Best Malayalam Films 2021: Ode to a woman rebel, a male superhero and unrelenting experimentation

2021 began with a Malayalam film becoming a pan-India rage despite being released on a then brand new, completely unknown OTT platform, Neestream, after rejections by Netflix and Amazon (the latter subsequently changed its mind). The year ended with another Malayalam film breaking new ground for Indian cinema. Between The Great Indian Kitchen and Minnal Murali flowed a stream of quality Malayalam releases so unrelenting, that I have struggled to restrict my Best Malayalam Films 2021 compilation to just 10. Hence, a large collection of Special Mentions.   Each film on this list was either released in theatres during the brief respite from pandemic-related lockdowns or on an OTT platform at some point in 2021. It is a measure of our changing times that a lovely documentary I watched this year fulfills this criterion.   Binge watchers, fasten your seat belts. Here is my list: Best Film: The Great Indian Kitchen (Mahaththaya Bharatiya Adukkala) Director: Jeo Baby Click here for the review of The Great Indian Kitchen

_Minnal Murali_  Director: Basil Joseph Click here for the review of Minnal Murali   _Malik_ Director: Mahesh Narayanan Click here for the review of Malik

**8-1/2 Intercuts **  Director: Lijin Jose Click here for the review of 8-1/2 Intercuts   _Nayattu_ Director: Martin Prakkat   Click here for the review of Nayattu Biriyaani Director: Sajin Baabu   Click here for the review of Biriyaani

Joji Director: Dileesh Pothan Click here for the review of   Joji   _Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam_ Director: Senna Hegde Click here for the review of   Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam   _Drishyam 2_ Director: Jeethu Joseph Click here for the review of   Drishyam 2  

_Jan-E-Man_  Director: Chidambaram Click here for the review of Jan-E-Man  

SPECIAL MENTIONS:  Musical Chair   Director: Vipin Atley 1956, Central Travancore   Director: Don Palathara Bhramam   Director: Ravi K Chandran Kaanekkaane Director: Manu Ashokan Sara’s Director: Jude Anthany Joseph   Chathur Mukham   Directors: Ranjeet Kamala Sankar and Salil V #Home   Director: Rojin Thomas   Operation Java   Director: Tharun Moorthy   Sunny   Director: Ranjith Sankar   Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam   Director: Don Palathara   Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic. She specialises in the intersection of cinema with feminist and other socio-political concerns. Twitter: @annavetticad, Instagram: @annammvetticad, Facebook: AnnaMMVetticadOfficial RELATED LINKS: Jeo Baby Director’s Cut: On The Great Indian Kitchen, piracy, censorship, Sabarimala and a fear of right-wingers among TV channels Mahesh Narayanan Director’s Cut: On being labelled Islamophobic, Malik, Take Off and his Hindi debut Sajin Baabu Director’s Cut: On Biriyaani, Kani Kusruti, Islamophobia and his scrutiny of the Muslim community