drishyam continues to stand as one of the best suspense crime thriller movies in Malayalam, with Megastar Mohanlal in the lead. This directorial masterpiece by Jeethu Joseph starts off as a seemingly low-key family drama, with Georgekutty (Mohanlal) happily living with his wife and two children. But before you know it, the plot becomes a rollercoaster ride filled with suspense, emotions, and mind-bending twists.

Drishyam convincingly narrates the story of a simple, common man who can go to extraordinary lengths to protect his family from impending dangers. The entire cast of Drishyam, led by  Mohanlal and Meena, along with child artists Ansiba and Esther Anil, portrayed their characters stunningly. It achieved unparalleled acclaim and became so popular that it was remade in seven languages, including Sinhala and Chinese.

Much like all other Jeethu-Joseph-Mohanlal combination movies, including the recent hit Neru, Drishyam was also initially promoted as a low profile simple family movie, only to emerge as one of the best crime suspense crime thriller movies in Malayalam ever.

4. The Great Father (2017)

Next on our list is ‘The Great Father’, one of the top Malayalam crime thriller movies starring Superstar Mammootty opposite the Tamil hero Arya. Directed by debutant Haneef Adeni, the movie narrates the story of David Nainan, a famed businessman, and his family. Following the brutal attack on his daughter, Nainan sets out on a quest to unveil the real identity of a serial killer named ‘Joker’. During this journey, he crosses paths with CID Andrews Eapen (Arya), who eventually becomes Nainan’s unlikely alliance to track down the serial killer and eliminate him. 

Though The Great Father moves at a slow pace, it has some stylish mass scenes as well as emotional father-daughter moments, providing a visual treat for die-hard Mammootty fans. With some stellar performances and brilliant camerawork, the movie is a perfect package. Santosh Keezhattoor, who played the main antagonist, ‘Joker’, also deserves a special mention.

5. Drishyam – Part 2 (2021)

Following the resounding success of Drishyam, Jeethu Joseph and Mohanlal reunited for its sequel, ‘Drishyam 2: The Resumption’, a film that, according to some, surpasses the brilliance of the original. The story picks up six years after the fateful night that changed Georgekutty’s and his family’s entire lives. Even though Georgekutty seemingly lives a prosperous life with his own movie theatre, he is constantly vigilant to shield his family from any resurfacing investigations into past incidents.

With plot twists unfolding almost every minute of the narrative, Drishyam 2 qualifies to be one of the best Malayalam crime thriller films. The movie is a perfect nail-biter with Jeethu Joseph’s exemplary script, leaving the audience astonished at the extent to which a man goes with the intent to safeguard his family. Along with all the other lead actors, Asha Sharath, as IG Geetha Prabhakar, gives a remarkable performance, contributing to the success of the movie.

6. Kurup (2021)

Kurup is a super hit Malayalam true crime movie based on the infamous fugitive from Kerala, Sukumara Kurup (name changed in the movie to Sudhakara Kurup). The movie goes back and forth in time following the case of Sudhakara Kurup, an NRI who allegedly killed his look-alike Charlie in an attempt to fake his own death for an insurance sum of Rs 8 lakh. The cat-and-mouse chase between SP Krishnadas (played by Indrajith) and Sudhakara Kurup (played by Dulquer Salman), where every time Kurup slips away and outsmarts the entire police force, forms the crux of the movie. Alongside the mystery element, Kurup also has a romantic side plot between Sudhakaran and Sharada, whom he later marries. 

Despite being inspired by a real-life incident, Kurup never fails to keep the audience hooked with its suspense and larger-than-life drama. Along with director Srinath Rajendran, brilliant performances by the ensemble cast, especially by Shine Tom Chacko, were critically acclaimed. Dulquer’s performance is awe-inspiring and is as impressive as always. His tremendous talent has been showcased in our earlier article that lists the top 10 best films of DQ. The background score by Sushin Shyam plays an important role in elevating the feel of the movie, guaranteeing it a place in the list of must-watch Malayalam crime thriller movies.

7. Paappan (2022)

When talking about Suresh Gopi’s best thriller movies in Malayalam, one cannot miss Paappan from the list. Along with Neeta Pillai and Nyla Usha, Gokul Suresh joins his father in the cast, playing his on-screen son. The movie tells the story of an ex-cop, Abraham Mathan Mathew, aka Paappan, who reunites with his estranged daughter, ASP Vincy Abraham, to investigate a series of murders. The murders initially resembled the modus operandi of a convicted serial killer, Iruttan Chacko. However, after an array of unexpected twists and turns, the real killer is revealed to be the least suspected character, with a motive that has connections to Paappan’s past.

Paappan was a strong comeback of the iconic Joshiy-Suresh Gopi combination, reminiscent of some 90’s hits like Lelam, Dhruvam, and Pathram. The movie is a must-watch for fans of the crime genre, with its solid script and amazing performances.

