In horror too, Malayalam cinema has explored many sub genres, such as portrayal of Yakshis, presence of black magic, and phycological thrillers.
Published Nov 20, 2025 | 9:38 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 20, 2025 | 9:38 AM
Malayalam horror films. (Supplied)
Horror has been a genre that has got wide acceptance among the audience irrespective of the language. Indian cinema has explored a wide range of subjects in the horror genre.
Similarly, the Malayalam film industry has produced numerous horror films—many of which became superhits, while a few fell short.
The latest addition to the horror genre is Dies Irae directed by Rahul Sadasivan featuring Pranav Mohanlal in the lead role. The movie turned out to be a superhit film earning more than ₹75 crores.
Horror in Malayalam cinema can be traced back to 1960s, with Bhargavinilayam (1964) being considered as Malayalam cinema’s one of the first horror film.
Based on a story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, the movie gives a unique experience.
Later, in 2023, a remake of this movie named Neelavelicham (2023) was released with Tovino Thomas and Rima Kallingal playing the lead roles, however, it didn’t do well in theatres.
Some other horror films include Yakshi (1968) directed by KS Sethumadhavan, Yakshaganam (1970), Lisa (1978), Kalliyankattu Neeli (1979), Sreekrishna Parunthu (1984), Veendum Lisa (1987).
In horror too, Malayalam cinema has explored many sub genres, such as portrayal of Yakshis, presence of black magic, and phycological thrillers.
In many of these films Yakshi (ghost) was shown as a celestial being and some showed them as a woman who confronts an unnatural death and returns to take revenge for their murder.
Major popular films that showed yakshis with a white saree include Neeli (2018),
Akashaganga (1999), Indriyam (2000), Yakshiyum Njanum (2010). These films were based on folktales and other superstitions, and the filmmakers were able to combine them for a mass audience.
A different attempt at portraying the Yakshi myth appears in Ennu Swantham Janakikutty (1998), directed by Hariharan. The film presents the Yakshi from a distinctly female perspective. Kunjathol, the Yakshi, is seen entirely through the eyes of Janakikutty, the protagonist—who perceives her not as a threat, but as a friendly and supportive presence.
In Yakshi, directed by KS Sethumadhavan and adapted from Malayattoor Ramakrishnan’s novel, the story follows Sreenivasan, a college professor who encounters a Yakshi. The same novel was later adapted as Akam (2013), directed by Shalini Usha Kumar, in which Fahadh Faasil plays an architect whose face is disfigured in a car accident, leading him to develop insecurities reminiscent of the Yakshi.
Vayanadan Thamban (1978) directed by A Vincent has Kamal Haasan in the lead role. This is probably one of the early films that successfully used black magic as a technique in a horror film. Kamal Haasan as the Wayanadan Thamban plays the person who performs black magic to get eternal youth.
Another major film that featured black magic is Adharvam (1989), directed by Dennis Joseph which still has a separate fan base. The movie has Mammootty in the lead role who is the illicit son of Thevalli Namboothiri (Charu Haasan), a well-known astrologer from a reputed Brahmin family.
However, Mammootty’s character, as he grows, learns Adharvaveda and starts practicing black magic which takes the lives of many people. In the end, he understands his mistakes and sacrifices his life.
Sreekrishna Parunthu directed by A Vincent also has an interesting premise which has Mohanlal in the lead role Kumaran Thampi, an alcoholic. As the movie moves forward, he starts performing black magic with many supernatural events happening and later evil spirits take hold of him.
A major film that portrays black magic in style is Anandabhadram (2005) based on Sunil Parameshwaran’s novel of the same name. It has Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan play the lead roles along with Riya Sen.
Manoj K Jayan plays the role of a powerful black magician named Digambaran. The movie surely gave a different outlook to the new generation with the film’s astonishing visuals that takes the audience to a visual spectacle.
Manichithrathazhu is another widely rewatched classic, notable for blending horror with a psychological narrative—an approach that was new to viewers at the time. Unlike conventional horror films, it emphasized medical explanations for Ganga’s dual-personality disorder, portrayed by Shobhana. The film’s strength lies in Madhu Muttam’s script and Fazil’s direction.
