Best dark & gritty Malayalam movies on JioHotstar in India
By the KyaDekhu team · Updated · Availability for India from JustWatch, ratings from IMDb
89 movies on JioHotstar in India match this list, with an average IMDb rating of 6.5. Ranked by vote-weighted IMDb rating and popularity; showing the top 30.
-
1. Drishyam (2013)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 44m · U · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 8.4 (50.1K votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
Georgekutty lives a happy life with his wife and daughters. Things take a turn when his daughter gets indecently filmed using a hidden camera, by the son of a police inspector.
-
2. Kireedam (1989)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 7m · A · Drama, Action · IMDb 8.9 (10.0K votes)
Dark & gritty
Sethu aspires to become a police officer to fulfil his father's dream. However, his life turns upside down when he intervenes in a scuffle with a criminal to save his father's life.
-
3. Kaalapani (1996)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 58m · UA · Action, Drama · IMDb 8.5 (5.1K votes)
TwistyDark & grittyVisually stunningEdge-of-seat
Govardhan, a doctor by profession, is wrongly accused of bombing a train and is jailed by the British in Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He witnesses sufferings of hundreds of Indian prisoners there.
-
4. Memories (2013)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 12m · UA · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 8.0 (9.1K votes)
Dark & grittyTwistyEdge-of-seatCold & detached
Sam Alex, a former police officer haunted by the tragic loss of his family, drowns his grief in alcohol until duty calls him back. When a string of eerily similar murders emerges, he’s forced to confront both the case and the ghosts of his past.
-
5. Take Off (2017)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 19m · U · Drama, Thriller · IMDb 8.0 (8.3K votes)
Edge-of-seatDark & grittyVisually stunningSerious
A group of Malayali nurses stranded in Iraq, must survive their capture by the extremists and reach out to the rescue team headed by the Indian government.
-
6. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 31m · U/A 16+ · Action, Adventure · IMDb 7.6 (23.1K votes)
Visually stunningDark & grittyEdge-of-seatTwisty
The story follows Chandra, a mysterious, goth-influenced woman who has just moved to Bangalore and begins working night shifts at a café. Across the road from her apartment live Sunny and Venu, two aimless bachelors. Sunny becomes infatuated with Chandra, observing her odd routines, strange visitors, and reclusive natu
-
7. Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 47m · U · Drama, Romance · IMDb 8.0 (7.7K votes)
HeartwarmingSeriousDark & gritty
Children of two renowned families fall in love amidst orthodox surroundings. When their inter-religious relationship is opposed, the two lovers' situation is fraught with familial pressure, societal culture and blind arrogance.
-
8. Mumbai Police (2013)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 25m · UA · Crime, Mystery · IMDb 7.9 (9.0K votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatMatureDark & gritty
ACP Antony Moses is on the verge of uncovering his friend’s murderer when an accident leaves him with partial memory loss. Reassigned to the same case, he must retrace his own forgotten steps to uncover a truth more shocking than he imagined.
-
9. Mukundan Unni Associates™ (2022)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 7m · U · Crime, Comedy · IMDb 7.9 (7.8K votes)
Cold & detachedDark & grittyDialogue-drivenFunny
Advocate Mukundan Unni wants to be successful and leaves no stone unturned to achieve growth, prosperity, and respect. But this steadfast nature aided with an ample dose of greed comes with a cost.
-
10. Kannur Squad (2023)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 40m · UA · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 7.6 (12.8K votes)
TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detached
The gripping saga of a police officer and his team, their challenging journey to nab a criminal gang across the country. Further, it shows how he leads his team towards triumph, amidst professional uncertainities in this gripping drama.
-
11. Bheeshma Parvam (2022)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 24m · UA · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.5 (15.9K votes)
Dark & grittyCold & detachedEdge-of-seatMature
Set in the backdrop of 1980s, Micheal helms his influential family in Kochi, inspiring fear and respect through his unnerving past. When a few younger members in the household feel his power over their lives too are aggravating, they join hands with foes to clamp down on him. And the story follows what’s in store for t
-
12. Thudarum (2025)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 44m · U/A 16+ · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.5 (15.8K votes)
TwistyFast-pacedEdge-of-seatMature
A taxi driver finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy after his car is confiscated by a corrupt police officer.
-
13. Kammatti Paadam (2016)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 57m · A · Drama, Action · IMDb 7.9 (5.6K votes)
MatureVisually stunningDark & grittyEdge-of-seat
Krishnan, who has been living away from his family and friends in Mumbai, gets a call from his friend Ganga in Kerala, out of the blue. He senses danger, and leaves for Kammattipadam, where both of them grew up.
-
14. Ponman (2025)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 5m · UA · Drama, Comedy · IMDb 7.5 (10.0K votes)
Dark & grittyCold & detached
Ajesh,a jewellery agent lends 25 sovereigns of gold to Bruno for his sister Steffi's wedding, only to recover just half. When he demands the rest, he’s drawn into a tense comeback battle with Steffi's husband Mariano, an infamous prawn farmer in coastal Kollam.
-
15. Trance (2020)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 50m · UA · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.3 (10.7K votes)
TwistyCold & detachedDark & grittyEdge-of-seat
A disheartened motivational speaker gets hired by a corporate to become a preacher until his live stint on television puts him and his service under the scanner.
