Why Onam and Movies Feel Inseparable
Ask anyone who grew up in Kerala: Onam isn’t just a festival, it’s a season. The smell of banana chips frying in coconut oil, the burst of pookalam designs in every front yard, the snake boat races, and, of course, cinema. Because Onam is when families pour into theatres after the sadhya, or gather around the TV for festival premieres. The timing of a movie release matters—it can make or break a film’s destiny. Some Malayalam movies became legends not only because of their story, but because they arrived with the fragrance of Onam in the air.
Seven Malayalam films shape the festival, each in its own way, and they weave into its rich, warm fabric.
1. Harikrishnans (1998) – Double the Stars, Double the Frenzy
Imagine the chaos: Mohanlal and Mammootty, in the same film, released bang during Onam. People lined up outside theatres just to argue who had the better ending (yes, two different endings were shot). The movie itself was a quirky blend of mystery and comedy, but honestly, the plot came second. What mattered was the spectacle of Kerala’s two biggest icons sharing frames during the festival season. Onam was already about abundance—Harikrishnans added star abundance to the mix.
2. Ravanaprabhu (2001) – A Feast of Power and Tradition
As a sequel to the legendary Devasuram, Ravanaprabhu had expectations stacked sky high. Mohanlal stepped into a dual role—continuing the legacy of Neelakandan while also embodying his son. The film is soaked in tharavadu settings, temple grounds, and the heavy air of feudal pride. Released around Onam, it matched the grandeur of the festival itself. The lines, the swagger, even the background score felt like it was designed to echo through the corridors of a family ancestral home during festival gatherings.
3. Nunakkuzhi (2024) – A Thriller Right in the Middle of the Festive Glow
Onam week usually means colour, music, elephants, laughter. And then Nunakkuzhi walked in with shadows. Strange choice, right? A dark thriller in the middle of Kerala’s happiest season. But that’s exactly why it worked.
The movie pulled you into alleys you’d rather avoid—mystery, betrayal, faces you thought you knew suddenly turning sinister. And audiences loved that tension. Outside the theatre, pookalam contests and payasam. Inside, goosebumps. That mix made Nunakkuzhi memorable. Like someone sprinkling chilli powder into your sweet pradhaman — shocking at first, but addictive once you taste it.
4. Manorathangal (2024) – Nine Stories, One Festival Treat
It’s not a movie, though this one was special. Honestly, when was the last time an anthology felt like a proper Onam release? Manorathangal did. Nine short stories by the legendary M.T. Vasudevan Nair, nine celebrated directors, practically a who’s who of Malayalam cinema. Mohanlal, Mammootty, Fahadh, Parvathy — the cast list read like an Onam wish-list.
Watching it during Onam week was like sitting at a sadhya with endless side dishes. Each segment had a different flavour — some bitter, some sweet, some heavy, some light. You didn’t need fireworks or mass dialogues; the quiet power of Nair’s words carried everything. Families walked out whispering favourite stories, arguing about whose segment hit hardest. That shows the quiet beauty. Onam honors Kerala’s deep roots, and this film sets those roots on the bright screen.
5. Nadanna Sambhavam (2024) proves every neighbourhood holds its drama.
Now, let’s switch gears. If Manorathangal was reflective and literary, Nadanna Sambhavam was loud, funny, and oh-so-relatable. Who doesn’t know a neighbourhood where gossip runs faster than Wi-Fi? Where the uncle next door pretends to be moral police, the auntie has her own secrets, and kids are caught in between?
That’s what this film nailed. Biju Menon and Suraj Venjaramoodu brought huge local flavor, and they felt like your own neighbors. They released the film near Onam, and the timing fit — families full after lunch laughed in theatres at stories that matched the lanes on their own streets. It reminded people that Onam isn’t just temple processions and tradition; it’s also the small, messy, hilarious community life we go back to every year.
6. Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira (2025) – The Present Crowd-Puller
Onam 2025 also gave us this Fahadh Faasil–Kalyani Priyadarshan entertainer, and social media has crowned it the season’s winner. Reviews call it a “complete Onam entertainer”—packed with comedy, romance, and enough drama to leave you satisfied but not stuffed. Twitter timelines flooded with fans quoting dialogues and sharing theatre whistles. It may not carry the weight of a Ravanaprabhu, but in festival seasons, fun matters just as much as legacy. And this film delivers the laughter families look for during holidays.
7. JSK: Janaki V vs State of Kerala (2025) – A Courtroom Clash Before Onam
JSK: Janaki V v/s State of Kerala stirred the crowd before Onam with a fierce courtroom tale. Anupama Parameswaran plays Janaki Vidhyadharan, a survivor who seeks justice, and Suresh Gopi stands as defense lawyer David Abel Donovan with steady weight. The release brought drama on its own; fights over the title and CBFC cuts hit the news before crowds saw a frame. Critics split; they praised the acting and flagged the slow pace. By August 15 on ZEE5, the film sat inside Kerala’s festival talk and proved that Onam releases need no songs or dance; arguments carry more weight.
What Makes These Films “Onam Films”?
It’s not only the release date. It’s the mood. An Onam film should feel like abundance—whether that abundance is of stars (Harikrishnans), emotions (Classmates), or tradition (Aanachandam). They tap into the idea that Onam is about gathering, remembering, and celebrating roots.
And the best part? Even if you watch these films years later on OTT during Onam week, the nostalgia kicks in. The visuals smell of sandalwood, the background scores thrum like chenda melam, and the dialogues echo the same sentiments you hear in family dining halls.
Closing Thought – Cinema as Onam’s Eighth Dish
Onam sadhya has 26 dishes, give or take. But ask any Malayali, and they’ll tell you: cinema is dish number 27. Watching an Onam release with cousins, eating banana chips during the interval, or catching a TV premiere after the pookalam competition—it all folds into the memory of the festival.
These seven Malayalam movies aren’t just cinematic milestones. They’re cultural bookmarks. Each one takes us back to a festival season, a theatre line, a family get-together. And this year, whether you pick Hridayapoorvam for its charm or Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira for its laughter, the truth remains: Onam and movies are inseparable.
So, as you dig into your payasam this Onam, maybe dig into one of these films too. Because nothing celebrates Kerala’s soul like cinema meeting tradition.
Bio of Author: Gayatri Tiwari is an experienced digital strategist and entertainment writer, bringing 20+ years of content expertise to one of India’s largest OTT platforms. She blends industry insight with a passion for cinema to deliver engaging, trustworthy perspectives on movies, TV shows and web series.
