Malayalam cinema experienced a mixed first half of 2025, with major disappointments and unexpected comebacks, signaling a shift from its record-breaking performance in the previous year.
A Rollercoaster Start to 2025
The year kicked off on a disappointing note with “Identity,” starring Tovino Thomas and Trisha Krishnan. Despite high expectations, the action thriller fell short due to weak writing and subpar performances from its lead actors.
However, the industry soon found its footing with “Rekhachithram,” an alternate-history thriller featuring Asif Ali and Anaswara Rajan. Praised for its technical brilliance and effective use of AI, including an AI-generated Mammootty, the film proved that quality cinema is achievable even on a limited budget, unlike some big-budget films from other industries.
While a few other smaller releases appeared, only “Rekhachithram” managed to turn a profit in January, according to the Kerala Film Producers Association.
The Shifting Fortunes of Superstars
The first six months saw a significant shift in the dynamics between Malayalam cinema’s two titans, Mammootty and Mohanlal. Mammootty, who had enjoyed a remarkable winning streak, stumbled with “Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse.” This mystery comedy, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon in his Malayalam debut, was widely criticized as amateurish and a missed opportunity.
In stark contrast, Mohanlal, who had faced a string of recent flops, made a spectacular comeback. This marked a turning point, as he regained his footing at the box office.
January also saw the release of “Ponman,” lauded for its technical prowess and strong performances, particularly by Basil Joseph. Conversely, Vineeth Sreenivasan’s “Oru Jaathi Jathakam” drew severe backlash for its narrative, which was seen as promoting harmful stereotypes including casteism, colorism, and misogyny.
February’s Valentine’s Day Flop
Unlike the golden February of 2024, which delivered blockbusters like “Manjummel Boys” and “Premalu,” this year’s Valentine’s Day weekend was a letdown. Multiple anticipated films like “Painkili,” “Bromance,” and “Daveed” were released but failed to perform, largely due to poor release planning on a non-holiday weekend.
Later in the month, “Officer on Duty” became a hit but faced criticism post-OTT release for its themes. Unni Mukundan’s “Get Set Baby” also underperformed, indicating that despite significant promotional efforts, he still has a way to go in terms of stardom and acting prowess.
Mohanlal’s Dominance and The ‘Thudarum’ Effect
March, traditionally a quieter month for releases, set the stage for the highly anticipated Mohanlal-starrer “L2: Empuraan.” Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the sequel to “Lucifer” was an instant box office smash and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, solidifying Mohanlal’s return to form.
However, despite its commercial success, “Empuraan” received underwhelming critical reviews for its weak writing and pretentious approach. Controversy also arose over its depiction of the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, leaving many fans feeling the film didn’t live up to their expectations.
Mammootty’s April release, “Bazooka,” further ended his winning streak. While conceptually intriguing, the film suffered from a severely underdeveloped screenplay. Meanwhile, Khalid Rahman and Naslen’s “Alappuzha Gymkhana” found more success despite mixed reviews, offering a fresh take on the sports comedy genre.
Less than a month after “Empuraan,” Mohanlal delivered another blockbuster with “Thudarum,” directed by Tharun Moorthy and co-starring Shobana. This film opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was hailed as the true comeback for Mohanlal, the actor, cementing its place as the third-highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.
A Mixed Bag of May & June
May proved to be a microcosm of the year, with a highly varied slate of films. While some, like “Sarkeet” and “Padakkalam,” were decent, others like Dileep’s “Prince and Family” offered a slight improvement over his recent disasters. “Lovely,” a 3D fantasy, was notably disappointing, while “Moonwalk,” a dance drama featuring newcomers, stood out as a brilliant and refreshing exception.
June began with forgettable releases but was redeemed by Shahi Kabir’s “Ronth.” This spectacular police procedural, featuring strong performances from Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew, added another feather to Malayalam cinema’s cap, despite some familiar problematic tropes from the filmmaker.
- Malayalam cinema experienced a fluctuating performance in the first half of 2025, unlike its consistent success in 2024.
- Mohanlal made a strong comeback with two blockbusters, “L2: Empuraan” and “Thudarum,” while Mammootty’s winning streak ended.
- “Rekhachithram” highlighted the industry’s ability to achieve technical brilliance on limited budgets.
- Several films faced criticism for poor writing or problematic social narratives.
- The industry needs smarter release planning and more effective promotional strategies moving forward.
As the industry moves into the second half of 2025, it faces the challenge of maintaining its creative momentum and adapting to evolving audience expectations, with strategic planning crucial for future success.