Fazil said in an interview that the climax was the toughest part of the film to be shot as he was confused about how to shoot this pivotal scene.
“Shobana had to cut Suresh Gopi’s throat in the scene. The audience should be able to see that she is about to cut his throat. But from Shobana’s angle, it is Thampi (the negative character) who is in front of her,” Fazil had said.
It was Suresh Gopi who gave Fazil the idea of creating a wooden bench with him strapped onto one side of it and Thampi’s dummy strapped on the other side, he had said.
A poster of the film ‘Nine’. (Supplied)
There was a shift in style of the horror films in Malayalam post 2000 which was stuck on the black magic and Yakshi’s in the 20th century.
Different techniques were used to make people sit through the movie. In some of the films such as Mammootty’s Aparichithan (2004), horror is shown in a very different way.
It starts as a movie with the main characters playing Ouija board. Later at the end only the main plot of horror gets showcased. The movie has Mammootty as a spirit.
Prithviraj’s Nine (2019), directed by Jenuse Muhammed has an interesting plot which speaks about an issue faced by mankind when a comet passes very close to the Earth.
The movie has horror elements with medical conditions of bipolar schizoaffective disorder. The appearance of Wamiga Gabbi as Ava, a mysterious character, is important in this movie.
Ezra (2017) is another horror film directed by Jay K that has an interesting plot which has Prithviraj in the lead role.
Horror comedies have found success in many film industries, but in Malayalam cinema they have not been as consistently popular. However, films such as Romancham (2022), Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015), Hello Mummy (2024), and Ghost House Inn (2010) are notable exceptions that performed well in theatres.
Of these, Romancham and Adi Kapyare Kootamani do not consistently display horror elements; instead, both films shift toward the horror genre only in their final portions, suggesting the possibility of full-fledged sequels.
A surprise hit among them was Hello Mummy, which became one of the most successful entertainers of the past year.
A poster of the film ‘Bramayugam’. (Supplied)
Advent of technology, especially in sound, has been helping filmmakers making horror films, give the audience a good experience.
Films such as Anandabhadram, The Cold Case (2021), Ezra, Nine made an impact in theatres due to its sound design.
Manju Warrier’s Chaturmukham (2021) was known as the first techno horror film in Malayalam. The lead character is surrounded by a supernatural entity through the phone, which threatens her safety and others. The movie did decent business with a fresh aspect on horror films.
Rahul Sadhasivan’s Bhootakalam (2021) is another film that masterfully creates an eerie atmosphere, giving the audience a chilling experience. Featuring Revathy and Shane Nigam, the story follows them living in a haunted house, where unsettling supernatural events unfold, heightened by the film’s atmospheric sound design.
Vadakkan (2024) is a supernatural horror film based on the folktales. The movie is based in the US and in Kerala where the contestants of a horror based reality show get killed by supernatural activity. This is one of the technically brilliant films released recently.
Rahul Sadasivan’s Bramayugam is another major film in the horror genre. Instead of relying on traditional ghosts for scares, the film features a Chathan (goblin) played by Mammootty, which becomes its major highlight. The veteran actor won Best Actor at the 33rd Kerala State Film Awards for his stunning performance in the movie.
A poster of the film ‘Bhootakalaam’. (Supplied)
Dies Irae, the brand-new film directed by Rahul Sadasivan, has once again turned out to be a successful venture. According to its sound designer, the movie excels mainly through its use of silence, with sudden bursts of sound playing a key role in enhancing the theatrical experience.
Interestingly, Rahul Sadasivan is expected to build a cinematic universe, with Dies Irae containing references to his earlier film Bhootakalam. There are also discussions about whether the character Madhu, played by Jibin Gopinath, has any connection to Kodumon Potti from Bramayugam. The film features two spirits, one of which is portrayed in a way that is entirely new to Malayalam cinema.
Mystery is a key element that draws Malayalam audiences to horror films. Most Malayalam horror movies are influenced by Kerala’s social, cultural, literary, and historical contexts, making them deeply relatable to viewers.