8. Heaven (2022)

The first directorial venture of Unni Govindraj is one of the superhit Malayalam mystery films on OTT, with an engaging screenplay and an unpredictable climax. Suraj Venjaramoodu plays the character of CI Peter Kuruvila, a widower who investigates the mass murder of Mathew and his family at their home named ‘Heaven’, when he realizes that his son Sebin was also killed along with them. The rest of the plot follows how Kuruvila sets out to bring the people responsible for the murders to light and seeks revenge.

In the first half of the movie itself, some names of suspects are revealed, which could be a letdown. But the focus of the thriller is not ‘who’ did the crime, but ‘how’ and ‘why’ aspects of it. Suraj and his co-actors, including Sudev Nair, Aliencier, and Deepak Parambol, among others, have all performed convincingly, which made the movie a commercial success.

9. Twenty One Gms (2022)

It would be unfair not to include Twenty One Gms in our Top 10 Malayalam crime thriller movies list. Written and directed by Bibin Krishna, Twenty One Gms features Anoop Menon in the lead as DySP Nanda Kishore. Nandan sets out to investigate the murders of Anjali (Manasa Radhakrishnan), a biomedical engineer, and her brother Martin (Chandunath G. Nair), on consecutive days. The case takes a sensational turn with the involvement of a renowned entrepreneur, and the prime suspect has been missing since the day of the murders. With each sub-plot unwinding as the story moves forward, each character on the screen appears to have a motive, and the audience is engaged in solving the mystery parallelly in their heads.

Twenty One Gms stands out from most popular crime thriller mystery movies as the investigator finds himself in a moral dilemma about whether to support the killer or the victim as he discovers that his own life is intertwined with the crime.  Despite the movie’s slow-paced, gloomy narrative, it is a must-watch owing to intricate emotions and moral complexities associated with each character.

10. Garudan (2023)

Garudan emerges as a top Malayalam crime thriller movie streaming online by debutante director Arun Varma and written by Midhun Manuel Thomas, known for yet another popular thriller movie, Anjaam Paathira. The movie unravels an engaging mystery surrounding the brutal rape of a college student, Theresa Philip (Chaithanya Prakash). It initially seems like an open and shut case, where the investigating officer, DCP Harish Madhav (Suresh Gopi), accuses a reputed college professor, Nishant Kumar, with seemingly solid evidence. However, the story takes an unexpected turn when, after seven years of conviction, Nishanth appeals for a re-opening of the case and proves his innocence. Throughout the movie, the audience is torn between Harish and Nishanth, not knowing whom to favour, until the real culprit is revealed at the end.

Garudan features a powerhouse performance by both lead actors, Suresh Gopi and Biju Menon. Especially towards the climax, Biju Menon surprises the audience with his acting prowess, showcasing a shade never seen in his roles before this. In a nutshell, Garudan stands out among good Malayalam movies about crime, deviating from the cliched thriller plots.

Reflecting on Ten Unforgettable Malayalam Crime Thrillers

We are sure that each of the cinematic masterpieces featured on our top 10 Malayalam crime thriller movies list will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you are a seasoned Malayalam movie enthusiast or a newcomer eager to explore, these thrillers will be an excellent starting point. Ranging from classic psychological dramas to true stories that are stranger than fiction, we tried to bring to you a diverse mix, catering to a variety of preferences. Stay tuned for more exciting Top 10 lists across your favorite genres.

We know you’ve loved reading this article. And, there’s even more to discover! Be sure to check out our article that lists the ten best mystery movies in Malayalam.

Frequently Asked Questions About Top 10 Best Crime Thriller Movies In Malayalam

1. What are the top 10 crime thriller movies in Malayalam? 

The top 10 crime thriller movies on our list are C.I.D. (1955 film), Memories (2013), Drishyam -1 (2013), The Great Father (2017), Drishyam-2 (2021), Kurup (2021), Paappan (2022), \Heaven (2022), Twenty One Gms (2022), and Garudan (2023).

2. Which are some old Malayalam crime thriller movies that need to be watched?

Some old crime thriller movies in Malayama are C.I.D. (1955), CID Nazir (1971), Kaanathaya Penkutty (1985), Ee Thanutha Veluppankalathu (1990), etc.

3. Which film is believed to be Mollywood’s first crime thriller?

C.I.D. (1955), directed by M.Krishnan Nair and starring Prem Nazir, Miss Kumari, and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, is believed to be Malayalam’s first crime thriller.

4. Which is the first Indian film to be remade as a Chinese thriller film?

Drishyam (2013) is believed to be the first Indian film to be remade as a Chinese thriller film. Two other remakes in Indonesian and Korean languages are in the pipeline, making it the first Indian film to be remade in these languages too.