-
16. Varathan (2018)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 11m · UA · Thriller · IMDb 7.5 (5.4K votes)
Cold & detachedDark & grittyMatureEdge-of-seat
After losing his job, Aby and his wife, Priya, move back to the latter's family estate in Kerala. However, things go from bad to worse for the couple as they encounter a new set of challenges..
-
17. Malikappuram (2022)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 1m · UA · Drama, Action · IMDb 7.4 (6.2K votes)
Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatSerious
8 year old Kallu from Panchalimedu village is unhappy that her pilgrimage to Sabarimala is delayed and decides to go with her friend.
-
18. Vanaprastham (1999)
Movie · Malayalam · 1h 59m · U · Drama · IMDb 8.1 (2.2K votes)
Slow-burnCold & detachedVisually stunningDark & gritty
Kunhikuttan, a famous Kathakali dancer, meets Subhadra, a woman from an upper caste family, who falls in love with his character rather than himself.
-
19. Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 39m · U · Drama, History · IMDb 7.7 (3.4K votes)
TwistyDark & grittyVisually stunningSerious
Set in the backdrop of the picturesque Munnar, it tells the story of Iyob, a slave-turned-master.
-
20. Oppam (2016)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 37m · U · Thriller · IMDb 7.3 (5.1K votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
A retired judge faces difficulty keeping his daughter safe from a convict he imprisoned. Later, when he gets murdered, a man with visual impairment who was loyal to him tries to defend his daughter.
-
21. Garudan (2023)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 18m · UA · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.3 (3.4K votes)
Dark & grittyMatureCold & detachedEdge-of-seat
Harish Madhav a straightforward cop and Nishanth a college professor get entangled in a crime and one has to fight for his integrity and other has to fight for justice.
-
22. Ronth (2025)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 1m · U/A 16+ · Crime, Drama · IMDb 7.0 (6.3K votes)
Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatMatureCold & detached
Two patrol officers face mounting tensions during a night shift as they navigate dangerous calls while confronting their strained partnership and personal demons.
-
23. Dridam (2026)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 7m · U/A 16+ · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 7.0 (5.8K votes)
Cold & detachedDark & grittyTwistyEdge-of-seat
A police officer arrives at a seemingly peaceful station but faces pressure when human remains are discovered. Given only a week to solve the murder, he must navigate demands from his department and an anxious public seeking swift justice.
-
24. Bhramaram (2009)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 30m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.4 (2.0K votes)
TwistyDark & grittyCold & detachedEdge-of-seat
Unni, an affluent stockbroker, lives a happy life with his family until he is greeted by a surprise visitor, who is his childhood friend.
-
25. Chenkol (1993)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 43m · U · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.9 (1.1K votes)
Dark & grittySerious
After completing his term in prison, Sethu tries to lead a happy life on the outside, but his past makes it all the more difficult.
-
26. Rorschach (2022)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 30m · UA · Thriller, Mystery · IMDb 6.9 (7.9K votes)
TwistyCold & detachedDark & grittyEdge-of-seat
When Luke Antony's wife goes missing, he sets off to search for her and stumbles upon the Balan family. However, terrorising events start occurring as Luke grows closer to them.
-
27. Diés Iraé (2025)
Movie · Malayalam · 1h 55m · A · Horror, Thriller · IMDb 6.9 (6.2K votes)
Dark & grittyMatureTwistyCold & detached
Rohan's affluent lifestyle spirals out of control as he becomes convinced there is a supernatural entity in his home. As he starts to uncover the mystery, he is drawn into unexpected worlds and alliances, along with the horrors that lie ahead.
-
28. 12th Man (2022)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 43m · UA · Thriller, Mystery · IMDb 6.8 (5.2K votes)
TwistyCold & detachedFast-pacedEdge-of-seat
A group of 11 friends go away to a resort for a weekend bachelor party, but the day ends in a death.
-
29. Bhoothakkannadi (1997)
Movie · Malayalam · 1h 50m · U · Drama · IMDb 7.9 (643 votes)
Slow-burnTwistyDark & gritty
Vidyadharan, a clocksmith, is a widower and lives for his only daughter. However, his life takes a turn for the worse when he kills a thug suspecting him for murdering a village girl.
-
30. Athiran (2019)
Movie · Malayalam · 2h 16m · U · Romance, Thriller · IMDb 6.7 (10.6K votes)
TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seatSerious
In an isolated hospital in the high ranges of Kerala, an autistic patient with special skills piques the interest of a psychiatrist, whose investigation into her past leads to startling revelations
JioHotstar
Apple TV
Prime VideoRelated lists
- dark & gritty movies on JioHotstar
- dark & gritty Malayalam movies
- Malayalam movies on JioHotstar
- dark & gritty Malayalam movies on Netflix
- dark & gritty Malayalam movies on Prime Video
- dark & gritty Malayalam movies on SonyLIV
- dark & gritty Malayalam movies on ZEE5
- dark & gritty Malayalam movies on Apple TV
- thriller Malayalam movies on JioHotstar
- feel-good Malayalam movies on JioHotstar
- mind-bending Malayalam movies on JioHotstar
- comedy Malayalam movies on JioHotstar